t r a e H
T A BE n o i t a c d u n d Ein Seicfeo L e
n Magazi e f i l t Nigh d l r o W Your In
♼19
Fe br u a r y 2 011
2
http://www.psdgraphics.com/
Contents
Editorial
4
Education in Second Life
8
Dj PaulieB Aayona Xstar
20 24
Getting a Kick out of Virtual Horses
28
Log in
DJ of the Month
Dancer of the Month Social
Clubbing
Blue Cave Club
38
Styles of Edo Black and White The Game Changer
42 52 64
Shopping
Log out Fashion
4
www.heartbeatmag.co.cc
Editorial
The first issue of 2011 is here and my first order of business is to dedicate it to our dear Keekee Dezno. Keekee has just recently lost her husband to cancer and all of us here at Heartbeat are with you in this time of grief. For this reason, I will keep this short today.
I do hope you will enjoy this issue non the less and as I always say, if you have any ideas or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact either one of us at Heartbeat! We do love hearing from you. Love, Angel
5
t r a e H
T A E B Your In
-World
Nightlif
e
Magazin
also on issuu.com/Heartbeat-SL
e
Publisher & Editor in Chief Angel Tzara Operations Mynxie Ireman (director) Marketing Chaonth Hancroft (director) Creative Alvar Inglewood (director) Cecilia Mistwalker
R Personal Assistant Zandalee Rigaud Production Assistant Annette Raymaker
R Events and PR Manager LuLu Coba
R
Senior Editor Troy Aristocarnas Music Editors Creamy Mynx, Ginger Fanshaw, CompE Lockwood Technical Editor Bert Calamari Lifestyle Editors Keekee Dezno, ChloeRed Mornington, Khali Farspire Fashion Editors Arielle Boccaccio (women’s), Lars Foulsbane (men’s) Photographers MandyLeigh Sweetwater, Kala Balut, Samantha Lamont, YunMi Verwood, opie Camino, Ji Dallagio
R Heartbeat Magazine is published and managed by Integrated Talents Alliance You can find us online at www.heartbeatmag.co.cc and www.heartbeatmag.co.cc/fashion Please send all press releases and queries to info@heartbeatmag.co.cc For any advertising enquiries and kiosk requests please contact directly Chaonth Hancroft or Mynxie Ireman
8
Education in Second Life by Lars Foulsbane Photos by Candice Jun
n d
Log in
For many people education in Second Life seems to be an enjoyable way to spend time. There are two different prospects, which involve education in Second Life. You can gain education for your RL, such as training languages at the voice courses and you can gain education for your SL life. The voice courses are at different areas around Second Life and cost something. Its a small amount to participate and improve your knowledge in languages, like english, spanish, italian or even japa-
nese. When you want to improve your education in areas, which involve your Second Life, you can visit many courses about building, fashion, scripting, how to run your business and other Second Life related questions. The courses are free. I went for the Heartbeat Magazine to a sim from the Oxbridge University. As I landed there, nice people welcomed me. I told them, that I'm going to do a spread for the magazine about education and they were really helpful in answering some Questions.
9
10
Lindal Kidd is working as a volunteer for the Oxbridge University. Most of the professors and tutors are voluneers. I started talking to her and she told me a bit about the Oxbridge University, aswell as when she started there. Lindal is there since the start of Oxbridge, over a year ago. This is quite a long time. For new residents the university has special Tutorials, where they learn all about Second Life. She told me, that many Newbies are impatient and skip these courses. They realize, that Second Life isn't what they would have expected and leave. Some of them, can't ever start to enjoy our wonderful world, built by people from so many different countries. Many new residents also don't
know about these courses. I know that it is really hard to make your first steps in this big world, but when you take the help, which is obviously there, you will find it enjoyable and who knows what you can gain in Second Life? Loretta Masukami is another teacher at Oxbridge University. She is a tutor. When I was there to get some information, they where doing a day to help people, because it was holidays. So they even help people during the holidays, when the courses are off. I asked then, because I am very much interessted in courses, if they have also courses for older residents and I got a Notecard with the schedule. Here are some examples for courses you can take.
