How Far Will Happy Go

As copied from the Galveston Daily News
This was a full page and half article with a big pink ribbon with my picute in the middle of the top of the ribbon.

Cancer survivor makes her catwalk debut

By Bridget Brown
Correspondent
Published May 17, 2009

TEXAS CITY — Melena “Mo” Brown, of Texas City, is always in what she calls her “happy zone.” Recently, she received news that caused her to smile to get even bigger — she was picked to walk the catwalk as part of the Susan G. Komen 18th annual Pink Ribbon Reception.

“I am always in my happy zone,” said Brown, a two-time breast cancer survivor, orator, writer and advocate. “I always smile. I’ve been this way ever since I survived the second time. That’s when I realized what a blessing my life was, and that every single day is a gift from God. No matter how bad I feel, I’m always happy.”

Brown was shocked when she received the invitation. This will be her first time on the runway.

“I’m 53 — I’m just a frumpy old woman, but I’m a two-time breast cancer survivor,” Brown said, laughing. “I don’t know if it’s because of my attitude or something. I feel like the lion at the Emerald City. It’s just incredible.”

Brown made her modeling debut Thursday in Macy’s Houston Galleria at Hidalgo in Houston after receiving a hair and makeup makeover courtesy of the department store.

She was outfitted in Macy’s new spring clothing line along with 12 other models.

“Typically, they are selected based on their community involvement,” said Tania Cruz, volunteer program coordinator for the Susan G. Komen Houston affiliate. “(Models) are recommended by our board and committee members.”

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is devoted to finding a cure for breast cancer. The reception featured the affiliate’s new project, Photovoice, where Komen Houston members were asked to capture and illustrate the barriers that face breast cancer patients by presenting photographs of the challenges they face.

In 1998, Brown was diagnosed with cancer and received a lumpectomy with 25 rounds of radiation treatment. In 2000, the cancer returned, and Brown underwent a full mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy.

“I’ve been cancer-free from breast cancer but something has gone awry in my body where an antibody that normally fights cancer has gone berserk and thinks my whole body has cancer,” Brown said.

There is no cure for the autoimmune disease called Stiff-Person Syndrome, she said.

“There are days I can’t even roll over in bed or move,” Brown said. “In the meantime, I’m having a good time, and I’m going to be a model.”

And, she shares her sunny disposition with the world through her Internet blog titled How Far Will Happy Go, where she posts about something good or happy each day. Readers from all around the world, including Peru, Indonesia and England, are regular visitors to the site.

“I thought, ‘What’s my purpose here?’” Brown said. “So I started a Web site to see how far will happy go.”

Her other calling is to advocate for early detection of breast cancer.

“I am a walking, talking billboard when it comes to mammograms and self exams,” she said. “Catch it early. Do our self exam. Your hand is your best defense against breast cancer.”

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At A Glance

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is devoted to finding a cure for breast cancer. For information, call 713-783-9188 or visit www.komen-houston.org.


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I check my site meter and I'm thrilled at how far 'how far will happy go' has gone. I've noticed that there are regular readers from all over the world. I would love to know who you are, what you're thoughts are, why you read this blog, what happens in your life that makes you happy. You have been consistently reading this blog since almost from the day I started it. Peru, London, Indonesia, UK,Nigeria,all over the US, etc. Please just leave a short comment one day. You make my day so much brighter when I see that you are one of the last 100 readers. You bring me such joy knowing that you are there. So, if you would be so kind, just leave a little comment and "Happy" others will know where "Happy' is. Thanks! Have a blessed day!

I've decided that I want to live life to actually LIVE life! That means going places and doing things that I've always wanted to do and I don't want to look back at my life and say 'I wish that I...I should have....I could have....'
So I decided that I wanted to go to the San Jacinto museum this weekend and none of my friends are into going to museums, so I went by myself. I drove all the way on the other side of Houston by myself.That in itself is a major feat.

San Jacinto is a very important place for Texas. It is where the last battle for Texas was fought with Mexico to obtain Texas. The Mexicans were going to start taxing the Texans and one thing that Texans don't like is being taxed. This is actually what led up to the Alamo. San Jacinto was the last battle after the Alamo and Gulio. Finally Santa Anna and Sam Houston met up with their armies at San Jacinto. The Texans were outnumberd 6 to 1. Santa Anna had 6000 troops and Sam Houston had less than 1000. But the way that Sam Houston positioned his troops and he knew that the Mexicans would be partying all night and sleeping all day, he attacted during the day while the Mexican troops were asleep. The battle only lasted 11 minutes and Santa Anna was captured and Sam Houston was wounded in the leg. So the two of them sat under an old oak tree and got high on heroin and Santa Anna gave Sam Houston in exchange for his freedom. He went back to Mexico and became president and Sam Houston got Texas.True story.
The monument is taller than the Washington monument. There were only 10 Texans killed during the battle and I wanted to get a picture of the cementary, so I tramped through the mud and weeds to get a picture. I fell in the mud and couldn't get up. I laid there and cried and then I remembered that I am a trooper too. I will live my life to actually do things to live life. So here are a few pictures of me living life covered in mud, but never the less, I'm living life! That's what real troopers do.

Recently I was nominated to be a breast cancer survivor model for MACY'S. Imagine that! Me...a model! I will be walking down a real runway with other real models.
Darn, I had lost all that weight and was down to a size 10 and then they put me on prednisone and I gained it all back. Oh well, such is a life of a model,always having to worry about their weight!I wonder if I get to keep the clothes?
This is the email that I received recently followed up with a phone call.

