From the editor…
Hello everyone.
This summer may be different for most of us this year. We probably won’t travel as much; we probably won’t be in large gatherings, and we will certainly be wearing face coverings regardless of the summer heat. Although this summer will be different, it doesn’t mean that we can’t have some fun, eat some tasty (and healthy!) summer food and find and enjoy moments to relax. Options for all of this are in this issue—everything from lake living to unplugging from technology and learning to appreciate the simpler things in life.
I am truly excited that a member of our own Joy to Life Foundation team is being highlighted in our Real Life section. Jackie Butler, Mammogram Program Manager and Bookkeeper, is a strong, gracious 12-year breast cancer survivor. She is the kindest,
dearest person I know, and we at Joy to Life love her with all of our hearts. She coordinates breast screenings through our county health departments for the women whom The Joy to Life Foundation serves in Alabama. Jackie is highly respected by healthcare professionals in each of our 67 counties. She is calming, loving and reassuring as she helps uninsured women navigate the process of receiving breast screenings, and she is a tremendous advocate for the women the Foundation serves. It is an honor to work alongside her.
We’ve also got an article on The Gene Machine, a dynamic program that I bet most of you have never heard of. Based at Auburn University, it is a project that means a great deal to the Joy to Life Foundation. We are so proud to highlight this program in this issue. Dr. Nancy Merner has been the driving force behind The Gene Machine, and the Foundation has long supported her efforts. I know you will enjoy getting to know her and her unique traveling program.
We all at JOY magazine and the The Joy to Life Foundation hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy as we continue to deal with the uncertainty surrounding our lives today. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, and WE WILL STAY STRONG TOGETHER!
Be kind! Stay safe! And as always,here’s to health, happiness and Joy to Life!
Joy Blondheim