Section title
11
12
1.Caledon’s New Resident Help Area,Caledon Oxbridge, offers classes every week. All classes are free and open to everyone. These classes are taught at the Caledon Oxbridge Lecture Hall located between the “Cathedral” and the “Hall of Avatar Motion”. http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Caledon%20Oxbridge/76/140/29/ 2.Sunday 10am Caledon Oxbridge Class: Advanced Clothing Design Instructor: Moonstone Eiren Cost: Free Learn advanced clothing design techniques from a wonderfully talented content creator, Professor Moonstone Eiren. This class will cover creating Victorian outfits, for both ladies and gentlemen. 3.Monday 10pm Caledon Oxbridge Class: SL Photography Instructor: Lucien Brentano Cost: Free
Learn how to take great pictures in Second Life! This class covers all the essentials, including: lighting, composition, primary windlight settings, and tips for getting the best SL photographs using a graphics program. This class is held at the Caledon Oxbridge Lecture Hall. http:// slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20 Oxbridge/76/140/29/ 4.Wednesday 12pm Caledon Oxbridge Class: Machinima Basics Instructor: Charlie Navarathna Cost: Free Learn the basics of Machinima, the making movies using Second Life footage. By the end of this class you’ll be able to record, edit and post a short video of your exploits. This class is held at the Caledon Oxbridge Lecture Hall. http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Caledon%20Oxbridge/76/140/29/
Log in
13
14
It was nice to meet a Dean from Oxbridge University, she was ready to be interviewed. Lars Foulsbane: It would be great to get to know the concept of oxbridge university Martini Discovolante: we began as a Linden Labs Community Gateway, a place for new people to enter SL, but our Chancellors took it all the way.. creating a full tutorial for new folk, one that was self- guided. With think and do and some get-started things along the way. Desmond,Shang, our Guvnah, modelled our campus on Oxford University. he wanted a place of a bit more serenity and gravitas than most. Once the Labs closed the Gateway program, we opted to stay open, stay serving new folk, but also ... serve the
Victorian Steampunk community who has supported us so well. Lars Foulsbane: How do you hire new employees? Martini Discovolante: we have only volunteers: folks over 3 months old, and residents of the Steamlands. Lars Foulsbane: How do you know that someone is dedicated enough to work here? Martini Discovolante: I encourage new folks to get out in the world and explore, many come back here, after experiencing the world, and help. They may apply to become a tutor. Lars Foulsbane: thats a good way to get new volunteers? Martini Discovolante: those who are good at it and enjoy helping are easily recognised,but we
Log in
do want people out and exploring and very familiar with Caledon and the Steamlands. We get many older folks here for our classes, of course Lars Foulsbane: Do you give only technical support in your advanced or specializied courses? Martini Discovolante: we have rather basic classes here, beginning and intermediate and hold Office hours for several disciplines, and there one may get answers for more involved classes. Lars Foulsbane: Do you have classes which involve more the social life? Martini Discovolante: we hope to add more things like dances or other events but they are all in-
vited to any Caledon events.. we post the social calendar. Lars Foulsbane: What would you think about helping them in disciplines like shopping clothes or dating? Martini Discovolante: oh we have a Get more for your L$ class. Lars Foulsbane: Thats great Martini Discovolante: and an avatar class... sort of a care and feeding ;-) and "sell what you make"---several of the names have changed a bit. Lars Foulsbane: So you try to educate the residents in most every way they ask for? Martini Discovolante: one of the best things about Oxbridge is the ability to just visit, sit and chat with older residents.
15
16
Section title
17
18
Lars Foulsbane: Oh, thats wonderful. Do you need more volunteers atm? Martini Discovolante: we can always use good people, but we are rather more Caledon-centric. I love it when I see people land, read around the entryway and follow the arrows... I know it all really works. It is a great place to learn a new discipline, like building or scripting. Lars Foulsbane: yes, thats right. I will def come for a class after holidays Martini Discovolante: many find after being here a while, that they want to create. We even built a Clothing Atelier, so our design-
ing students do not have to work in the sandbox. Lars Foulsbane: I thank you so much for helping me Martini Discovolante: we are quite dedicated to helping creatives! Lars Foulsbane: It was really a pleasure to be here today, thank you. This was a peek in the educational area of Second Life. There are many universities and sims, which are trying their best to make Second Life more enjoyable. I want to thank Lindal Kidd, Loretta Masukami and Martini Discovolante for their help and open mind.
Log in
19
20
Dj
Dj of the Month
PaulieB
21
by Creamy Mynx
Why do you DJ? PaulieB Podless: I love certain genres of music and like to drop only tunes I rate...bringing my choices to the masses ...or to the two people in the club which ever the case may be. I was Rl DJ playing from when I was 18; I played house and hip hop back in 19881990 in underground clubs. What style of Music? PaulieB Podless: Progressive & Tech House, Drum n Bass, Dubstep, Hip Hop, R&B, Soul occasional Jazz and Funk, Reggae, Raggamuffin, Old Jamaican SKA Why do you not accept Song Requests?