Dear Models!

We’re about four weeks away (May 14) from the Macy's Komen Diva’s and Dames Pink Ribbon Reception, and time to start doing our prep work. Oh, such is the life of a Super Model – work, work, work. J

The first order of business will be to fill out the attached Model Profile Sheet and return it with a full length photo of yourself. The first page of the Profile Sheet includes some helpful instructions to assist with scheduling, fittings, etc. As for the picture, almost everyone has a digital camera these days so I suspect that is the easiest way to submit a picture but if not and you prefer to fax or mail yours, please do so to the fax # or address below. Let me know via e-mail when you return your Profile Sheet how you will be submitting your picture (if it isn’t attached to your e-mail) so Sharon or I can follow-up on it. This picture will not be returned so please don’t send one you cannot part with. A candid photo will be perfect.

Please send this information to me by next Wednesday, April 8th. I will in turn get it to Sharon Biles who will coordinate your appointments with Beautique and Lenny for Macy’s from there. Sharon and/or someone from Beautique and Macy’s will be in touch with you about fitting times, hair and make-up appointments, etc. Sharon will be in touch with you but her e-mail is on the “cc” line above should you need to get in touch with her sabreproperties@yahoo.com
Until there’s a cure,

Georgia Wren-McConn

Komen Pink Ribbon Reception Style Show Co-Chair

3101 Richmond, Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77098

713-527-8600

713-527-8833 facsimile

gwren@glauserproperties.com

Yep, I made up my mind. I choose to be happy today. No matter what happens. I wake up in so much pain, but that's okay. i know that i can take some medicine and in an hour or so, the pain will ease. So I'm happy about that.

My neighbor across the street passed away last week and gave me her swing. One of those really nice one with the umbrella on top. Today, i will spend time swinging away and enjoying every moment of it and thinking of her the whole time. THERE was a lady who knew how to enjoy life! She was 89 and traveled all over the world. She would have so much fun everyday.

So today, I choose to be happy. i will share my happiness with my family and friends. They always laugh at some silly antic that i've come up with. (Sorry about the i in this, my cap lock is broke on just that letter, so i guess I shouldn't talk so much about i LOL)

But today will be a happy day. i don't know what is going to happen today, but something will make me happy. i just know it! Because i choose to make it that way. A lot of people will waste their day whining about the economy or health or other people, but not me. i'm just going to be happy today.

How about you? Can you "choose" to be happy today?

I hear horror stories about Mother-In-Laws all the time. And the number of jokes about them seem endless. It's suppose to be normal to make mother-in-law jokes. They are suppose to be mean, overbearing, obnoxious, nobody is good enough for my son type, you're not doing that right, blah, blah, blah. You know what I'm talking about. THE "Mother-In-Law". The one that everyone loves to hate. And maybe you do have one of "those" mother-in laws. If so, I'm so sorry. It must be horrible to put up with her just because you married her son.

But, if you're lucky, you will have a mother-in-law like I had. My mother-in-law, God rest her soul, was the BEST! She started out as my mother-in-law, then became like a mother to me, then became my best friend. Even after I divorced her son, she stood by me. When I remarried, she accepted my husband as her son-in-law. It was rather amusing when she would introduce us as her daughter-in-law and son-in-law. People would stand there with a look on their face, like "Huh?" until they would figure it out. I loved her so much and I miss her every day. She was a wonderful grandmother and would be so proud of her grandchildren how they turned out. I always felt blessed that God gave her to me as my mother-in-law. In fact,I know I was blessed. I could tell you a million about mine, but this post is about another mother-in-law really.It's not about mine. It's about someone else's mother-in-law.

My daughter has the best mother-in-law in the world. She loves my daughter as if she was her own. I am so happy and yes, I feel blessed that my daughter has this wonderful woman in her life. She is a terrific mother and grandmother. She's there when she is needed and she's there when she's wanted. There's a difference. She's been through a lot in her life and she always has a sunshine attitude,which is probably why I love her so much. She even takes the time to include me in the little details that go on with my granddaughter's life since I live so far away. She gives my granddaughter extra kisses and hugs and tells her they are from her Grandma Mo. She loves directly from her heart. Which is rare these days.
So I just wanted to write today about this mother-in-law. I don't have any mean jokes, or stories to tell about this mother-in-law. Just pure respect and love for her. I consider her MY mom-in-law. She is the type of woman that if we lived near each other, instead of thousands of miles away, we would be best friends.

Do you have any stories about a mother-in-law? Are you a good mother-in-law or do you have a good mother-in-law? What do you think constitutes being a good mother-in-law? I just know that not only is my daughter blessed with one, so am I. I couldn't have special ordered a better mother-in-law for my daughter if I had tried. And that, my friends, makes me very happy.

The other night, I ran out of paper in my printer and for the life of me, couldn't get my printer to work after that. I didn't have a paper jam, I made sure the paper was loaded properly, I doublechecked everything. It just wouldn't work. I don't know why. I turned it off, I hit the reset button. Everything. All I did was add more paper to it. What the heck? I finally got frustrated and went to bed as it was late.

The next morning, I woke up and went to the printer and hit the reset button, just for the heck of it. This is what the printer spit out..



HP DeskJet 930C Series

(picture of flower that it drew)

And then the message appreared

Anything is possible...
HEWLETT

PACKARD

Expanding Possiblities

I swear! I didn't put anything in there that would cause a message like this to come out of my printer! It did it all on it's own. I laughed so hard. It just started my day so right. Even my printer believes! But now I have it in writing.
Have a "Happy" day!
Mobea