How about a funny story to start: my oldest dog had problems waking up this morning, I thought he was dead, ok that’s not funny, I was screaming his name….nothing. Finally he wakes, I see his front leg doesn’t work. Thinking about how hard the stairs would be…..I made a potty spot in spare room. This is funny or maybe just laughing at self, I put these huge kotex on the carpet, the sticky really helped. Then I stacked sheets then his vomit towel. Lovely thought, at least he knows it’s his…..I have been trying all morning and he would rather slide down stairs than go on kotex. Isn’t that a man/dog for you. HAHA!

It’s also funny to me that kotex are in the house, Lyme created the need. I had a total hysterectomy at 28 years old. Very glad to say at 53, they got all the cancer. To top it off, since I have trouble remembering due to Lyme, I thought next year I turned 53, not a couple of months ago. Not sure how 53 feels yet.

Let’s celebrate Monday with an old Rolling Stones concert clip when they came thru my town. I can’t decide if Mick sounds worse then or now, or always. I do like many of their tunes. Hug somebody you love today. M

Advocates For Sexual Assault Who Drive Change

End The Backlog is a program of Joyful Heart Foundation, a national non-profit organization founded by actress and activist Mariska Hargitay with the mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever.

Over the years, however, we have begun to see progress. Increasingly, states and local jurisdictions are beginning to recognize the value of testing rape kits. They are starting to count, track and test the untested kits in their facilities, and they’re seeing powerful result. 

What do we know about the rape kit backlog & what’s being done to end it.

Explore our interactive map: http://www.endthebacklog.org

For example, in New York City, where there had been a backlog of 17,000 untested rape kits before eliminated in 2003, city and law enforcement officials enacted a policy and developed a system to test every rape kit. The city’s arrest rate for rape has since jumped from 40% to 70%.”Joyful Heart now provides us with expertise, guidance and a national perspective.

They are helping to find ways to secure the funds needed to test the remaining kits and ensuring that all efforts to end this atrocity, is an important project under the direction of Joyful Heart foundation.

– Kym Worthy, Wayne County Prosecutor

The federal government estimates that hundreds of thousands of rape kits sit untested in police and crime lab storage facilities across the country in what is known as the rape kit backlog.

Discuss with the men in your life. Men have wives, mothers, sisters, daughters and co-workers. Check out the interactive map on endthebacklog.org, you can see the progress for your state and city, look at how many rape kits are left untested.

One out of six  men are sexually assaulted, often living traumatized without support, few crimes are reported. The information may surprise you, unfortunately it’s reality. The 1 in 6  organization provides support. I’m currently researching the organization a look forward to sharing how support is provided.

I glanced at an article today which stressed the first year in college is when a crime is likely to happen. Men also have sons, brothers, cousins, neighbors and fathers. Young adults are not aware of the dangers of college life. You can help by finding out what is important to share with your college students, it may not have crossed their mind.

Xx  M

Today would be your 76 birthday, there are a few things to say. I don’t know if you were with God in your final hours. I can’t assume you asked for forgiveness, I can’t assume you’re in Heaven.

Granny and Gramps went to their graves not knowing the pain you inflicted on me. Granny would breakdown, I would not cause her such pain.

You told me several times you were going to kill yourself, I didn’t doubt. I chose to keep the information to myself.

Granny was never the same after taking your life.

You called delusional, hallucinationing your phone was tapped. I found the cassettes, listened to every one, it’s sad where the mind can take us.

I have an idea how difficult it must have been living with a delusional mind.

Years soften the memories and pain, time doesn’t mean forgiveness. I choose to move forward building a healthy life. I’ve forgotten those times, their packed away, never to share.

Your son doesn’t have recollections of the worst times, he hardly knew you, you two didn’t spend much time. He knows nothing of my pain, like granny, he will go to his grave knowing none.

I talked with your half-brother Michael last year, he had photos and fond memories of you, the times you shared. Thru him I learned your side of the family suffered from depression for generations back.

Until next year

Melinda