You should know from the outset that my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek. This post will not mention the decorated dead of America’s many wars. Not that they don’t deserve it, but, hey, this is an ode to my personal dead.
Blah blah blah blah years ago today, I walked down the aisle. It was a relatively grand affair at Heinz Chapel (for those of you who know Pittsburgh), followed by a sit down dinner and dancing at the Webster Hall Hotel. I wore a white gown in the Gibson Girl style with an illusion neckline, except I had the illusion covered up because I think illusions are tacky. I was attended by assorted friends in cheerful yellow and as I recall, they carried daisies (can you tell the era?!). The groom wore a white tie and tails, because this was, after all, an evening wedding, and at that point in my life, I was all about Emily Post. We marched back up the aisle to that triumphant music they always play and out the front door of the Chapel. The groom turned to me and said,
WHAT? WHAT DID HE SAY?
Many years later, on May 30th, I stood at the bedside of my best friend, Sondy, who was about to breathe her last. My husband (not the one who wore tails to our wedding) was antsy to leave, to drive back to LA, to do I don’t remember what. So compliant wife that I was, I said goodbye to my friend and followed my husband home.
Every year since then, I think of Sondy and how much I miss her. She had breast cancer. She lived for ten years after her double mastectomies. Not nearly long enough for me. I used to tell her that she was too mean to die young, but that wasn’t really true. I also used to tell her that if she died, I would kill her. (You can tell what a bundle of fun I am to have around when you’re ailing.) She ignored me on both counts. When I stop to really think about what I lost when Sondy died, I get weepy. So I try not to think about it too often, except on May 30, the anniversary of her death.
To cheer us up, MidLifeBloggers is sponsoring a giveaway. Hanes, the lovely people who make T-shirts (and, if you must know, my underwear), are the Official T-shirt providers of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series. Not only will Komen will provide Hanes t-shirts to the 1.5 million people who participate in the series every year, but Hanes will also make an aggregate cash and in-kind contribution of $500,000 to Komen in 2010.
Actress Melina Kanakaredes, of CSI-NY, is teaming up with Hanes and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® by creating three specially designed T-shirts that are meant to inspire and encourage others to join the fight against breast cancer. The T-shirts communicate strength, hope and fearlessness and were designed to honor those affected by breast cancer.
They sent me one of Melina’s T-shirts and I would take a picture of me wearing it, but that would mean I’d have to comb my hair and put a touch (or more) of makeup on. Instead, I’ll show you Melina wearing one.
If you would like to have one of these T-shirts for your very own, here’s what you have to do:
- Leave a comment here with a valid email address (no exceptions, even if I know you) and your answer to one of these two questions: 1. “What did the groom wearing tails say to the bride as they left the Chapel after their wedding?” or 2. “How have you been affected by breast cancer?”
- Entries will be accepted until 11.59pm on June 30, 2010.
- Entrants must be 18 or older.
- Winner will be chosen from qualified entries using random.org and announced on July 3 (my birthday for those of you who want to know).
- I will contact the winner by email, and Hanes will send them the shirt.
Popularity: unranked [?]
All Top Stories 
