After the loss of my mother I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate her legacy into our life.  I find sometimes that anniversaries like her birthday or Mother’s Day are bittersweet.  On those holidays we’ve created new traditions of honoring her memory, but the sadness remains.  The Day of the Dead celebration was easy for me to embrace.  It’s simply a day to recognize and pay homage to our ancestors.  There’s nothing else attached to the day for me, so it was an opportunity to really play up the idea of celebrating my mom’s life.  We flipped through photos of her and stopped off for her favorite dark chocolates after school.  Luke seemed to easily embrace the day as well, although I’m sure all that extra sugar didn’t hurt.

But, back to hoops…I’ve been a college b-ball fan since the fourth grade when my dad started taking me to the Far West Classic, a three day tournament hosted here in Portland.  We’d purchase peanuts, red licorice ropes and cheer on obscure teams with Cinderella dreams. My dad would critque the referees and my mom would keep meticulous track of the score with a half pencil.  The tournament long-ago ran out of funds, but my love of the game has remained steady. 

That’s why I’m thrilled that  the University of Portland is teaming up with the Alzheimer’s Association-Oregon Chapter to host Dunk Alzheimer’s next Saturday, November 7th at 7:00pm as the Pilots take on the Linfield Wildcats.  Click here for more information about the event or to purchase tickets, which are a mere $5 bucks with the code “DUNK.”  I’ll be eager to introduce Luke to college hoops, the smell of a freshly polished court and buttered popcorn, frenzied fans, and for the most part spirited players who truly love the game since they’ve yet to be tainted with big signing bonuses and multi-million dollar salaries.  Hopefully the event will morph into a new family basketball tradition.

There’s never been a more important time to engage in the cause.  While death rates from other diseases have been decreasing nationally, deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s are dramatically increasing. 

Major cause of death statistic changes from 2000-2006 look like this:

• Heart disease deaths decreased by -11.5%
• Breast cancer deaths decreased by -.6%
• Prostate cancer deaths decreased by -14.3%
• Stroke deaths decreased by -18.1%
• Alzheimer’s deaths increased by 47.1%

Memory Walk is a fun and easy way to rally together and shed much needed light on this growing public health threat.  On Sunday, September 27th we need to paint Portland purple.  Grab a friend, co-worker, neighbor, or classmate and join us at Pioneer Courthouse Square. 

On top of purple people we need dollars too.  The reason that other causes of death are decreasing is simple:  money.  When we as a nation invest in research, major gains are made.  Alzheimer’s research is currently underfunded, as are programs and services that help to support families and caregivers of those with the disease.  I understand that times are tight these days, but every dollar counts.  Consider forgoing your daily coffee fix or recycling a stack of soda cans.  We’ll gladly take your change!

Shameless plugs for spare change and two hours of your Sunday morning aside, I’d sincerely like to thank all of you who’ve participated in the past.  Even if it’s a simple as forwarding an email or passing along this blog post, every action helps.

The shift into fall isn’t altogether unwelcome.  I’m eager for soup simmering on the stove, crisp leaves cracking under my feet and the smell of damp morning air.  I enjoy the fleeting light in the late evening that fades just as our dinner dishes fill the sink.  Projects set aside in favor of siestas and weekend getaways beckon me.

So this morning as Luke trotted off to kindergarten with his backpack stuffed with Crayola markers and glue sticks and eyes gleaming with delight over the prospect of hot lunch and recess, I opted to pay a quiet farewell to the halcyon days of summer.  I marked this milestone with the return to structure: piles of paper neatly stacked on my desk, a menu mapped out for days ahead, and a well-overdue blog post.  It feels surprisingly refreshing and familiar.

[singlepic id=154 w=125 h=125 float=] [singlepic id=156 w=125 h=125 float=]When we originally planned our Batter Up to Battle Alzheimer’s event last fall we debated about whether to host the game in June or July. Oregon weather is notoriously rainy in June so we opted for late July in order to ensure the best chance of sun.  Well, sun was not on short supply last week.  In fact quite the opposite, we blazed all week under the hottest temps ever recorded in this part of the country.  As Friday loomed closer, just looking at the forecast made me start to sweat.  The lead singer of the band we had lined up to sing at the game ended up hospitalized with heat stroke.  The celebrity champions we had lined up to throw out the first pitch and make on-field appearances weren’t up to weathering the heat.  What’s a girl to do?  Simple.  Pimp out my family of course! 

[singlepic id=158 w=125 h=125 float=] [singlepic id=160 w=125 h=125 float=] Luke and my dad stepped in to pinch hit at the last minute.  And fortunately despite the heat over 6,000 fans came out to watch the poor Beavers get slaughtered by Vegas, but connect with a great cause right?  My dad has been perfectly humble about his lightening fast pitch and yes, for the record, it did cross home plate.  Luke, on the other hand has boasted all week about his experience on the mound.  Now he wants a trophy.  Uh Oh!

PGE Park is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association, Oregon Chapter, to host Batter Up to Battle Alzheimer’s on Friday, July 31st.  Fans will have an opportunity to learn about the cause and sign on as champions.  Fridays are family nights at PGE Park which means the whole fam can come and enjoy an evening of fun.  Cheap eats will abound with dollar hot dogs, waters, and ice-cream treats.  Prior to the first pitch families can also train their brains at “Brain Camp” in the concourse.

$3 to $5 of every ticket sold will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.  The offer is not valid at the box office. To purchase tickets online click here or call 503-416-0201.  Mark your calendars now and help us load the bases this summer!

[singlepic id=140 w=150 h=150 float=]Flash-forward to Saturday night and at 8:00pm when the run kicked off it was a scorching 87 degrees.  Clad in our purple tee-shirts and armed with “MOVE” signage a small group of us gathered at starting line to run not only for fun, but to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s cause.  It’s a shame the Association’s signature color isn’t red because my face was a lovely shade of neon red by the first mile marker.  The combination of sweltering heat, over 4,000 runners, and the baking asphalt streets of the city made it a sweat-filled run.

Sweat or no sweat, red face and all it truly lived up to its title of “Fun Run.”  We ran alongside naked ladies in a bathtub, retired Hooters girls in walkers and wheelchairs, an Egyptian goddess in a carriage high over our heads, and Abe Lincoln on mini-stilts.  All along the route spectators cheered us on and children lined the streets holding out their hands for high-fives.  Our crew might have been small but we made up for it in enthusiasm, especially once we crossed the finish line and doused ourselves in water.  Next year we’re recruiting others to join us, pimping out our purple, and personally I’ll be crossing my fingers for some good old fashioned rain.

[singlepic id=135 w=150 h=150 float=]Carafe hosted the inaugural Food for Thought event with chef Pascal Sauton, chef Earl Hook of Meriwether’s, and chef Troy Maclarty.  Who knew that eating well would taste so good?  From fresh fava beans with feta on bruschetta to grilled halibut and chickpea puree the fare was light and luscious. 

[singlepic id=134 w=150 h=150 float=]The evening was a lovely mix of palate pleasing fare and stimulating conversation.  What I particularly loved about it was just the event itself.  In the world of Alzheimer’s there’s little pleasure to be found.  The event offered an opportunity for people to come out in support of the cause in a new and positive way.  It was such a success that the board is hoping to host another Food for Thought this November.