Today on My 3 Songs I gave away tickets to see Ringo and the All Starr Band in Eugene on Sunday.  The winner, David, said that he had just seen McCartney, and he was so happy to now be able to take his 16 year old son to see Ringo!  That right there made me warm all over.  First that he has raised his son right, because he also said that his kid was a Beatlemaniac, and also that he had traveled to see McCartney on his tour. 

Then to really seal my affection for him forever, David said he was “on his way to give blood in the KGON/Red Cross Let it Bleed Blood Drive” when he was listening to My 3 Songs, pulled over and made the call to win the tickets.  There’s so many reasons to love this guy in that statement.  He was listening to me.  He knew how to play the game.  He was on his way to his appointment to give blood during our blood drive.  He knew the answer and pulled over to be safe while he called to try and win the tickets.  My heart soars like an eagle.

Hey, I love just about everyone I’ve ever met who listens to KGON because you are amazing, loyal, intelligent and wonderful folks, but listener David just earned some extra stripes today.  Oh, and he couldn’t wait to get his KGON “Let It Bleed” shirt!

Join in the effort!  Make your appointment to GIVE BLOOD this week!  Here’s the link to find out more about it. 

When I was at the CD release party in October 2009 for N.E.D. the Band (No Evidence of Disease) a woman who’s name I do not remember (I don’t remember her name because in a loud music oriented crazy event, where I am the emcee, I’m lucky that I can remember my own name, or the performers that I’m to introduce during the evening), said something that keeps rolling around in my head.  The Crystal Ballroom was filled with either surgeons, oncologists, gynecologists, musicians, cancer survivors, or the friends and family of people who’s lives had been altered by gynecological cancer of some kind.  There was great food and inspiring music, and it was all to raise money and awareness for Marjie’s Fund and N.E.D. 

In the middle of the evening, before I auctioned off the N.E.D. signed guitar, this woman comes up to me when I was talking to the young man from Stupid Cancer (an internet radio show for young people dealing with cancer) and said “I’d like to forget that I ever had the disease.”  I agreed.  How could you not.  To be the same person as before the diagnosis has an appeal.  More reckless.  More angry.  More wild and carefree.  More me. 

On the other hand, life afterward is also this big ass gift horse that you can’t look in the mouth.  So, I’m torn between two worlds.  Those words have haunted me for months now. 

She did go on to say that she normally doesn’t like to go to things that celebrate the disease…like relays, marathons, fundraisers, etc…and just likes to forget she went through it all, and get on with her life.  That’s really what life is all about anyway.  Getting on with it.  It makes sense to me.  I don’t think these events really “celebrate” the disease as keep us aware of it, but I get where she was going with this.

That being said, I do like to celebrate the fact that anyone who survives cancer is still here to get on with it.  To rock, to write, to appreciate, to love, to give, to be pissed off…all of it. 

There’s a couple of things that are coming up on the same weekend in June, and as a survivor, both have to do with “The Big C”  in different ways. 

On June 5th, there’s the Iris Gives Back 2010: Joyride, Kickstart for Kids motorcycle ride to raise money for the Children’s Cancer Association.  The ride is from Paradise Harley Davidson to Pacific City where the CCA has a Caring Cabin where families with children fighting cancer can go and have a little vacation with their whole families.  We’re also having  a big party the night before at Ducati Motocorsa with a silent auction for some cool stuff. 

Then on Sunday June 6th, there’s an event at the World Forestry Center from 2-4pm for Cancer Survivors.  KATU’s Shellie Bailey-Shah will be on hand, and she always is inspiring.  The event is free and for more information call 503-335-3500. 

Yesterday the world lost an incredible rocker, Ronnie James Dio, to stomach cancer.  His distinctive voice, so huge for a person of such small stature (he was 5′4″ like me), his gracious nature, his kindness, his positive attitude in the face of this disease will be remembered by all who loved him.  I met the man one time and that backstage greeting before his show at the Memorial Coliseum will stay in my mind forever.  He was that cool. 

I’m sure he would have rather had the challenge to survive and celebrate “getting on with it” rather than saying goodbye before he was ready.

Throw horns.  Rock on. 

Oh, and to the woman who’s name I don’t remember, thank you for giving me some stuff to think about.  Truly! 

On with the show.