Let's Talk About: Brittany Maynard

Hello, dear readers.

Today, I'd like to have a conversation about something a little controversial: Brittany Maynard.

   In case you haven't yet heard about her, she's been in headlines for the past week because she will be voluntarily ending her life on November 1st. This decision was made after Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at the age of 29, and given just 6 months to live.
 
   In order to carry out her last wishes, Maynard has uprooted her family from San Francisco, CA to Oregon, one of only 5 states that authorizes death with dignity. Death with dignity is a medical practice in which terminally ill (but mentally competent) patients with 6 months or less to live can request a life-ending medication prescribed by a doctor, which they take when they feel the time is right (you can read more about death with dignity here).

    This story has caused great controversy, and even caused another terminally ill patient, Lara Tippetts, to pen an open letter to Maynard, begging her to reconsider. Much of Tippetts argument/advice is centered around how much of her own strength stems from her Christian beliefs, which is understandable; people often turn to their faith when life presents such devastating circumstances as these. And while I want to believe her words come from an earnest place, I can't help but feel that I'm listening to a sermon or television evangelist as I read them, especially as she mentions the recent release of her book. But hey, maybe I've become too cynical or critical of Christians as a whole.

As for my take on this story, Brittany's situation is her own, and we can comment on it all we like, but it likely won't change her mind. I hardly think this decision comes from a place of weakness- there is no way that this was an easy decision for her to make. What she is doing is ensuring that her loved ones aren't burdened with taking care of someone who is too sick or incoherent to make her own choices. She only wants to suffer to a certain point, and I think that should be her right. Some may call her selfish; I call her brave.

The fact that we can't get around is, it's sad. No matter what we say, whether Brittany chooses to go in a timely manner or wait until her body fails her doesn't change the fact that her family & friends will be devastated. The end result is the same, and as much as we like to judge, none of us truly know what we would do unless we were experiencing this first-hand.

I guess the question this leads me to is: is there a "better" way to die?

Please feel free to voice your opinion on this story in the comments section, and if you'd like to donate to the Brittany Maynard fund, please do so here.

Fall: More Than Just a Costume & Candy

It's October, and that means it's officially the holiday season! In an attempt to hide my exhausting enthusiasm for Christmas (there will be plenty of time for that later), let's chat about my second favorite holiday: Halloween, which is perhaps even more perfect than any other holiday because it occurs in fall, or autumn, if you're feeling ~fancy~. Crunchy, multi-colored leaves, pumpkin-flavored everything, children in costumes -or, better yet, dogs in costumes- football...I mean, what's not to love about fall?!

Like any self-respecting Halloween addict, I've already got my costume picked out, and my friend has agreed to let me dress up her skinny dog as a goat (Annyong, you're gonna look so cute!) Let me know if you find a little stuffed-Quasimodo, because I'm gonna wanna carry that little adorable thing around with me to really drive this costume home.

What's even better about this season though, is that as you get older, there are MORE things to do! When you're a kid, it's all about having a cool costume and competing with your siblings to see who can finagle their way into the most candy while trick-or-treating (Sugar highs! Cavities! YEAH!). You probably didn't give a rat's ass about fall as a season, except when the orange Oreos came out and admit it- you thought they were going to taste differently.

Empty promises, Nabisco.

To celebrate this wonderful season as an adult, I've compiled a list of 5 things I want to do/have already done this season that don't revolve around trick-or-treating:

1. Visit an apple orchard/pumpkin patch. Apple cider, donuts, and getting to pick out your own soon-to-be jack-o-lantern, all while enjoying the crisp fall air?! Count me in.

2. Try out new ciders (or better yet, Chicago's first cider bar). Apple, peach, pear- fall is better when you've got something fruity and alcoholic in your hand.

3. Roll up those sleeves, slap on that apron you forgot you had, and make your own pumpkin bread, like the Betty Crocker you were born to be.
Though I'm not much of a cook, I can attest that when it comes to baking, I can make some pretty delectable sweet treats.

4. Visit a haunted house- willingly or unwillingly. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a straight up scaredy-cat. In the Rugrats of life, I'm Chuckie, always saying "Guysssss, I don't think that's such a good idea!!! Can we go home now???" But screaming your brains out and digging your terrified little fingernails into your best friend's arm while wandering through a perfectly timed nightmare is a right of passage. Plus, once you make it through, you'll feel like a total badass.

5. Re-watch some of your favorite Halloween movies, but specifically Hocus Pocus. Because long before Beyonce taught us how to be flawless, the Sanderson sisters taught us how to be wickedly fierce.

I woke up (from the dead) like this!

  
What are you planning to do this fall??? Let me know in the comments!