It was 2001

[The Straight Story]

I had flown to California and was driving to New Mexico for a job interview. I stopped in Tehachapi, CA in hopes of seeing my X GF and my now 2 yr old daughter.

My X GF's mom was in the hospital. She had been a 'health nut' for the longest time. She was a well known local artist. When the Pow Wow came to town it was she, her husband, and Mimi (my X gf) who would make the glass beaded purses for the Indian Princess. They had a Tee-Pee they set up and would be there the whole time helping out.

I called Mimi in hopes of seeing her and my daughter. She said she was at McD's getting a happy meal (she often collected the toys) and would call me when she got home and I could come over.

10 minutes later the phone rang. She was not yet home. She called to tell me her mom had died, of breast cancer. Right after I got off the phone with her, her dad had called.

I knew she was sick but I had no idea how bad it was.

She was in her 50's and full of life, until breast cancer took her. The company I work for takes on a cause each month, this month it was breast cancer.

Now I don't know how much difference I made there, I am doing what I can to donate and participate.

But I know that there are a lot of people who read DU and if you can, if you are in any position to do so, please get checked. There are some places that offer free screenings. My dad found out early on he had prostate cancer, and he is 75 and has beat it. Many others have beat breast cancer because they found out early enough and got treatment.

Here is a google news search of free breast cancer screenings, please look up one local to you - because someone loves you and will miss you, and no matter how you may feel there is someone, somewhere out there, who needs you.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&biw=1440&bih=689&q=free%20breast%20cancer%20screening&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=nws:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wn&fp=dca121bf5ac477d8

[Taverner]

1. A friend of mine just died in her late 30's of Breast Cancer

I fucking hate cancer