PaulieB Podless: I may accept a request if A. I rate the tune and B. it actually fits into the genre I am playing at the time. I play various genres but not any genre. I only play one genre each set. PaulieB Podless: I like to play sounds that are underground and not in the popular music charts. I think a DJ's job is to educate the masses with tunes theyhave not heard rather than play requests of tunes that the person requesting got on their hard drive already. Where do you DJ? What is your schedule? Paulie B Podless: Monday Irie Vibes 12 pm SLT to when I finish - Ragga, Tuesday Star's Furie 12 pm - 2pm SLT, Tuesday Progres-
22
sive & Tech House, Club Caribana Lounge 1 pm to when I finish wed raggamuffin (sub genre of reggae), Thurs Progressive & Tech House, Friday Full Moon Clan Estates Ragga 5 pm SLT to when I finish, Bar Zion day time to be confirmed, Club 24/7 , Sunday at Club Kryptonite...12 pm SLT until I finished genre being either Hip Hop, Ragga, House or Dubstep
other two may change and right now one of them would be Paul & Luke & Simon De Jano - Con Te Partiro' and 3rd one Lady Saw - Chat to mi back. Is there Someone(s) you want to give a shout-out to?
PaulieB Podless: Shout out first and foremost to my love Trionna Catseye and shout out to Dixie Jefferson (for all her help and support), Iyoka Swansen, Breezi and What is your most memorable Thizzll, Bubbles Naire, Yvonne experience DJ'ing?: Barony (she's not crazy...she PaulieB Podless: most memora- Dutch) and youCreamy ble time would be the night I did Do you have any advice a 7 and half hour Ragga set (withfor SL noobs? out repeating any tunes) and had to leave people on thefloor hunPaulieB Podless: Some things gry for more. ya get as freebie can be good and some things you pay lots of lins What are your favorite 3 songs? for can be pure crap AND GET PaulieB Podless: Tough ques- A BLOODY AO ON YA NOOB tion but without a doubt always in my top 3 would have to be Bob Marley - Could you Be Loved,the
Dj of the Month
This writer discovered (at a Reggae club of all places) ... DJ PaulieB Podless who does not “look or sound” anything like that genre of music. PaulieB who has a heavy Scottish brogue that makes one think of Austin Powers (similar to the Fat-Bastard Character’s voice but he doesn’t eat babies lol)... has a sexy accent that is beautiful to the ears of the listeners and his sense of humor is truly a treat. I can honestly vouch for DJ PaulieB being one of the HARDEST working & Busiest DJs in SL. The man is all over the place and gives new meaning to “Overtime”. Many of his shows go overtime especially if no DJ is following him or he doesn’t have another gig. I was there for part of the longest set that DJ PaulieB did non-stop for **7 1/2 hours** at Caribana Lounge without repeating a tune. He was in the ZONE! He kept
my avi pixels jumping and gyrating as well as everyone in the club and his DJ voice never cracked or wavered. He tirelessly greeted all that kept tp’ing in, he thanked each one for each tip given him, he promoted the club and still put out jokes and interacted with the hostess & audience. Since meeting PaulieB... i have received from him umpteen tp invites to places all over SL where he is DJ’ing. i never know where i am going to be landing including outside the walls of the most recent club flying around trying to get in. lol. Yes PaulieB had mercy on me and tp’ed me inside. Readers please be sure to check out this phenomenal DJ and do tip some linden love his way so thatyou can hear him say his catchphrase... “Thank You for that BIG FAT JUICY TIP”
23
24
Aayona
Dancer of the Month
Xstar by Creamy Mynx
Where do yo work? Club Krypton!te, Pauly's 420 Pub and Club Sexy
What do you like to do when you are not dancing?:
When I am not working I love spending time with my friends Favorite part about dancing? and family. Me and my partner My favorite part about dancing Banjo String are expecting our is getting to meet new people and first sl baby, which I am so excitjust having fun. I love the ability ed about! I also love to breed horsto express myself from my emotes es in my spare time as well and go and people can tell what type of to horse auctions. I have been bitperson I am. And how deep my ten by the horse bug so I am horse passion can be when I care abou crazy as my family puts it. When something. The clubs I work at I am not with family or friends I are like my family and the clubs just go check out what Sl has to are just a great environment to be offer. I love new places and just in. seeing new people as well.
