M.E.I.N. TRAVEL PACKAGE to NYC & DC!OUR FIRST-EVER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS TRAVEL PACKAGE! Monday, Sept 28: What a great time in NY and DC! It all started with our longest welcome party of the year for our smallest group of the year as we enjoyed our private space on the second floor of O'Brien's Bar & Grill. Pink attire was suggested and ranged from pink hightops to pink panties! Cyndy (M.E.I.N. staffer) maintained the professional side with an elegant pink scarf, while I exposed my pinkest side with a furry pink vest, which later became a fuzzy pink tutu. After the Irish barmaid finished pouring the last drink for our group, we bid everyone goodnight and hoped they'd get some sleep in "the city that never sleeps." Some had been up since the crack of dawn to catch Melissa on Good Morning America. There were no tickets available but they magically got invited in when Melissa heard they were there. Good job y'all. You're famous! :) |
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 Good Morning America with Melissa! |
 Melissa performing at the HRC NYC Pinktober event |
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Tuesday, Sept 29: The HRC event in NYC was totally great. Such good energy in there with Melissa's witty and personal sharing during the interview and entertaining balance of rockin' songs in between. The check-in process outside was fun and easy as we confirmed and wristbanded the happy crowd of pink. The glitch was that we were delayed nearly 1 1/2 hours! MLE had 9 interviews and everyone was doing their best on the inside to keep the flow going. The folks outside were patient and when we finally got to enter, it was a smooth and efficient process. The Hard Rock NYC literally rolled out the pink carpet and had yummy pink drinks, cookies and pink eclairs ready to enjoy as you entered. The place looked great, the vibe was cool and Melissa and her new 'do looked fab-u-lous! |
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| Melissa and entourage boarded their special Pink Bus while our travel package group enjoyed their own private coach...which beat the Pink Bus to JFK, but who's being competitive? Sadly, we did miss the pink lights on Times Square, but got a wonderful pink experience upon arrival to the airport - men in pink ties escorted us to our own pink check-in counter where more pretty people in pink ties and scarves checked us in! Photos snapped, Melissa sported a pilot's cap, and we were all so hap-py! |  |
 Melissa with pilots in media photoshoot at JFK |
The plane ride opened our hearts even MORE than they already were! Our seats were interspersed throughout the plane which allowed us to mix and mingle with the Delta and Hard Rock survivors. Tears rolled down cheeks as Melissa played a rockin, "I Run for Life" which sounded incredible in-flight thanks to the speakers placed in the overhead bins. Melissa commented that she felt like she'd become part of some kind of "mile-high" club now...we all felt the same way too!! An unforgettable experience. |
| At take-off and then again upon landing, Delta fire-trucks gave our Pink Plane what's called a "water salute" as 2 trucks sprayed a powerful gust of water over the plane. I was taught to give a thumbs up from the plane window by my seatmate, Theresa. She and I bonded as she shared her experience with breast cancer. I felt inspired by her courage and even by her struggle with finding the hope and acceptance with having been diagnosed months ago. She shared how Melissa has given her courage and strength. Landing in DC and at the Reagan airport gave us the chance to feel DC's pink hospitality as we were greated with a decorated gate, pink punch and cupcakes and warm smiles. So much love on this day. I could feel the healing happening all around me. We jumped on our shuttle and to the JW Marriott we went. |
 Delta's Pink Plane |
Wednesday, Sept 30: Another smooth check-in process at the HRC DC, and well, another bit of a wait to get inside for M.E.I.N. members. But once again, the symposium opened our minds and hearts and I think we all forgot about it once inside. |
 HRC DC Symposium Panel |
The eclectic panel gave all of us hope that a cure is something within our reach...maybe more literally than one might believe. Melissa consistently shares that we have the ability to create good health within ourselves based on the choices we make, particulary our everyday choices like what we eat and drink. I'm right with you Melissa! It was clear (as usual) that Melissa's creativity and spirit reaches beyond her music as she artfully expressed her viewpoints and shared how she receives guidance when she quiets herself, when she's open to the wisdom of the cosmos (which might be all the time these days). She spoke of stillness as part of the equation for healing - it was there that she recognized that her life was going at a style and pace that wasn't serving her anymore. |
After the event, I got to ask Melissa a few member-submitted questions and these were videotaped. I shared how amazing this event was for all of us and she expressed her joy of doing it and for having such an incredible family around her. I think I blew her a kiss as I said goodbye and I was like...did I just blow Melissa a kiss?! I tend to do silly things, but always from the heart. :) You'll be seeing these questions on the website in the coming months... So that was it! Pinktober #10 and one that we'll always cherish. Thanks to the Hard Rock, Delta, BCRF and to the huge crew that made this all happen. See you next year!
-Marc from M.E.I.N. |
