$5,630,000

When you reach the million one year... and you’re in the middle of the next and wondering if you’re going to make it this year too... It keeps you up at night, it makes you count everything ten times a day to see if anything has changed and by how much, it makes you think about donating a very large amount – even if it means I’ll be paying off my car for another ten years… you need to have a plan – any kind of plan – in case the worst happens.

There are some cases where worrying makes sense, and when I think about WHY we do the work we do – my worries pale in comparison – and yet it doesn’t make them disappear. They’re still there and they’re still real (at least in my head). But I should have known… with the team of staff, board members, captains, volunteers, and participants that we have – I should have known!

I don’t have to worry about it anymore! We have done it – we have raised the MILLION! Plus. Now we can concentrate on bigger issues – like the worries of the families staying at RMH, or the ones of the parents whose kid is in the Stollery, or the parents whose child might not make it to their Wish. These are real concerns and they are justified in worrying.

I hope that by my small contribution to Massacure (in regards to the grander scheme of life) I have helped alleviate someone’s worries when it comes to their kid. I hope that their worries will be lessened by my worrying and planning and working to make it to the million again this year.

Thank you to everyone who helped in the 2011 Hair Massacure! WE DID IT!

Nicki

Aloha

Aloha - to greet with genuine affection. Aloha represents love in Hawaiian.

Mahalo - to thank or acknowledge, show of appreciation.

Its been a few days since our return, and all I can think about is how do I make it possible to go back... indefinitely.

FYI... from my findings this morning on West Jet, I see that the awesome deal we took advantage of months back is still available if one can make the selected sale dates work.

I don't know how or why luck seems to find me in the travel dept but Im very grateful, as it has afforded us the opportunity to see places and learn things that are not commonly found in a text book. I consider this highly valuable in the human experience.

20 years back, Gordon coerced me to go to California (as I believed it would drop into the ocean (guaranteed if I were there). Cancer had taken my favourite aunt that year.

She had lived in CA for most of her interesting life and often spoke about meeting the stars.

A new desire to pay proper respect was met with success considering she had beckoned me to visit for many years. Needless to say we didn't go glug glug.

The coast kept a piece of my soul that summer and every year I must return to feel balance.

As debt compiles, Im ok with that.

My luck with deals serves me very well and until it runs out, I will continue to chase airplanes to find my Zen.

My girls share the same passion for the ocean.

Our home exhibits beach paraphernalia, once stuffed in Kali's pockets and knapsack. Stinky treasures discretely make their way into the garbage, as the contents of our luggage reveals gag worthy sea odour.

As I have shared my affection for the west coast, it pales next to my love for the Hawaiian Islands. Maui in particular, has an energy that leaves one lost for words.

The beauty is indescribable and the climate is comfortable and inviting. Imagine your ideal temperature (you have set the thermostat to it in your home) .... it doesn't seem to change - day or night, indoors or out. Our automatic response to adjust to temperature change out here was not required out there. Sigh....

I think the biggest impact left on us was the Aloha Spirit. A level of respect and recognition for fellow man, animal and planet theoretically should exist globally. On these Islands - not only exists, its the way.

Recycling is habitual, water preservation is priority.

The hotels we visited do not waste. Near end rolls of toilet paper and near empty boxes of tissue reflect an awareness of waste disposal.

Refusal to replace disposable cups and plates (corn based and biodegradable) is communicated with friendly assertiveness on tours.

The locals are proudly protective of their island.

It puzzles me how they welcome us pesky tourists who may not necessarily share the same mindset for the environment. The intrusion of developers who raped their coastline with recreational properties must outrage them yet they remain friendly and personable offering outstanding customer service.

Maui drivers - courteous. The Aloha spirit appears contagious as the spread of genuine cheerfulness and consideration infiltrates the island.

A noticeable difference from the commonly demonstrated road rage and lack of courtesy in most places, including here. A activated signal light is often interpreted as a challenge to cut off and pass. Not there. Not ever. Honking discouraged, not considered "aloha" and is used only for distress or a cue to round a one lane corner. Much appreciated to save the white knuckling for the 700 sharp turns on Hana as opposed to dedicating energy to cursing other drivers.

Speaking of those turns.... common - high elevation, one lane, without shoulder, without guard rail, NOT without prayer.

Efficient burn of calories....more shave ice please (thats a high end slurpie in a bowl with sweet cream). Mmmmmmm.....

Before I ruin the rest of your curiosity, I encourage you to check out my seat sale tip on West Jet and check it out yourself.

Perhaps if all of us experience a little "Avatar", we may collectively discard our disregard for saving our planet and our people by assuming the Aloha Spirit.

Mahalo

Visit with an angel

Today FRED and I spent at time at Stollery foundation, reconnecting with staff, nice coffee with our CEO and follow up with Brandi and Nicki (who are working on many levels of wrap up including data entry, documenting, debriefing, and recognition).

The staff at the foundation LOVE the pink beast. He was a good boy as usual, although inching his way back to that embarrassing habit of "self soothing" he acquired 2 years ago.

We'll have to work on that.