25
26
What has been your favorite memory of SL, so far? My favorite memory of Sl so far is the night my partner Banjo proposed. We had been friends forever and even talk in rl. It was an amazing night that I will never forget nor will I ever want to change. But I do have to mention my second favorite memory in Sl and that is the day Banjo and I found out I was pregnant. That was just the icing on the cake for our family. We were so estatic.
greatest neither was the first club I worked at. Also if you need help with something just ask overall everyone I have met in sl are willing to help you if they can. Also do not change your morals to suit someone else be who you want to be in sl the possibilities are endless. Is there Someone(s) you want to give a shout-out to?
I want to give a shout out to my sis in sl and rl she is one of my best friends Pandora Chardin. I Share with us your favorite love my Sl family very much. Also tips in SL, be it dancing I would love to give a shout out or just goofing off: to Pauly Beardmore, Breezi ResiMy tip for anyone starting in dent, Jerzy Violet-Zuta, and Thizsl is to watch out for who you zll Resident for being great bossspend your time with. There are es. And a shout out to my friends some lovely sweet people here but PaulieB Podless, Daethsyn {Synwith every good side there is a bad ister} Shadowcry, wildfiresyn Adside. I unfortunately started off der, Usher Ibor, Scorpio Woodsaround the wrong kind of people. heart and all my other close and I am part of a great vampire clan dear friends. now but my first one was not the
Dancer of the Month
27
Rez Date: 09/26/10 RL Location: USA East Coast
This writer found Aayona to be... pleasant, sweet, kind-hearted and ultra beautiful in Avatar appearance and grace. She has soft sensuality and her originally written emotes are tasteful, complimentary and sexy. Her joy at being SL pregnant and the happiness that she has with her SL partner is contagious. She is a true gem and treasure at every club that she works and her advice above to all new here in SL is right on point.
Creamy Mynx Writer for HEARTBEAT SL Magazine Bringing You... The Heartbeat Bottom Line
28
Getting a Kick Out
by Troy Aristocarnas
Social
29
t of Virtual Horses
30
Sure horses have been around in SL ever since virtual pets became an adjunct to enhance play in MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role playing games). The canter of horses in-world, however, went into a full gallop ever since Amaretto introduced breedable and ridable equines sometime in September 2010. What fueled its popularity? For some the growth in the demand for the Amarettos rides on the innate male “macho” drive to master the passion of a creature with an equal longing to have its wild desires tamed, contained, and sated. True, but there are plenty of fair ladies too who have traded their gowns to chaps, shifted habitués from dainty ballrooms to the staid enclaves of a ranch, for the pleasure of growing and raising a herd of equines. The females’ interest seems so keen that one might even suspect that there’s
a Lady Godiva plot brewing in a spread or ranch somewhere to send a naked women’s cavalry to rally on a feminine cause or embark on a headline-grabbing protest on some women lib thing. What it takes to keep equines satisfied Such a possibility, while certainly welcome to most redblooded males, may be nonetheless just some peeping Tom’s wishful thinking. The fact is inworld breeding of horses appears to have caught on the very fabric which enabled SL to weather the years—collaboration among friends. Definitely, it will take more than a single individual to successfully breed horses, raise and grow a herd, and eventually market (and hopefully, profit) or auction the horses. A fair-sized group with a sim or parcel has to be involved in this
Social
31
32
venture, including of course a sizable Linden-dollar investment. To be truly satisfying, this will call for building a ranch to contain a growing population of lively, four-legged pixels which can multiply quite fast if given the right amount of pet food, water, cocktail, and passion pills. Surely, hands will be required to take of such sundry things as healing sick horses, providing elixir, and snacks. Happiness of the animals has to be monitored and maintained to keep them hale and hearty. For this, the mature ones (after seven days) have to be ridden till the level is a hundred percent; the foals or babies needs to be petted and fed regularly. And then there is the matter of pairing and mating the horses which become sexually mature after seven days. Mates have to be judiciously paired to
achieve the right colors or produce a desired breed. Establishing the pedigree in Amaretto’s registry Still there’s this chore too of maintaining an account at the Amaretto website for the horse registry. Equine coloration and pedigrees are registered and kept here which, as in RL horse-breeding, is an all-important documentation process in order to get a good price in the market or auction houses that have also exponentially increased in SL. The rewards of having a horse ranch in-world, however, will certainly have to go beyond the material or financial level. While there are reports of as much 30,000 L$ paid for one unique horse breed, it is highly doubtful that too many will go for such “haute couture,” premium-priced equines. High-
Social
33
34
ly desirable mounts can already be had at between the reasonable 3,000L$ and 1,500L$ or even less. One can even beg, nay, request from a kind-hearted rancher acquaintance or friend. And of course, there are the freebie rides on passable stallions or mares at some in-world riding parks, mountain trails, tracks or another that can be already so satisfying. In the end, it may just be the personal satisfaction of producing (or kind of authoring) a unique steed that provides the kick in SL horse breeding—a fascination which has remained ever since humans first sat astride these magnificent creatures from the wild to bring both the ridden and the rider’s limbs in synchrony towards a common desire and destiny.
