Melanoma Independence Day

It’s Cinco de Mayo, and I’ve yet to hear a peep from my favorite cancer center about melanoma or melanoma awareness month. Despite the fact it’s home to one of the leading treatment programs in the country. Last Pinktober, these folks were all over promoting breast cancer awareness on the center’s Facebook page. The disparity irks me a bit. But its just one small example of what everyone at The Hotel Melanoma confronts every day. So I guess the lesson to be learned here is that we’re going to have to do it ourselves, grassroots, with little or no help from the cancer establishment.


I’m declaring this Melanoma Independence Day, because only by our independent and individual efforts--that will undoubtedly annoy some of the people we know--will we ever make black the new pink. And here’s my anthem of the day to the folks who’ve yet to check into our Hotel, to the tune of REO Speedwagon’s “Keep On Loving You”…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekhT0Myh-Zo

You should've seen from the look of my fries, baby
I had somethin’ dissin’
You should've learned from the harms from my choice, maybe
But you didn’t listen
You’re brain dead
And you lay in beds
All red you lay still under glass
All oiled up and glis’ning


And though you know all about mole friends
Still you don't remember
’Cause you’re like us baby, pre-Hotel M
And you’re still like leather
And I meant, every word I said
When I said that I’ll bug you I meant
That I’ll bug you forever


And I'm gonna keep on buggin’ you
Cause it's the only thing I know to do
I don't wanna sleep
I’m just gonna keep on buggin’ you


And I meant every word I said
When I said that I’ll bug you I meant
That I’ll bug you forever


And I'm gonna keep on buggin’ you
Cause it's the only thing I know to do
I don't wanna sleep
I’m just gonna keep on buggin’ you