It was such a thrill to see the June issue of the Colorado Business Journal, with the faces of their Top Ten Professional Women Making A Difference on the cover. The ladies honored were Maury Dobbie, owner of MediaTech Productions, Shay Eikner, President of the First National Bank in Loveland, Pam King, CEO of the Mountain States Better Business Bureau, Kathy Kregel, Executive Director of the Ft. Collins Business Incubator, Linda Ligon, owner of Interweave Press, Marian Maggi, founder of Maggi Town & Country Real Estate, Kathay Rennels, Larimer Count6y Commissioner, Terry Schueler, Executive Director of Operations Services for the Thompson R2J School District, Donna Smith, Manager of the City of Loveland Economic Development Division, and Kathi Wright, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. This particular issue also had a nice article on networking, and quoted Marlene Elbert (Positive Living Spaces), Susan Jewell-Klema (Women's Development Council), and myself (eWomenNetwork).

As Ann Bradbury commented, "These are not shy, retiring types. In fact, it is a group that exudes strength because of its diversity in profession, opinion and age. It is a group that should encourage and inspire others and that should send a strong signal that women are including change in a big way."

Thank you, Colorado business Journal, for recognizing that "women are ascending to positions of real authority and achieving success in a world that is frankly male dominated." As Ann says, "Get over it because women have lots of the right stuff!"

AND YET...as women, we know that as strong as we are, there are times when we simply can't do it all. Especially when it comes to caring for a loved one who is experiencing health problems or is failing. If we haven't had to deal with it yet, believe me, we will some day. As former first lady Rosalyn Carter once put it, "There are only four kinds of people in this world - those who have been care-givers; those who are currently care-givers; those who will be care-givers; and those who need care-givers."

It is with great pride that I share this news with you: that a story I wrote about our son Rich taking care of his grandmother in the last months of her life is in Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul. Here's a sneak peak at a small part of "Grandma's Caregiver:"

He knew she was sliding, losing a bit more each day, eating a bit less, sleeping a bit less. But she seemed to come alive when he came into her room. Every night he asked her if she wanted to go for a ride in her wheelchair. He'd lift her frail, bony body gently out of the bed, understanding the agony it caused her. Two pillows in the wheelchair didn't help much. "I'm like the princess and the pea, aren't I?" she'd joke, trying not to cry in pain. He'd wheel her though the big house, and she'd talk about times long past--the holidays, his mom and dad getting married in the living room, the bridge parties, and her rose garden. She didn't seem to notice that this house, once filled with laughter, had faded scuffed walls and drapes frayed at the hems.

When she was exhausted by her adventure, he gently helped her back into her huge bed. "Sing to me," she said, smiling past the pain. She loved music and his songs about dreams, loves, and life lulled her to sleep, at least for a while.

By the summer they knew their time together was growing short. They toured the house less often, and now he carried her from room to room. She didn't weigh a hundred pounds, and it was almost like carrying a child. Sometimes he'd say, "Grandma, would you dance with me tonight?" And he gently swayed to the music and sang verses he made up as they waltzed about the house...

Well now, I won't give away the rest of the story. You'll have to read it for yourself! And you can bet that on July 15th, its release date, I'll have a box of books in the back of my car! You will LOVE this book because it is filled with stories of hope and courage. And it lets us know that we can be strong when we need to. Maybe we can't do it all, but we CAN do what must be done!