COLUMN: Everybody Calls Me Jana Banana

Dinner with friends is more than the meal. It’s a time to laugh, catch up and expand your awareness on things you never thought about. And when those friends happen to be younger, I truly enjoy pretending that I am ten to 13 years younger when I’m with them.

On Monday night I had dinner with two of my dear friends at Rancho Grande, Tina Powell Capazzi and Beth Johnson.

Tina delighted us with tales of living as a newlywed Army wife in Killeen, Texas, while her adorable husband, Kevin, is a medic now deployed to Iraq. His bravery, and hers, are inspiring and put a real face on this war. Knowing the men and women that are enduring so much for their country humbles you, and makes you, realize how many blessings we all have here in our safe little city in South Carolina. 

Tina, who is an S.C. native, said she was happy to get back where everything is green and lush…and humid. How could anyone miss this humidity, you ask? Apparently it is so very dry in that part of Texas that she says, “The de-humidified fumes of summer might kill me. The walk to the mailbox makes me feel crispy.” She is also Coker College alumna, and we met again doing community theater with the Hartsville Community Players. She is the same age as my niece Jenny, and acts so much like a part of the family I’ve always called her my “cosmic niece”. We miss her here in S.C. and pray that Kevin and his fellow soldiers are safe and return home soon. 

Many soldiers do not have family and spouses at home sending them love; you should consider sending a greeting or package to a lonely male or female solder from Any Soldier - http://www.anysoldier.com/. The organization is bringing hope to these brave people and lets them know they are appreciated and loved by us here at home.

These two young friends have been friends for many years; Beth is known to so many folks as the tireless worker for the American Cancer Society and stays busy all year advocating for individuals with this dreaded disease in the South Atlantic Division. As if that doesn’t keep her busy enough, Beth is now a member of the Pilot Club International’s chapter here in Hartsville.

This wonderful organization is only a year younger than the oldest service organization in Hartsville, the Rotary Club. As Beth talked about it, I was amazed I hadn’t realized it before- their motto is “Protecting Your Brain For Life.” As a sibling of someone with a TBI- traumatic brain injury, and the daughter of someone who died from Alzheimer’s and cancer, this subject is very near and dear to my heart. The Pilot Club meets on the fourth Monday of every month. Janie Campbell is the district governor and Danette New is president elect; the other members are all a wonderful group of service oriented women, some of whom have been meeting for decades. You may email the local group at:   for information, and learn more at http://www.pilotinternational.org/. 

Support our troops and protect your brain –two things I learned over a delicious dinner at Rancho Grande. Great food and a chance to share with friends, just my kind of meal.

Protect your brain!

As your family enjoys the summer, please be mindful for children and adults to “protect their head” to prevent brain injuries. Use seatbelts at all times. Insist that children wear helmets on bicycles. Wear helmets when rock climbing and white water rafting and never dive into shallow water. Use caution when allowing children on golf carts and four-wheelers, and do not let young children drive them.
 
Every 21 seconds someone in the United States incurs a brain injury.

Every 16 seconds someone in the world sustains a brain injury.

In the USA, approximately 90,000 people experience a life-long debilitating loss of function due to a traumatic brain injury each year.

Most frequent causes of brain injuries are vehicular crashes, falls, sports and recreational injuries and assault.

Brain injury is the most frequent cause of death among young people.

Annually, 30,000 children become permanently disabled, 150,000 are hospitalized and 7,000 deaths occur due to brain injury in the United States.

No one is immune from brain injury.

Many people are not aware that brain damage can occur after a near drowning
or during a medical emergency.