Happy Tuesday. I’m just going to dive in on this subject. It’s been a few days since I underwent my first colonoscopy in a decade. I was overdue, colon cancer runs in my family, and my siblings go every few years starting in their early 40s, whereas I put mine off as I just did. No good excuse. In the past year I suffered serious backaches, where in the spring I was bedridden for most of it, missing my bird migration. In recent weeks I had serious stomach aches, and one of my blood tests came back bad. An emergency colonoscopy was ordered. It was a stressful week. But everything turned out OK. It seems stress and my coffee habit was causing stress on my digestive system.

I was lucky. What I learned is, don’t be me. When you come of age, 45, you can get a colonoscopy. It’s preventive care. Don’t wait until it’s emergency, and the voices in your head take you down a dark road while waiting for the procedure. The bottom line during a colonoscopy, your doctor checks for abnormalities or disease in your large intestine, particularly the colon. The prep is so easy now, especially since you mix it with Gatorade, a drink we all love, or if you don’t Crystal Light. My doctors are at Jefferson, but I’m sure where ever your doctor is located, they’ll do a great job as well. The staff does this every day, and are able to put you at ease and answer any question you might have. BTW the nurse wants me to assure you you will not have an accident on the table, it’s just like getting your teeth cleaned, where the tool is also a suction cup. So don’t be afraid of doing preventitve care, whether it’s a colonoscopy, endoscopy, mammogram, diabetes care, PSA, annual physical. You can either take care of it today, or in an emergency someday, and that my friend is no fun.

The doctor said get up and move around as soon as you can, so the next day Mike and I went for a walk. I see Victory Brewing Company at 18th and the Parkway is very close to opening. The tables are set, the gift store is stock and the outside tables are in place. I bet the place is packed by Halloween. It looks beautiful.

Sad to have missed my friend Patty Jackson’s street naming ceremony on Friday. So glad my friend Kory Aversa was able to be there for us, oh and my other friend “in my head” Patti LaBelle. Congratulations Patty Jackson, a deserved honor as you have made a positive impact on so many peoples lives over the decades you’ve been on the air at WDAS, and through out your body of work here in Philadelphia.

Happening this Saturday at the Northeast Family Y The Anti-violence Basketball Game. INFO HERE> Peace out. ChitChat soon, HughE

Over the years I’ve made a trek to Cape May in the fall to see the butterfly migration which occurs in late September and early October. It’s been hit or miss over the past few years, but it’s always a lovely day especially when I go with Mike.

In my next life I’m going to commit to memory what kinds of birds I see, maybe.

I love people watching as much as wildlife.

Happy Birthday to my sisters Crista and Margaret!!

We didn’t see too many butterflies this year, even though I read it was the best year in a decade, but I did get to spend the day with Mike and that was priceless. We enjoyed a beautiful day, as well as our favorite dining spot in Cape May – Exit Zero. Hopefully next year we’ll spot more than two. In the meantime check out my friend John Cooke’s photo who captured the beauty the day before; If you go in the next week, or in the upcoming years this is what you might see. The best time to go is after the temperatures drop below 70f, or a cold front passes, like last Thursday night. The butterflies fly along the coastline, on their way to Mexico for the winter. They stop at the point towards the evening as they know they can’t make it across the wide Delaware Bay. How they know I have no idea since each generation is new to the migration. Isn’t nature fascinating.

cookecapemay

It’s a Traffic jam of @capemaymonarchs proportions at Cape May point. Incredible to see this firsthand. Naturalist are encouraged by the significant numbers. #capemay 10/2/21 **

Say a prayer for me today as I undergo a common medical procedure, a colonoscopy, which over 45’s should do more regularly for preventive care. Thanks so much.

On Sat., Sept. 25, 2021, Pep Boys Auto Service, one of the nation’s largest repair and
maintenance providers, brought its Centennial Road Trip Celebration to the Company’s
hometown of Philly with the ultimate tailgate party that included a live DJ, classic cars, family
activities, local food trucks and prizes all along Citizens Bank Way before the Phillies game.

This epic Pep Boys branded bus is celebrating with the customers and team members across
the nation who have made 100 years of Pep Boys possible.

In celebration of Pep Boys’ centennial, President and CEO Brian Kaner awarded a $10,000 scholarship to an aspiring
automotive technician, part of a commitment to give $100K to students in the skilled trades,
thanked the hundreds of Pep Boys Team Members in attendance for their commitment to the
Company, and led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday – all before throwing out a perfect first
pitch!

Dr. Kiplee Bell-Morris, CEO of the KJM Memorial Foundation with Swoop at The 3rd Annual BELIEVE GALA 2021 at the Philadelphia Marriott Old City. The KJM Memorial Foundation is named after Colonel Kevin John McAleese who was diagnosed with the terminal brain tumor, Glioblastoma. Taken way too soon, the Foundation was created to honor his legacy and provide support to families with a loved one fighting brain cancer. The Foundation also provides scholarship funds to women in the State of Pennsylvania seeking higher education.

According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article:

Kevin John McAleese had been active in the Miss America Pageant as a volunteer. In the early 1990s, Mr. McAleese was called to escort some Miss America contestants in the Philadelphia area.

It was through his work with Miss America that he became interested in reviving the Miss Philadelphia pageant, which had gone dormant in the mid-1980s, colleagues said.

He brought the contest back in 1996 and served as executive director, enlisting the help of sponsors, volunteers, and others, colleagues said….”His vision is essentially what kept the pageant alive,” said Kiplee Bell, who was Miss Philadelphia in 1998 and is now a physician. “And Kevin was committed to providing scholarship dollars and access to education for women who might not necessarily have that opportunity.”

The Believe Gala was held on Sept 25th, 2021  at the Marriott in Old City Philadelphia.  Tickets are $150 which includes open bar, cocktail reception, three course meal and dessert reception.  It was a masked, socially distanced black-tie event benefiting Glioblastoma patients + families as well as scholarships for women. 

Guests enjoyed lite bites and cocktails on the patio outside the ballroom as well as the cocktail area, where they also checked out fabulous auction items.   

There was a Keynote Speech from Dr. Bookvar from Netflix’s series Lenox Hill, performances from local Philadelphia talent, celebration of this year’s KJM honorees, and a silent auction.

In an effort to carry on this important work that Kevin can no longer do personally, the Kevin John McAleese Foundation conducts an annual scholarship essay contest to award financial assistance towards college tuition or associated expenses. Past KJM Scholarship recipients are applying their awards to degrees in the fields of law, medicine, journalism, business and entertainment. Stay tune for information on next year’s gala and hope you can join us. Have a great day and enjoy the return of fall.