On Friday, I donned my little black dress and my cherry red Fluevogs and moussed my hair for the trip down to Baltimore, where I had the pleasure of joining the fabulous Sophia Nash to benefit the Sixth Annual Jennifer Vido Author Dinner for Juvenile Arthritis.
Every year, author and reviewer Jennifer Vido, who was diagnosed with Arthritis at the age of eight, brings two authors to Baltimore to speak with the wonderful donors and staff of the Arthritis Foundation about writing. I was honored to be asked, and I came away from the evening so very inspired.
First, Sophia Nash is amazing...she's fun and funny and she drives a fast car. She told a beautiful story about her coming to be a writer at the insistence of her father, who never had a chance to see her first book published, but who I am certain is one very very proud papa these days. And let's just say this...if you have to choose someone with whom to share a Maryland crabcake sometime...choose Sophia. She's so fun.
Second, I'll confess to never having thought of Juvenile Arthritis before, but after hearing Jen's amazing stories about not only her own struggles with the disease, but also those of the more than 300,000 kids living with JA now, I'm so happy to have had a chance to be a part of this fundraiser. Sophia and I helped to raise nearly $10,000 to help send kids around Maryland to a summer camp specifically for children with JA, and I'm really touched to have been asked to be there.
Of course, I couldn't leave the event without getting Sophia to sign me a copy of Love With the Perfect Scoundrel, which I'm now giving away to you! Comment below and tell me the one place you've been where you feel you didn't get enough time...and I'll choose a winner on Friday for Sophia's book!
Don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you win! xo
Definitely London! I absolutely loved it there and I'm itching to go back and explore the parts I haven't seen before. And all the wonderful bookstores (so much better than the ones we have in Holland!). I think it's such a romantic place.
daisyjdebruin(at)gmail(dot)com
Paris. I had an unexpected layover and got to see the airport, but I'd love to go and actually see the city.
Italy! I was there for only a few days since my breaks are short and I really wanted to explore more.
Seattle, WA for me. I was in a long distance relationship with a guy who lived in Washington state. He lived about 2 hours away from Seattle and we went there for a day visit in the summer of 2008. Growing up in South Carolina I'm use to enduring horribly hot and humid summers and going to WA was nice (especially since WA's summer is SC's spring). But yes, Seattle was lovely. It had great views of the harbors and the market was very fun to shop and look around at. But the best thing was the weather. I even got to eat in the Space Needle (which took up the majority of the time). You're probably thinking that I did a lot of things for just one day, but I didn't even scratch the surface of Seattle. I would really love to go there again sometime. :)
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Thanks for supporting and bringing to attention the Juvenille Arthritis Foundation.
I was diagnosed with juvenille diaeties in my teens and without the work and support of the American Diabetes Association the strides that have been made in the field would not have been possible.
Bringing awareness to others about the research and help available for these childhood diseases is vital not only for the health of the children but also so they and their families and get the help and support they need.
Remember you can help by doing something as simple as helping a neighbor by watching siblings while they take their child with a medical issue to the docters.
Thank you for bringing juvenille arthrities and other childhood illnesses to the attention to your other readers.
If you all help just a little it will end up helping a lot of children.
Hawaii! I only stayed a weekend and that was way to short. Would love to go back and stay for at least a week.
marieimy (at) gmail (dot) com
Washington, DC. There's so much to see and we needed more time.
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I definitely did not have enough time in Japan. I studied abroad there during college for 10 months and adored it. Japan is such an amazing mix of old and new, and it felt like I was discovering something new every day.
And also thank you for your support of the Juvenile Arthritis foundation. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 22 (which is hardly a child), and have my lifestyle very altered, so I can only imagine the effects it has on children. It seems for some reason that when people see a young, healthy-looking face, they cannot understand the suffering that arthritis causes. I am sure that your support is very much appreciated.
Haven't been to many places but I would have to say Washington D.C. because there is so much to see and never enough time to do it. I did get the chance to go to Arlington National Cemetery while I was around the area and definitely could have spent a longer period of time there.
Alicia
shortyal2008(at)yahoo(dot)com
Italy. I spent a week there and that was not enough time. I especially adored Venice and the island of Murano. I didn't have time to explore the Doge's palace or go inside St. Mark's, just spent most of my time eating my weight in pasta. Oy.
aggiegirl11187[at]yahoo[dot]com
I haven't really had the opportunity to travel but I would love to go to Scotland. I think I could spend a year there and still have it not be long enough.
Former Baltimore resident but traveled a lot while living there and then relocated and never visited... I was just thinking today that I didn't get enough time there!
Good for you! My dad is a pediatrician and JRA specialist.
I'd love to go back to Norway. I had a lot of fun visiting my pen-pal for a weekend but didn't see nearly enough of even Oslo let alone other places.
I always dreamed of spending more time with my grandmother. We didn't have too many years together but "her house" and yard (with her in it) is definitely a place where I would LOVE to get back to. She had this green soft sofa, and a dark brown round coffeetable stacked full of romance novels :)
A large window overlooking a small garden with a birdfeeder on the wall and a chestnut tree too big for the spot. I can still picture it & remember our happy times together. So, thinking about it, I guess it's more the person then the place I long for.
lotsofgingers AT hellokitty DOT com
My childhood. I spent so much time wishing I would be older but now I miss being a kid.
secret_gurl69 AT hotmail DOT com
Seattle-- we were there for a couple of days, but feel like I could have spent weeks there. Also like the comment about childhood-- I wish I could go back to my (now non-existing) elementary school and walk around.
sarahchristena at yahoo dot com
Paris. I lived in Luxembourg for a year and made 4 trips to Paris during that time, but I still feel I barely scratched the surface of that city.
lulufrench2004 at gmail dot com