Fred was thirsty when we arrived and had a bit of a tickle in his throat causing him to cough.

Anyone who has heard a big dog "cough" knows that distinctive glack - yack that would make one scramble for paper towels. Its almost too gross to be human, but today it was assumed that a human (staff member) pulled that off. An easy assumption when FRED is tucked away in a cubicle, with few privy to his presence. Sometimes gross really does have its place, as it makes for great stories.

Nicki babysat the beast while I connected with a few, namely my friend Kim across the street at the U of A.

In a recent post, I shared sad news about our remarkable karate friend who was diagnosed with Leukaemia back in January.

I only had 35 minutes to spend with my friend, and the worlds slowest elevators stole 15 of that - my rationed 20 minutes needed to be 2 hours. It was incredibly wonderful to see her.

I don't know how to articulate the impact she made on me today.

All I can come up with that makes any sense is that I had a visit with an angel.

Kim sat on the edge of her bed - obvious signs of treatment, her eyes grabbing mine as they reflected a high spirited enlightenment.

Kims mother was taken from her at age 12 - cancer. I would imagine this is her worst fear as she too is a mother.

Her state of mind and spirit not common for a person who has recently been educated that she has a resilient type of cancer.

I sat in awe as I immersed myself in her reaction to the cards she had been dealt.

She has chosen "not".

She is not a victim... and furthermore she does not have cancer.

She is a catalyst, and was chosen to be the catalyst for change or someone else's enlightenment.

Can you imagine if everyone held this belief and did not waiver from their faith?

Kim, you are my inspiration. Even though you may again crush my thighs with those infamous roundhouses, I still revere you as an earth angel.

Thank you for the lesson. I needed that.

When I arrived home this aft, I received a text from Kim and hubby Steve - Kim was delivered the news shortly after I left and was packing to come home. Tonight she will be welcomed by her family, her home and her familiar bed.

Kim is in remission.

leading up to .... Kali Bear sightings

I have to thank our friend Clifford (the gentleman in the 2010 HM video with the pink ponytails), Carrie Roulston (owner of LOXX) and Tina MacQueen (our merch captain) who became the catalysts of this brilliant idea of a "Kali Bear Sightings" page on our website. http://hairmassacure.com/kali-bear

I met Clifford last year in Loxx where he was pinking his hair for the first time.

Prior to this year, I have always had opportunity to take a few days in a salon (LOXX) to throw on a smock / gloves and wear a different hat.

Forgive me for sidetracking again (most of you are used it it).... I'll elaborate before I get to the Kali Bear point.

When I was 18, my chosen career was to be a hairstylist. Marvel would have been my school of choice after the completion of Highschool .... however my first born (Meagan) had a different idea.

It was deja vu for me when I walked my 18 year old daughter into Marvel for the first time to register.

My daughters passion for the hair industry once allowed me to live vicariously through her UNTIL I found opportunity to make my own experience.

Attending hair shows, researching product lines, absorbing Meagans "take" on latest trends, hangin' with the stylists is most interesting to me, however now I realize that this may not have been the best career choice for me as I get side tracked easily. Big surprise, I know.

With only one thing to focus on, I tend to get into trouble more often.

HM allows me to wear many hats.

Some of the salons we work with have allowed me to pose as "hair stylist" over the years (namely LOXX), where I can go in unmarked and sometimes unrecognized, occasionally mistaken as an employee.

Funny thing is I am actually good at this stuff. I even cut and perm hair.

As I am bleaching and pinking, I am picking up tips (educational "tips"), and connecting with our participants on a whole new level.

Its allowed me to fully grasp what happens in the salon, another area of the event that I believe I need to have knowledge of.

I have met the most interesting "Proud Victims" while altering their hair. This is back to where Clifford comes in....

Meeting Clifford last year was memorable. He is a quiet man with a subtle and unique sense of humor. This year I had the honour of running into him again at LOXX at the sink.

As Carrie pinked, Clifford shared his vision of turning the Kali Bear into a Flat Stanley.

Clifford was leaving the following morning as he had tix to the Craig Ferguson show, following - Golden Globe Red Carpet walk.

Clifford was VERY successful with a number of well known celebrities agreeable to hold and pose with our bear including Jay Leno and Nicole Kidman.

Outside of those efforts for fame, Kali Bear was placed in the most imaginative poses on the beach, in the wax Museum and on the Walk of Fame.

Kali Bear - now getting out into the world may eventually bring us to meet Ellen De generous.

Since Clifford, Kali Bear has been to Banff with us, skiing with Tina Plsek, to a RUSH game, and I hear he is off to do an Afghanistan Mission, and a vacation to Australia.

I now have a wear 'n' tear bear that sits on my dash awaiting his next adventure.

I look forward to seeing more of his journeys. You can be a part of it - help the bear reach his fame.

Please send your Kali Bear pics to tmac@hairmassacure.com.

Congrats to a very special and hardworking novice hockey team – the St. Albert Shock! They had 17 participants on their team – including their coach – and raised over $8,600!

These guys were sooo cool and so happy to be a part of Massacure. I spoke to them only briefly – but they were pretty pumped – and they have reason to be!