Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2003. Mattie was a year and a half old and wearing his very first Halloween costume! Mattie did not like anything touching him that was rough or would make him itch. Not to mention clothes that felt tight! So this soft pumpkin sweat suit worked perfectly. But the reason I snapped this photo was because of Mattie's smile in front of the TV. Mattie NEVER sat still to watch TV. He was always multi-tasking and doing something in the background. But in this particular instance, something on the screen caught his attention and he was transfixed. That did not happen often. The one thing that usually produced this type of reaction was Elmo on Sesame Street.
Quote of the day: Living the past is a dull and lonely business; looking back strains the neck muscles, causing you to bump into people not going your way. ~ Edna Ferber
Years ago when I was a graduate student, I became involved in a professional organization called the DC Mental Health Counselors Association (DCMHCA). When I started with the organization, it did not even have a logo. I changed that. With Peter's help we designed the logo you see here with the Capitol building and flag. The flag has a shape on it that looks like a diamond. It is the logo of our parent organization, the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). In fact, right before Mattie was diagnosed with cancer, I was elected the president of AMHCA, which has 6,000 members across the USA. I was the youngest president to be elected. However, I never filled my terms effectively since Mattie got cancer.
Prior to my election into AMHCA, I served in various leadership roles within DCMHCA. From president to executive director. For two years now, DCMHCA has invited back to their annual conference to talk to attendees about licensure in the District of Columbia. In a way it is hard to go back, because being involved in counselor organizations, academia, and all things associated with mental health were things I did pre-cancer! It almost feels like I was another person then. Or I did this in another life. But as my role as licensure board chair it is important to interact with licensees and the public, so I do migrate out of my comfort zone. Mind you I still know MANY of the people who attend the conference!
1 comment:
Vicki, Mattie's picture, your quote, and reading about your wonderful accomplishments have filled my head with many thoughts -
Mattie, sometimes, I look at the beautiful pictures and find it impossible to believe, he no longer lives - he is so alive even in the still picture
I often ponder your quotes after I leave my message. This is one that will leave me thinking as I do live at times in the past.
I had no idea, of your involvement in these Organizations. I look forward, if you are willing to spend time talking about all of this, including the challenges you face when you go back to any part of it after the life you had while Mattie was in treatment and the life you live without him.
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