Not A Pink Girl

Yeah! Vera Bradley integrates (sort of).

I was at the Hallmark store a few days ago buying a thank-you card for my friend Diane (she took me out for a fabulously decadent birthday lunch at Cheesecake Factory) & I noticed the new Vera Bradley magazine. Don’t ask me how I actually spied it; I have never seen so many VB pieces in one place. It looked like there was an explosion at the day-glo-paisley fabric factory.

Flipping through the magazine, I found two pages (out of about 70) that actually had non-white models on them! Yeah Vera! Welcome to post-Civil-Rights-Act America! FYI, the pages are 50 & 53.

I got a few comments (from the same person) on my previous Vera Bradley posts. “Susan” claims that VB gives 100% of the profits of certain prints to breast cancer research. The premiere issue of VB magazine has a layout about breast cancer. A luncheon or banquet is pictured where many women are gathered. Looks to be about 15 women, not one of which is non-white.

This question is for “Susan” (or anyone else who wants to answer): You say 100% “believe it or not.” How can I verify that? I would like to see an annual report or prospectus that shows these numbers. I would assume – especially in this economic climate – that anyone wanting to invest in VB would want to see the numbers.

“Susan” also chastised me for thinking the VB catalogs were photographed in the Hamptons. She claimed they’re produced in Indiana.

Also, “Susan” suggested that I had too much time on my hands if I was blogging about this subject (or maybe she meant blogging about any subject). I emailed her & asked her what she did to fill her precious time but I never got an answer. I guess she was too busy.

On the subject of thank-you cards at Hallmark: I bought a beautiful card from the new UNICEF line. It was a bit more expensive than a regular card of its (rather diminutive) size ($3.50), but it was unique, & UNICEF is one of my favorite charitable organizations.

Have you registered to vote? October 6 is the deadline. If you’re disgusted by the current state of the economy, & if you’re ready to get our precious troops out of Iraq & Afghanistan, put the blame where it belongs. Reject John McCain’s empty promises.

Vote for Barack Obama for president. Tell the filthy rich Republicans we’re mad as hell, & we are not going to take it anymore. Let’s take back our country.


Posted in Uncategorized

Lessons learned from a short life

My friend Nancy died on August 30. Her family did not have a funeral for her. They aren’t including Nancy’s friends in the arrangements for her memorial service which her mother vaguely said would be sometime in the spring in Seattle (where Nancy was born).

So about 13 months after her diagnosis of cancer, she is dead.

I still haven’t quite digested all this. I just got back from a cruise to Bermuda, a trip that came up suddenly & turned out to be a dream come true. I thought a lot about Nancy, our friendship, & her life (its accomplishments & missed opportunities) while I was gazing out at the beautiful ocean. 56 years old is just too young to leave this crazy life (& 56 seems quite young to me, the older I get).

I am having dinner with mutual friends of Nancy’s & mine this week. We haven’t gathered since January & I’m looking forward to sharing some memories of her with them. I’ll check in later in the week. I also want to tell you all about Bermuda.