Section title
35
36
Styles by Fashionista Winn
Onyx Yiwana http://stylesbydanielle.blogspot.com/
y Danielle
Section title
37
a December
ners
Taylor Ghiardie
Emily Cambric
38
Blue Cl
Clubbing
39
Cave lub by Ginger Fanshaw
Blue Cave Club has been open now for over 3 years. It's a popular hangout with a VIP list of over 1500 members. Every night, there is one 3 hour event from 5-8pm with 1,000 L on the board. Some of SL's very best DJs spin 80's, 90's, and today's rock and pop tunes including: EJ Cannned, and Stixguy Nightfire.
They have the usual sploders but also invented a new one The Avalanche Sploder. It's fun to watch people rushing to get in it at the end because it rewards the last players who get in for the clock stops. Blue Cave is owned and operated by Marke555 Allen. Tamarra Mortlock is the Event Manager.
40
Another thing that makes Cave unique is how contests are won. To prevent contestants from tping in friends at the last minute or alts to vote for them, contests are closed for entry early and only the staff is allowed to vote. We've featured Cave before, but recently, it moved to its own sim and expanded quiet a bit. There are 6 different Event areas, which include an Aussie Pub, Beach, Pier, The Cave (of course) Pool, Romantic and a Underwater Dance Area.
They try to mix things up a bit by alternating which areas events are held in each night. Sometimes there are Special Events or Concerts and they also rent out area's for weddings, birthdays and Private Parties. If you're just looking for somewhere to hang out and relax, they have some fun activities there too: Skydiving, Camel Rides, Bull riding, and Scuba Diving. Plenty of shops to browse in the mall as well. Definitly worth a look see.
Clubbing
41
42
Styles
Shopping
by Keekee Dezno Photos by Candice Jun
of edo An exciting and popular line of mens clothing is called Styles of edo. It is owned by the fabulous designer edo Tone. Edo has been in business for about 3 1/2 years now and has about 22 stores. The main store is in the Tyche sim. Edo designs Suits and Tuxedos that make any man look absolutely handsome and sexy. His styles and designs are modern and very classy. Although he is a joker, he is very down to earth and warm person. When I asked Edo what got him started design-
ing he said "I needed money for my ex-wife". Then he laughed. I asked him where he got his inspiration and he said "from Aquascutum in RL". Although Edo is a very good designer and has great designs in his shop and on his sims, you can still get your moneys worth. He price range varies from $89L to $800L. Edo keeps a good relationship going with other big name designers such as Azul, Bliss Couture, Morea Style and Virtual Impressions. They all support each
43
44
other and are supporters of Styles of edo as he is of them. So you could say their styles compliment each other and make it easy for a couple to find wedding attire or formal wear. In Edo's sim he has a new ballroom called "Narkissos Jazz Club". He has shops near the entrance of the ballroom to encourage one to find something special if they so desire. He has many of the designers he supports and women's and men's fashions. Of course this writter couldn't help but to stop in a couple and do a little shopping. Christmas presents for myself... Edo's final words are "I regard my whole world as one industry." And upon exploring Eds Tone's world you can see why he says so. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Tyche/144/131/55 Jazz Club & Village http://slurl.com/secondlife/Pegasos/54/170/25
Shopping
45
46
Styles by Fashionist Winn Spicy Breyer
Spicy Breyer
http://stylesbydanielle.blogspot.com/
Section title
y Danielle
ta January
ners
Jewel Darbyshire
47
48
Keeping Yo with Khali
Keeping your Cool
our Cool i Hi Dear Readers,
I know you enjoyed reading this issue of our hot mag, from cover to cover, and I just know you are hungry for more! And, dear Reader, you shall have more because all of us at HeartBeat Magazine aim to please! The next issue will be jam packed with lots of features for you to be able to sink your teeth into, not least of which will be my new column, 'Keeping Your Cool with Khali'. Now, this where you get to help. Have you go a problem relating to relationships and / or sex? Does she want you to wear something you're just not comfortable with? Does he want you try some moves that just don't do it for you? Are you trapped in a relationship that is just not going anywhere? Are you being tempted by a gorgeous stranger? Have you taken things too far with someone and regretted it in the morning? Just a sample of what you can ask! I will feature, and respond, to as many questions as I can each month, from the serious to the humorous! So, get those notecards into me! Khali Farspire
49
50
Section title
51
52
Fashion
53
54
Fashion
55
56
Section title
57
58
Fashion
59
60
Section title
61
62
Section title
63
64
