Where oh where is GEM now? Well, at this very moment, I’m typing this just over Las Vegas at about 37,000 feet, as Buff and I wing our way east and back to the real world. But for a scant three days, we were in paradise.

Every year, we take part in American Airlines Celebrity Golf and Tennis. This is the 17th year for the event but only our 5th time going. Funny and true story: I am one of the celebrities so for two days I golf with groups of people who have paid to be there. The first year we were there, Buff, an avid golf fan, was happier than a kid in a candy store. So he put on all of his brand new swag and, as we’re heading out the doors, says to me, “ Who’s the celebrity you’re playing with?”

Crickets

“Um, hi, yes honey, I AM the celebrity in our group!”

Anyway, it’s an event that is near and dear to us, given my history and work with Susan G. Komen and breast cancer causes.  And because I think of you as my extended family, I wanted to share some photos from the event.

DAY ONE:

 

So here’s the deal; I would be a much better golfer I played more than two or three times a year. It’s not that I don’t like the game, but I’m too busy to really devote the amount of time it takes to get good. So I sort of stay in that beginner range. The good news is I’m a jock at heart so I have a degree of natural ability, which manifests itself in the tee shot. Since the women’s tee boxes are further up from the mens, I am able to help my team that way, even though the rest of my game is hit or miss.

Later that night, we dined under and WITH the stars, including a visit from this guy!

 

Magic Johnson was so gracious and magnanimous! He took photos with everyone who asked but more than that, auctioned off some prize packages and raised almost $100,000.00 for Komen for the Cure in about 10 minutes!

 DAY TWO:

I had a different team the next day, four guys and one of them was the guy I’m married to! Now, before you get all googly-eyed about how romantic that sounds, let me just stop you. No. No it is not romantic because Buff takes the game far more seriously than I do (didn’t you see me say I play two-three times a year?) and getting all worked up on the golf course is not my idea of a good time.

It was fun anyway, because I rode in a separate cart. For real. But the highlight of the day came when I got to provide some heroics. All five guys in my group bobbled their tee shot on 17. So it was up to me to help our group. It just so happens this was also the Ladies Longest Drive hole. So (cue Chariots of Fire theme) I stepped up, went through my pre-swing routine then I gripped it and ripped it! And it just so happens, it was my best shot of the day! Not only did I give our team a great place from which to hit, put me in the lead for the Long Drive competition.

 

At dinner that night.. guess who won it???

 

It was an incredible weekend, of tennis, golf and good times but more than that, they raised an incredible amount of money for Komen for the Cure.

We’re just over a week into Breast Cancer Awareness month so I would challenge you to do what you can to help knock out this formidable opponent. Run or walk in a Komen race, make a donation, talk about it and know your risk. Breast cancer is very treatable if it’s caught early so please, do your part to help others and yourself.

Have you, or someone you know, been impacted by breast cancer? How did it make you feel? Have you ever participated in a Komen event or raised money in another way for the cause? Tell me about your experience!