At long last I, along with my family, arrived in Oregon. I was eager to get on the road to complete the last day of our cross-country travels from Texas to Oregon. In the family suburban, I followed the big yellow Penske truck towing my car driven by Curtis. It was 6:00 AM and the sun had not yet risen. After driving for nearly an hour, the sun gently drifted upward from behind the mountains. It was pure beauty. Tears filled my eyes as a joyful smile cast across my face; I was nearly home. Although we were scheduled to leave Texas around 1:00 PM, we secured the moving truck the night prior to our departure and eagerly loaded our belongings until 1:00 AM. The next morning, after saying good-bye to several friends, we anxiously departed Cypress, Texas at 10:00 AM. We drove until we reached our first destination; Senora, Texas. Curtis and I decided that we wanted to arrive in Oregon as quickly as possible therefore we adjusted our time on the road each day; we would drive 12-14 hours per day. It was exhausting! With the exception of DJ, the manager of the Comfort Inn, Phoenix, and our trip was absolutely delightful. Mr. DJ decided that he did not much fancy our family staying at “his hotel” and refused our family service. It was unbelievable. We remain unclear what his “issue” was with our family – our reservation was intact prior to our arrival. It may have been my bald head; was he fearful that I was contagious, a lover of women, or a white supremacist? It may have been my children; was he decidedly opposed to housing my African American and Hispanic children of differing shapes, skin tones, and sizes? It may have been that he became dazed, left in a vast state of confusion and befuddled when my African American husband presented in the lobby alongside me.
Dear DJ,
We are writing to inquire if you have recovered from your momentary lapse in character that was witnessed at the Comfort Inn, Phoenix. Your vial and unconscionable actions cast upon our family were met with shear amazement and many questions as to why you refused service to our family. We believe that “people do well IF they can” and it seems you were having a less than stellar day. To ease your mind, cancer is not contagious and you will not become afflicted with cancer nor will you be converted into an African American or Hispanic person by coming into contact with “us”.
As I gently whispered to you prior to leaving your establishment, while on the telephone with your corporate office, you may want to reconsider the way you treat people – especially cancer patients and persons of color. Your actions were uncalled for, outrageous, and my hope is that you lose your employment with the Comfort Inn in order to spare others from your poor character traits.
In closing, please know that we welcome a belated apology for your behavior and actions; it would go a long way. We remain optimistic that today, you are having a much better day and will choose to provide excellent customer service to all your guests in the future.
What you do makes a difference,
The Garrett Family
After arriving in Oregon we were met by several friends and my baby brother who assisted with the unpacking of our moving truck. It was wonderful! One of our friends even provided food and beverage to our unpacking angels. We were unable to spend the first evening in our new home as we did not have heat as the gas was not scheduled to be turned on for two days; we spent the night in a hotel. I was freezing! The next evening we did not have heat however, we had the beds assembled and we all snuggled deep within our blankets and slept like babies. Since then, I have stocked-up on long sleeved shirts and sweatshirts to keep warm; my Oregon friends laugh at me because they are “hot” all the time! I love Oregon and am beyond thrilled to finally be back home where I am surrounded by loving friends, family, fresh air, a kind community, and where I feel most at peace.
This weekend we traveled to the Oregon coast, Yachats where Curtis and I were married. We all enjoyed frolicking on the beach, giant rocks, in the forest, and on nature trails. It was a day Curtis and I, for many years, longed for. It was amazing!
Ayurveda Wellness Modality
Prior to departing Cypress, Texas I met Sharon Kapp an Ayurvedic Practitioner, www.Houston-Yoga-Ayurveda.com. My goal is to bring my body back into balance whereby my immune system will have the ability to remove cancer from my body. Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: Ayu which means life and Veda which means the knowledge of. To know about life is Ayurveda; the combination of mind, body, and soul. Ayurveda is the science of life. We are all part of nature, just as animals and plants live in harmony with nature and utilize the laws of nature to create health and balance within their beings, we, too, adhere to these very same principles. Therefore, it is fair to say that Ayurveda is a system that helps maintain health in a person by using the inherent principles of nature to bring the individual backs into balance with their true self.
My daily regiment consists of herbs, a special diet that includes consuming kitchari and ghee, infrared saunas, lymph-system drain massages, meditation, herbal tea, and yoga to name of few. Every day I am feeling healthier and have more energy. I continue to do a great deal of interpersonal exploration to clear my soul of lingering hurt. For me, this journey is about quality of life, finding peace, and living. My intention is to bring my body into balance and conquer this cancer forever.
My mind is strong.
My mind is telling my body to heal itself.
My body is healing itself and casting out dis-ease.
My body is destroying cancer cells.
My body is healthy.
My mind is strong.
My soul is peaceful.
…. Today, I am hopeful~