Making 2018 Great...the Redux

Well hello there, I didn’t see you come in. So glad you stopped by…

20 days into the New Year, and I hope 2018 is THE year for each and every one of you reading these words right now. I must say, the years began with such optimism and hope, but was soon tainted by another senseless death of someone close to me. For privacy sake I choose not to share more of the details in this post, but suffice to say I had hoped that this year would somehow be devoid of loss and sadness. Unrealistic, I realize, but in my “Pollyanna” life everything and everyone is just hunky dory, and happiness rules the realm. However, in reality, sadness and loss happens, and is indeed a part of life. It doesn’t make it any easier to cope sometimes, but it can make the value of each and every day we are breathing a wondrous thing.

I have taken a somewhat “abbreviated” approach to social media this year, and I must say the break has been enjoyable. When I started my business back in 2009, social media was the thing that helped me get off the ground. Now, realizing that there is no longer an obligation to the social media gods to check and post and like and emoji and retweet…you get the gist…was a bit much to keep up with. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that we live in a social media age. However, there does come a point where too much can be truly too much. Case in point…

* * * *

My mother is an amazing lady! In here…70’s shall we say, as posting her real age has brought the

Which one...which one!

wrath of Sylvia down on me more than once for breaking this cardinal law, is truly a student of the social media age. Recently, she has been looking to replace a cell phone that was stolen from here last fall. As a buffer, and knowing she wouldn’t want to settle for just any cell phone, I gave her my “old” iPhone 6, as I had upgraded last year as well. Well, there were a couple of pitfalls to this exchange; one that the voice mic on the phone itself no longer works unless using a headphone mic. Add to that a significant crack to the face, that could be repaired, but that is considered “money spent for something unnecessary.” Still the challenges of this phone have prompted a need for a new one.

Truth be told, I’m not a technophile; as much as I’d like to. So off we went to the magic cell phone store for a new phone. When we met with a very charming fellow who was all set to make a sale of the day sized transaction, he was a bit surprised by the exchange with mom…so was I. She not only knew the functionality and special features of the top two finalists, she knew the price of each, as fact that even our trusty sales guy couldn’t quote from memory.

I was floored…and a bit impressed, not to mention immensely proud of her!

Charming cellphone sales guy dimmed a bit; as he realized his lack of knowledge may have just nailed that final nail in the coffin of this sale…which it did. Armed with a few of the blanks that she needed for an informed and intelligent decision, we took our leave…sales guy and I exchanging similar “wow” expressions as mom and I departed.

As we left, I had to ask, “What was that about?”

Mom just said with a smile, “I think 2018 is my social media year. I want to make sure I can tweet like the president.”

Uh oh…

* * * *

Who? Me?!?

Now I bet that story was not fully where you expected me to go, was it? I bet you thought I would start out with the POTUS and his proclivity for tweeting. I am not bragging, but once upon a time, before the election of 2016, our now POTUS followed me on Twitter. Yep, I was called a “bleeding heart liberal who didn’t want to see America become great again,” because I was only too ready to call him out in social media. And then one day, the tweets from him were gone. I must say I was a bit bummed; I hadn’t thought to save a pic of the tweets, which would have come in handy. Still, it was quite gratifying to be on his radar even if it was briefly.

Still, the thought of my mom tweeting with the POTUS has me a bit concerned. As I have slowly learned in my fledgling time as a “fiftysomething,” I have learned that one of the major perks is the slow and methodical loosening of our internal filter. I find it so easy to say what is on my mind…whether asked or not…that it is a bit daunting. It’s like a switch has been flipped…for better or worse. The POTUS, and my mom both have a head start on what I call the “Grand Torino Syndrome.” I’ve referenced it before; Clint Eastwood and his unyielding grit when telling those bratty kids to “Get off his lawn!” I can only imagine the potential sparring that could occur between the two. Let the games begin!

Oh, and for the record, I think mom has settled on an iPhone, in case you were wondering.

* * * *

So back to the events of this year so far. As I said, I won’t get too into the details of what has Colorado Health Institute.

Rep. Leslie Herod

happened to yet another friend, but I will say that substance abuse is indeed a serious problem in this country. Colorado unfortunately boasts one of the highest rates of death from overdose in the nation. New data paint a grim picture of Colorado's rising drug-related deaths. The statewide rate of drug overdose deaths climbed 68 percent between 2002 and 2014, from 9.7 per 100,000 residents to 16.3 per 100,000 residents. Colorado's 2014 rate is higher than the national average of 14.7 drug-related deaths per 100,000, according to a 2016 analysis by the

I am incredibly pleased and proud to learn that my dear friend and state rep extraordinaire, Leslie Herod, as well as her colleague Rep. Brittany Pettersen, have taken up the mantle on this fight. Leslie tweeted recently on this issue stating:

“Overdose deaths are up in Colorado and Denver is reeling from a steep increase of overdose deaths throughout the city. My colleague Rep. Brittany Pettersen and I are heading to Vancouver, a city hard hit by the overdose epidemic, to learn about strategies to reverse this dangerous trend.”

I urge you to keep up to date with her on this journey by following her on Instagram or visiting her web site. Leslie is such an asset to our state house…can bigger things be far off? ;)

* * * *

Lastly, I have to speak a bit on the fundraising campaign I launched at the end of last year. To all those who participated, I want to say a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU! While it was not the screaming success that I had hoped it to be, any funds raised to help the National LGBTQ Task Force is money well spent. If you didn’t participate in the fundraiser I organized, but still wish to participate, please feel free to do so. It is a very worthwhile cause!

From many folks I was encouraged by the feedback I received. Just a few I received…

“Great Idea!”
“What a clever concept!”
“An innovative way to inspire fundraising!”

At the end of the day, I wouldn’t call it a screaming success. So what was the final tally?

$685…

So while I choose not to call any raising of funds a failure, I would love some insights as to what could have been done differently. Was my goal amount too daunting? Was my approach a turn off? Was it asking too much?

Please note; the timing of my birth cannot be changed. Believe me, in these 51 years I have wished it could be. And, spoiler alert, there WILL be a fundraiser for 52 as well, God willing. So be prepared…and again, please share your insights that might help make 2018’s even a success before it even launches in November.

In the meantime, please look to these pages for a special invite to another fundraising event to be held this spring for those who donated, as a special “THANK YOU” for the support.

* * * *

Well, I guess that I have rambled on enough for one day. Thank you all for the indulgence, and especially your support. Until next we meet, wishing you all nothing but best wishes.