5 minute read
Project Hope Alliance Anti Gala “Bottomless Hope”
over. The woman said the fixtures had always been in her parents’ bedroom, as far as she could remember. They were family heirlooms.
“I’ll give them a second life,” I assured her. My mind danced with ideas as I envisioned these treasures in my redecorated bedroom.
A worker, helping her with repairs, grabbed a ladder and loosened screws. The chandeliers clanged in complaint as they were removed from the only home they had ever known and placed into a cardboard box. I jammed the rattling pair into my hatchback and headed back to Yorba Linda.
AS I DROVE ALONG THE 22 Freeway, the hot summer sun reactivated the stench of nicotine and my own childhood memories. An image of my father’s side profile, his elbow resting out the open window of our speeding car, bobbed to the surface of my mind.
With his left hand, he sucked in long drags of his Marlboro while his right hand guided the steering wheel. When I became old enough to drive, I imitated his refined thumb flick to release my own spent ashes into the wind.
Back home, I filled the sink with hot, sudsy water. I disassembled the fragile fixtures with surgical precision. The plump, almond-shaped crystals came o like ornaments from a tree, while the longer strands of jewels required finesse to avoid crimping the delicate wire holding them together. Piece by piece, they were dipped into a luxurious bath, leaving a yellow, powdery residue amid the bubbles. As I gently agitated the water to release the dirt and grime, their clinks and clatters reminded me of glasses toasting on New Year’s Eve.
After their gentle scrubbing, I ran the jewels under clear, warm tap water, baptizing them for their new home. The larger crystals felt smooth and heavy, and they breathed in light as I bu ed them shiny. When I held each up, little prisms gleamed and preened, invigorated once again.
The stripped metal frames of the chandeliers were cloaked in a fresh coat of gold then reunited with their adornments. Standing on a step stool, I placed each piece on its awaiting prong. Crystals spouted from the top and dripped into glistening strands like
PROMOTION
O.C. Scene PEOPLE | PARTIES | EVENTS | OPENINGS
PROJECT HOPE ALLIANCE 8TH ANNUAL ANTI GALA “BOTTOMLESS HOPE”
Project Hope Alliance’s Anti Gala was held at The Grand Gimeno in Orange, hosting over 180 guests as they enjoyed one-of-a-kind food and drink stations for brunch. This year’s event raised over $280,000 to help fund PHA end the cycle of youth homelessness.
Photo Credit: Project Hope Alliance
a grand water fountain.
Golden chains dangled from the bottom of each fixture, swaying in anticipation. A little tug and a click brought them back to life as electricity charged up the cords and into the filaments. Suddenly, my bedroom was bathed in a kaleidoscope of color that highlighted the gold undertones of the gray paint. Two shadow doilies spread across the ceiling and draped down the walls, creating art that shimmered and pulsed.
OVER THE YEARS, THOSE
crystal sentries o ered a healing glow after my multiple cancer treatments. When I was diagnosed in 2003, my rare, neuroendocrine cancer had already metastasized. My life became a steady stream of surgeries, chemo, and radiation therapy—all of which left me feeling zapped and withered. Each time, recuperation stretched from days to weeks. After a di cult liver surgery in 2015, I remained in bed one morning staring at my chandeliers. The once clear path of my future was now refracted and distorted. Dreams of graduations and grandkids were replaced with fears of relapse. Suddenly, a sliver of sunlight pierced through my window and permeated the prisms at just the right angle to sprinkle the room with tiny rainbows. Through a blur of tears, I marveled at the colorful orbs that danced across my ceiling. Maybe my story was not yet written. What if there were as many endings as facets in a crystal? This tiny shift in perspective sparked a glimmer of hope.
In happier times, the crystals reflected the blinking TV screen as my husband and I spooned during our nightly episodes of “Seinfeld.” They illuminated novels and scribbled words on pads of paper I kept stacked nearby.
The magical combination of gray, gold, and crystal has withstood the test of time, yet other elements of my spa-like retreat now show their age and look less than perfect. The corner of the painted dresser bears the marks of a puppy’s teeth, and the oncewhite chair arms have grayed around the hand rests. The carpet, matted by three dogs in various states of stretch and recline, has seen better days. I, too, have aged. But gray hair and the wrinkles that have formed around my eyes have become gifts to cherish.
Scans are scheduled every six months to monitor the progression of my cancer. Usually along the same timeline, the chandeliers need cleaning. I pull out my step stool and a soft cloth dipped in warm water and start at the top. One at a time, I grip each crystal to feel its weight and remove the accumulation of dust. I whisper prayers of gratitude for my continued health. And when I’m finished, I gently pull the dangling chains to bathe in the restorative rays.
Clarity achieved.
STEVEN A. MIYAMOTO, DDS
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Steven A. Miyamoto specializes in using growth factors and stem cells to expedite healing after surgery. His practice includes pinhole surgery for gingival recession, wisdom teeth removal, diagnosing and treating facial pain, facial injuries and Osteonecrosis, as well as dental implant and bone grafting procedures. He completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey after graduating from UCLA Dental School. Dr. Miyamoto teaches continuing education classes, and serves as general anesthesia inspector for the California Dental Board along with volunteering at several other professional committee boards.
fullertonoralsurgery.com
113 West Amerige Avenue | Fullerton, CA 92832 | 714-525-1178
2022
