For those of you who know me at all, you know that I absolutely love my job. I work at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. My title is Patient Navigation Coordinator. The patient navigation program is "my baby." Navigators are volunteers who are professionals in the cancer field, either by being a social worker, nurse or other "professional" or by being a cancer survivor, far enough out from treatment to be able to help patients jut beginning their journey.

My job as the coordinator is to connect navigators with recently diagnosed patients. The navigators help these patients get connected to resources to help them as they begin this new journey. I love this program; and I believe in this program. A diagnosis of cancer turns your world upside down and this program helps patients get going in the right direction.

I think it is very important that my navigators have the best training to help our patients. I try to make our trainings both education and fun. This evening we went on a field trip. I became acquainted with Marlene, the owner of Hollywood Hair, when I was interning in a cancer center last year. I arranged for my navigators to visit Marlene's shop and see what a patient experiences when visiting a wig shop for the first time. First, we got a lesson in wigs, types, prices and care. We learned about scarves and wraps too. Then we had the opportunity to try on some wigs. We really did have a blast. Below, are two of my navigators, Pakou and Debbie and me.

So, now I need your help. I am looking for a new hairstyle.

So let know if any of these works for me...

Flash forward... We all decided to try on grey wigs

and see how we might look in about 30 years, lol.

Not too bad, if I do say so myself, lol.

Wow, have I really not blogged all summer? It has been a great, although busy, summer. We've done some traveling. And I have been working at a job that I love. Oh, and I've been Facebook-ing. If you are not my friend on Facebook, you should be. There are some great photos over there from our summer vacation. Hopefully, I will get some up here, with some fun stories, now that the routine of school is back.

Speaking of which, today is day 3 of school. But here are the first day of school photos, because the boys are getting so big and I don't want to miss sharing this moment. This year they are in 4th and 2nd grades, and still at different schools.

Nate is all set for the first day of 2nd grade. He is so excited that his friend Joseph is in his class this year. Here, he's ready to go, with an apple for the teacher, a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory apple to be precise. It's a tradition.

Nate and Miss Basmajian

Jacob is ready to go to 4th grade. I'm not sure how he got so big so fast. He excited to build a model of a mission this year. 4th grade focuses on California history. They will be learning about the gold rush too. I think this will be a fun year for him.

Jacob and Miss Bailey. She wastes no time. At back to school night last week, Jacob was given homework! This is his assignment, due Friday. But, since he will be riding the bus, and I took him the first day, he decided to bring it.

I think this is going to be a great year for both of them. I get a good feeling from both teachers. Maybe next year we can have them both at the same school though. That would make life a bit easier. For now, we will just go with the flow.

Stay tuned for pictures and stories from our summer road trip! It was a blast. Just like I remember with kids fighting in the backseat, wanting to know, "are we there yet?" Can't wait to do it again!