PATTY

by patty hannum

On July 28, the Cardinals will host some special guests as they prepare to face off against the Cubs. Members of the Modern Widows Club will attend in support of a fundraiser for the organization, which provides grieving women with services including in-person and virtual support groups, mentoring programs, educational courses, activities, travel opportunities and more.

CONGRATS TO T&S COLUMNIST JOAN BERKMAN!

For the second year in a row, The Velvet Hammer has received a first place award in the Missouri Professional Communicators’ annual writing contest.

A Critical Need

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank is experiencing an increased need for diapers. The nonprofit has seen a 25% increase in distribution since 2020—accounting for approximately 300,000 diapers each year. This reflects a national trend. Recent research released by the National Diaper Bank Network reported that 47% of U.S. families with young children struggle to afford diapers. For more information, visit stldiaperbank.org.

I GET MIGRAINES. Bad ones. And I’ve got company, as nearly 47 million Americans get them—75% of whom are women. I did not always suffer from migraines, but once I hit menopause, they reared their ugly head. Now, I often feel like I have a gremlin living in my head. (I do not—I’ve had a CT scan!) This gremlin appears at the most inopportune times, which makes me an unreliable friend who often cancels plans and misses the stuff that makes life fun

Before you send me suggestions on how to relieve migraines, let me just say I have tried everything. Name a medication. Tried it. Acupuncture. Tried it. Physical therapy. Tried it. Biofeedback. Tried it. A hospital in Chicago devoted to nothing but migraines. Tried it—and ended up with some really great stories that I would only share if I was drunk. But alas no drinking for me since, of course, it gives me a migraine. About the only thing that helps my aching head is laughter. Yes, a funny TV show or someone’s embarrassing story can take the edge right off, if only for a little bit.

So, what do I laugh about? Since my migraine usually drives me into a darkened room with sunglasses on, my options for the giggles can be limited. Yet, I persist in searching for ways to help my throbbing head. Currently, I am rewatching Amy Poehler’s TV show Parks and Recreation I, as you may recall, am an Amy fan! Not just because we make the same facial expressions but because she is just so darn entertaining. On Parks and Rec, she plays Leslie Knope, a civil servant who believes in the effectiveness of good government even though each episode she is proven wrong. Oh, and her heroes are people like Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, Condi Rice and, of course, Joe Biden. Hmm. I might be a bit like Leslie in my naivete that government can be good and helpful to its citizens. Anyhow, give me a Parks and Rec episode or some stand-up act on Hulu or Netflix, and I feel better.

Mark Twain said, “I think laughter is the best medicine. If you can’t laugh at yourself then you can’t laugh at life and the silliness of it all.” Apparently, laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts your mood, diminishes pain and protects you from stress. It also burns calories! Kids laugh all the time, adults not so much!

So, how do you get more laughter in your life? Smile! Yes, the woman who suffers from RBF is telling you to smile more. It invites other people to interact with you in a positive way. Count your blessings. When my head is pounding, it can be hard to do, but I can always find something good in my life to focus on. And finally, spend time with people who make you laugh even if it must happen in your darkened bedroom with your sunglasses on. A visit from a friend is just what I know I need. So, let’s all try to laugh a little today and see how quickly you can laugh that weight right off and maybe, just maybe, it will quiet any gremlins you have in your head. Laugh my peeps! &

Around Town

1. The Core Collective at Saint Vincent

Purchase your ticket for Kookin’ for Kids, hosted by The Core Collective at Saint Vincent, on Aug. 11 at The Ritz-Carlton now at onecau.se/kookinforkids2023.

7401 FLORISSANT ROAD

314.261.6011

THECORECOLLECTIVESTL.ORG

2. Pedal the Cause & Neiman Marcus

From Aug. 1 to 7, visit Neiman Marcus in Plaza Frontenac for a Pedal the Cause “Pop Up Shop” and shop the latest Pedal the Cause merchandise. All purchases will support Pedal the Cause’s mission of creating a world without cancer.

100 PLAZA FRONTENAC

314.787.1990

PEDALTHECAUSE.ORG

3. The Muny

One of the greatest and most powerful musicals of our time, West Side Story, returns to The Muny July 15 to 21.

ONE THEATRE DRIVE

314.534.1111

MUNY.ORG

4. Union Avenue Opera

Union Avenue Opera, presents its 29th Festival Season, July 7 to Aug. 26, with Britten’s “Turn of the Screw,” Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” and Flaherty and Ahrens “Ragtime.” For more information and to purchase tickets, visit unionavenueopera.org.

733 N. UNION BLVD.

314.381.2881

UNIONAVENUEOPERA.ORG

Home

California Faucet’s Christopher Grubb collection includes the Truesdale series, inspired by architectural columns, from the Parthenon to the Lincoln memorial. Come see how California fuses historical architecture with plumbing design. On display at Immerse.

836 HANLEY INDUSTRIAL COURT

314.375.1500

IMMERSESTL.COM

A pop of color paired with plenty of room to gather around a centralized island is what modern kitchen dreams are made of—and a Liston Design Build specialty.

1106 1ST CAPITOL DRIVE

636.940.9417

LISTONDESIGNBUILD.COM

7. NewSpace Home Organization

Get organized! Schedule a complimentary consultation during our NewSpace Hot! Summer Sale. It’s our biggest sale of the year—book now and save 20% on any new project!

1960 INNERBELT BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE

314.423.3200

NEWSPACE.COM

8. Sport Court St. Louis

With Sport Court, you don’t have to choose just one game! Our backyard courts can be used for everything from basketball and volleyball to tennis, soccer, pickleball, futsal, roller hockey and more.

636.451.0400

SPORTCOURTSTLOUIS.COM

9. Forsythia on the Park

Immerse yourself in the beauty of designer-curated interiors, where high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and hardwood flooring blend seamlessly. Delight in the gourmet kitchens, equipped with top-of-the-line appliances, custom cabinetry and quartz countertops. Inquire about floor plans and pricing

8151 CLAYTON ROAD, STE. 300

314.924.3555

FORSYTHIAONTHEPARK.COM