The source for this story has asked to remain anonymous. This is her story almost word for word. So beautifully written and shared. Here is her story and she so appropriately named it:
"The Game
Log out
by Keekee Dezno
e Changer"
65
66
Life takes a sharp turn sometimes and when it does what was once routine is no more and is replaced with a new set of priorities that first and foremost centers around survival. The game changer took the form of something out of left field for us. My husband, the popular and beloved school sports coach, who had always been the picture of health, strong, big and fearless, was stricken with a bizarre form of cancer. Innocently enough, it all started when a wisdom tooth started giving him trouble. It had to come out, well that was easy enough. Everyone gets their wisdom teeth out sometime or another. There were no complications with the extraction. However, the oral surgeon noticed that the gum surrounding the tooth was suspect. Without a word to my husband, he sent a biopsy of the tissue away to be assessed. Two weeks later when my
husband returned to the oral surgeon for a normal follow-up, he was given the shocking news that he did, in fact have cancer. Presented with this news, he handled it as he handles everything, with courage, hope and even humor. He actually bolstered me up during those early days of acceptance of his new status as a cancer victim. As always, we fell into our team roles, he being the strongest, the one attending to business as usual as I assumed my role of researching the disease and narrowing in on the very best specialist to handle his situation.. to save his life. Our first visit with the specialist revealed just how much trouble we were in. With great patience he spent almost two hours with us, explaining everything that would have to be done, answering every question we had. Truly, when we
Log out
realized the extent of the impending surgeries, we were in shock. In the car on the way home, he looked at me and said, "honey.. this is the big time!". "Yes, I know baby, but we'll get through this", I said. The rest of the ride home was in total silence, our hands touching, as we both allowed all the information we had been given to process. The following week, the day of his surgery that would take 18 hours to extract the cancer and immediately perform reconstructive surgery, he joked with the doctor, the nurses, my children, and anyone within ear shot of him. He was entertaining everyone, putting everyone else at ease. When they took him away, he was still joking as I walked along side holding his hand and smiling as long as I could, but inside I couldn't wait to let out the profound sadness and fear I felt. There
was plenty of time for that during the long wait until we knew that he had pulled through. Over a month in the hospital saw improvement each day as his determination and courage inspired us all. While there were set backs along the way, he never lost hope, got depressed, or displayed any self-pity. For several weeks he was not able to speak but he made us all laugh by using a small white board we had gotten him to communicate with, he would jot down silly things and funny jokes to crack us up. Following his hospitalization, he went through six weeks of radiation therapy traveling to the city every day. Fortunately I was able to take time off from work to be with him through all of it. As you might imagine, radiation therapy of the mouth causes incredible pain and he had a feeding tube surgically implanted into his
67
68
stomach so that he could be nourished during that process. Here's where the unusual becomes the routine. It's amazing how we both adjusted to this new lifestyle ... a great departure from the Italian feasts that we were accustomed to. The miraculous news is that he has not only recovered, he is better than ever! Although he's never gotten back to the size he was, that's turned out to be a good thing. He's really much healthier now. He was able to return to all of his activities and although he does have to be closely monitored by his specialist, he has passed the five year milestone as a cancer survivor! Through it all he stood as a beacon of courage and determination, never giving up, never
losing hope, relying on his strong faith and never missing an opportunity to incorporate humor as an ingredient to his recovery while putting everyone else at ease. Never take for granted your routine life, savor it. Take pause to appreciate the comfort of the routine, and the loved ones who are part of that routine. Because you never know when the game can change.
As always I want to Thank the lovely woman who so graciously is sharing her story with us all. And if you have a story you want to share, write it on a note card and pass it to me. Let me know if you want your name used or prefer to be anonymous
Section title
69
70
Section title
71
t r a e H AT BE e
gazin a M e f i Nightl d l r o -W Your In
c co.c . g a e at m b t r .hea www