I first met Irene when my oldest child was 2 or 3, and we were both helping with a summer program at our school. A year or so later she joined the choir I was directing. Her husband bought her a guitar for her birthday one year, and she worked hard, with my help, to learn how to play it.

Actually, Irene worked hard at everything. She was one of the hardest-working people I have ever met. She helped run Bingo at the school. She worked at the carnival. She worked in the lunchroom at school and volunteered in many other ways at school as well. She took good care of her husband and children. She was funny, generous and tireless. And she could, in a blind taste test, tell “Philly Coke” from “Atlanta Coke” and bottled Coke from canned. Irene and I fought our Cola Wars in good fun, for many years. 

Irene was Cuban-American and grew up in the Miami area. My most vivid memories of Irene are related to her ethnic background. She was longing for Cuban food, especially Cuban bread. Irene was a good cook but baking bread was not something she thought she could do. She lent me her cookbook (I think it was called Miami Spice) and I occasionally baked her some Cuban bread from the recipe in it. (And couldn’t she tell when I used margarine instead of the lard the recipe called for!)

Just before she died, I spent the day at a church event. When I came home, I found myself pacing the floor. I could not sit down and relax. I needed to go to the hospital where she was in the hospice unit. She was semiconscious but did recognize me. At one point I was struggling for what to say or do, and I found myself just holding her hand. I stayed there with her until some other friends from our kids’ school arrived to visit her.  She lived only one more day after that visit.

Irene died October 11, 2004 after a 5-year battle with malignant melanoma. It wasn’t a pretty battle, but then battles never are pretty. She worked nights during the first year of her treatment and I’m still surprised that it didn’t kill her then. But she used her characteristic dedication and drive to keep herself going, because she loved her family.

I have a script from my doctor sitting on my desk; I have been instructed to make my annual visit to the dermatologist for a “mole check.” Out of pure laziness, I’ve been putting that off. But out of love for my family and friends, and because I can almost hear Irene yelling at me right now, today I will make that appointment.

COUPON TIME

Restocking your beauty supplies?  Do your skin a favor and make sure that your facial moisturizer contains sunscreen–and use it!

Free Shipping with a Beauty purchase of $50 or more at Macy’s
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Enter promo code GOODY in your shopping bag.
Goody bag will automatically be added to your shopping bag if your order is eligible. Free shipping requires the promo code.
Valid through: unknown
TO GET FREE SHIPPING: Place $50 of qualifying items in your shopping bag. (Qualifying items are identified on the product description page.) During Checkout, enter promo code BEAUTY in the box labeled “HAVE A PROMO CODE?” on the choose a payment method page, then click “Apply”. Only one promo code may be used per transaction. Minimum purchase amount for Free Shipping does not include gift wrap charges or tax. Offer applies to Standard Shipping to one location and may be applied to Premium or Overnight Shipping for an upgrade fee. Free Shipping does not apply to Coach, area rugs, furniture, mattresses, gift cards, purchases on macysweddingchannel.com, purchases in Macy’s stores or prior purchases. Due to size and/or weight, certain items bear a shipping surcharge, which will still apply. When shipping to multiple addresses, only shipping to the first address will be free; Standard Shipping will apply to all other addresses. Free Shipping offer cannot be applied to purchases being shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, US Territories or APO/FPO addresses. One goody bag per customer. While supplies last. Goody bag contains: Strivectin Intensive Concentrate For Exisiting Stretch Marks, .035 fl oz packette, Benefit You Rebel tinted moisturizer, 3.5 ml, Lancome Effacil, 1.7 fl oz, Clinique 7 day scrub cream, .24 fl oz, Origins No Puffery Cooling Mask, .10 fl oz, Clarins Intense Smooth Perfecting Touch, 1 ml, Philosophy Purity/Hope in a Jar Duo, 3 ml packette, Tommy Hilfiger Dreaming, .05 fl oz, and Michael Kors Bermuda, .01 fl oz.

10% off any order at Yves Rocher
Use coupon code DISCOUNT10 in your shopping bag. Coupon code is case-sensitive and must be entered as one word and in ALL CAPS. Cannot be used with any other coupons. For use online only.
Valid through: February 16, 2009

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Valid through: January 29, 2009 11:59pm ET
This Shipping offer applies only to standard shipping charges and does not affect 2nd Day or Overnight delivery rates. A valid United States street address is required for all deliveries. Cannot be combined with other coupons. Not valid on previous purchases.

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Plus a free beauty sample!
Applies to standard shipping.
Use offer code VDayLS during checkout.
Valid through: January 29, 2009
Offer applies to Free Standard Shipping and Handling and does not cover rush delivery charges. Not valid on previous purchases. Offer code must be entered at checkout to receive this offer. Continental U.S. only. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Free gift of your choice when you buy $75 of Clarins items at Bloomingdales.com
Select a 4-piece collection of Hydrating, Brightening, Firming, or Restorative products.
Offer and dropdown menu will appear in your Brown Bag if your purchase is eligible.
Valid through: February 1, 2009

Buy 1, get 1 50% off on orders over $25 at e.l.f.
Use coupon code BUBBLY in your shopping bag.
Valid through: January 31, 2009
Cannot be combined with any other coupons or discounts.

75% off select Cosmetic Bags at eyeslipsface.com
To view eligible bags, go to the Cases section of the site and look for the “2008 Sale Bags” in the menu on the left.
Use coupon code 75OFF in your shopping bag.
Valid through: unknown
Limit 10 bags per customer. While supplies last.

Free Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Currant with any order over $35 at Clinique.com
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Applies to Standard shipping.
Use offer code SUPERBALM during checkout.
Valid through: February 15, 2009, 11:59pm ET
Valid for U.S. residents only. Clinique reserves the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered, or ineligible use of this offer and to modify or cancel this promotion. May not be applied to the purchase of eGift cards.