At the moment, avocado chunks are scattered across my bath rug—sure to be matted with all my hair that has collected there from countless blow-drying sessions...
Before you start thinking that imagery is all-too-much to handle, let me just go ahead and confess that whole hair-and-avocado situation is also on my head. What possessed me to smear the flesh of this fruit into my locks, you ask?
Let me explain... My schedule has been jam packed with appearances and exciting events, as I am just moving into my third month on the job as Miss Louisiana! As much as I'm relishing my time and duties as our state's official hostess... this, my friends, will leave a gal's hair in need of some serious attention!
All the rolling, teasing, ponytail-ing for workouts, bun-ing for ballet classes, crowning for appearances, and hair-spraying have left the tresses in distress... es...
So I took to the fridge and mixed up this little miracle concoction to bring them back to life... It's supposed to stay on for thirty minutes, then you wash it out, and TAA DAAA — healthy hair! In the meantime, I'll have to tolerate it dripping on my neck every few seconds like chinese water torture...
Let me tell you about the places I've been and the people I've seen! Just in the past few weeks, my Miss America talent costume was designed, my preps have intensified, I've had the pleasure of speaking to girls at RiverOaks, and I've visited Warhawk Stadium for both the Bayou Bowl and the ULM/Grambling game! Also, I have traveled frequently to south Louisiana—almost once a week—for interview preps, a Bengal Belles luncheon, meeting Holly Clegg and planning a Children's Miracle Network fundraiser for October 2nd, and shooting television spots at Cox Communications in New Orleans. These will air during LSU, SEC, Sun Belt Conference, NO Zephyrs, and the Saints games! Speaking of the Saints, I was interviewed in Champion's Square by Fox 8's Dawn Brown at the Sept. 14th game and then watched them dominate the Bears from Benson's suite! It was a memorable experience and one that will go down in the record books for this special year!
Last time I was in Baton Rouge, I visited Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital and met with several children who have benefitted from the Children's Miracle Network. What an experience— going into a child's hospital room and stepping into his/her world for a brief, but hopefully significant and uplifting, moment.
That world is foreign to most of us—it's not everyday you meet a seven-year-old who has just completed his last round of chemo. He notices you walking by and stops to give you a spirited hug, just as he boards the elevator to descend from oncology for the final time. What an honor.
What a joy to walk into a little boy's room and see him squeal with excitement all because you've come for a visit. He ignores his video game, immediately dropping the controller, and then—ironically enough—tells you he wants to be a video game programmer when he grows up. His laugh is infectious as is his joie de vivre.
You're unprepared when you walk into a seventeen-year-old girl's room to find out she has ovarian cancer. She tells you about her journey and her struggles. Your first impulse is to wrap your arms tightly around her and remind her that God has a plan and a purpose for her life, so you tell her about Jeremiah 29:11, which is the bible verse you were named after. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
What a surprise to see a young girl with Cystic Fibrosis that you actually met a little over a year ago. Her spunk and continuous smile make it easy to forget that she lives with an incurable disease that affects her lungs and digestive organs. She and her precious mother have been there for weeks, but have the best attitude and are so gracious and kind to every individual who walks through the door.
What a privilege to be in the presence of royalty as you visit a self-proclaimed but, might I say, completely authentic, "Prince." The two of you play one of your favorite childhood games, "Operation," and you receive a royal smackdown... and wouldn't have it any other way.
These represent just a few stories of the remarkable children I spent time with on that special day. They are receiving first-rate treatments at CMN hospitals and are given a fighting chance with whatever ailment they're facing, whether that's cancer, diabetes, a broken leg from a car accident, or being prematurely born. I am overwhelmingly honored to be their ambassador this year. I will do everything in my power to continue supporting and raising funds for a cause that I have seen give palpable hope to kids and their families in a time of need.
In short, I truly am loving being in this position. I'm reminded all the time of how God appointed me to this position for a reason, for such a time as this... Please continue to pray that the opportunity will present itself for me to spread love, joy, and a little hope! You have no idea how much your prayers, words of encouragement, letters, hugs, and support mean to a girl whose mission is to give of herself, completely and passionately, for a whole year... Keep 'em coming!
In the meantime, please excuse me while I go wash this fruit out of my hair...
Love and blessings,
Hope Anderson
Miss Louisiana 2011
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