I Love You

Jim and Jennifer Windham met in a chance encounter online. They hit it off right from the start, until they realized they lived thousands of miles away from each other. “When he posted his profile, it said ‘Florence,’” remembers Jennifer. “There was a Florence, Oregon, about 40 miles down the road.” It turned out Jim was living in Florence, South Carolina. Deciding to keep in touch despite the difference, they decided to meet in person after a year of online chatting. They have been happily married for six years now.

Jim: “She doesn’t lie; she’ll never mislead you. She’s honest.”

Jennifer: “He’s tender and he’s caring and he’s patient, which is important, I think. And he’s kind. Jim is a big kid at heart, and I think that’s probably what makes it work.”

“I don’t regret my mastectomy,” Abby says. She lost her grandmother, father, and beloved sister Alicia Sanderlin to cancer, and tested positive for the breast cancer gene, giving her an 84% chance of developing breast cancer herself. But Abby took action, giving up her healthy breasts at 29 years old with a double mastectomy, hoping to beat the disease before it appeared.

“The cancer gene that my family has is just so aggressive,” she says. “I couldn’t sit back and wait on it to get me.” Now Abby is confident she’ll be around to watch her two-year-old daughter grow up.

“I saved my life,” she says. “I won’t say that I have not endured a lot of pain, because I have. I will not say I have not shed a lot of tears, because I have. But I will say I will soon be as good as new without the worry of having breast cancer and would do it all over again if I had to.”

-Aleigh Acerni

“I don’t regret donating a kidney,” says Jordan Hadden. Although she’s related to Christine Michelle Roy only by marriage, Jordan’s kidney was a perfect match—an even better match than Christine Michelle’s own family.

“I just knew that I was supposed to get tested,” says Jordan. “Everyone thought I was a little loopy…since we weren’t blood relatives. I just listened to my heart and did what I was supposed to do.”

The experience bound the two women forever; they call each other “sister,” and will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the surgery this month.

“If it weren’t for [Jordan], I don’t think I would be here today. She’ll be part of our lives forever,” says Christine Michelle.

“She is one of the most incredible people I’ve met in my whole entire life,” says Jordan. “She lives every day to the fullest and she’s taught me to do the same. I just feel like I have a new set of eyes now.”

-Aleigh Acerni

Those ten years of inhaling home décor magazines must have paid off for Juliana. Last January, she started designing heirloom-quality pillows using antique textile treasures from France. And Juliana’s little art project is causing an all-out pillow fight amongst women wanting to cozy-up with a little piece of history. Juliana’s travels abroad instilled in her an appreciation for antique textile art, “a completely under-appreciated genre of art in this country.” The busy mom of two doesn’t have much time to get inspired. “A glass of green tea and a little dark chocolate get my creative juices flowing,” she says.  The pillows talk to Juliana when she stares at her collection of Aubusson tapestry fragments, metallic embroideries and appliqués, and trim from dilapidated church garments spread across her dining room table. The Columbia native is making a comfortable living selling her work locally at Verve Interiors and on her website AntiqueTextilePillows.com.
 

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Juliana began with the ultimate vision of traveling through Europe with her girls, shopping Parisian flea markets, and bringing back textile treasures."

2. Juliana's girls are ages two and a half and five.

3. Juliana is a graduate of Hammond School and Washington and Lee University.

Sound Off

“You’d be surprised by what goes on behind closed doors,” Kay says. Years ago, Kay was shocked to learn one of her friends wasn’t black and blue from “being clumsy,” but was, in fact, a battered woman. Kay, who had volunteered for The Coalition to Assist Abused Persons while studying for a psychology degree, helped her friend escape domestic abuse and, in the process, found her calling. For the last 23 years, Kay has worked for the Cumbee Center and assisted victims with Orders of Protection, shelter, short and long term counseling, and other necessities for starting over.

“Everyone deserves to have a peaceful life. The Cumbee Center provides temporary refuge for domestic and sexual assault victims and their children. I believe no one should have to live in fear. We listen to victims and help them discover feelings, identify options, discuss and discover strengths, and choose options.”

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Kay was a non-traditional student. "I went back to college when my youngest child was in second grade," she says.

2. The first law for domestic violence wasn't instituted until 1984. "Until then," Kay says, "it was legal to beat your wife every Saturday night as long as the stick was no bigger than your little finger."

Sound Off

Until Barbara worked on a campaign and witnessed “the intrusive nature of media into the personal lives of candidates,” her “life plan” was to run for office. In fact, political aspirations were the reason she went to law school. Confused, Barbara left Capital Hill, moved back to SC and opened clothing stores. Then, in 1996, Barbara took her business online. Now, no longer in retail, Barbara “makes the internet make sense” for businesses with her company, The Rackes Group. And, through her work with the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics, she seeks and encourages women to run for office.

“If we’re ever going to change dirty politics, we need more women in public office. It’s proven now that women in Congress are more effective than their male counterparts. Women reach across party lines and govern by persuasion, not authority. It’s a much more pleasant, more collaborative way of working.”

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Rackes, Barbara's clothing stores, expanded from Columbia to Charlotte and Greenville and grew to a ten million dollar company.

The Secret To...

From Visine to toothpaste, Meredith tried just about everything to cover up her “bad skin.” While covering up her “bumps” as a teenager, she uncovered a makeup application technique that would enhance her career as a makeup artist. Using simple tricks, including layering, Temptu airbrush makeup and her own newly-developed high-shine, long-wear, great tasting, stay-put lip gloss, Meredith is making women sparkle and shine. Meredith’s gloss is available at her studio Bella Faccia airbrush + makeup llc. in Augusta and Woo Skincare & Cosmetics in Atlanta.

“The secret to creating the ultimate fall power pout is to choose a bold, high-gloss color such as red, deep plum or coral, and apply it directly to the entire lip.”

ONLINE EXTRAS:

“Most people here don’t even know what lacrosse is,” Codee says. But the Maryland native and defensive wing on South Carolina’s Women’s Lacrosse Team is enjoying playing her favorite sport at a “big school in the south.” Most players on Codee’s team at USC in Columbia turned down offers to play at Division 1 schools, so it’s not your average club team. The squad has been to the Southeastern Women’s Lacrosse League playoffs both Codee’s freshman and sophomore years. On the field, Codee says the team works well together. And off the field, they’re very social. Between lacrosse practice, studying for a civil engineering degree, and her job at Wild Wing, Codee has limited time for a social life. “Lacrosse is great; it’s like our own little sorority,” she says. “We even have mixers with the guys’ team.”
 

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Codee's "stay at home dad" taught her how to play lacrosse when she was in 2nd grade.

2. Since Codee loves math (she's even minoring in the subject), she's the team's Treasurer.

3. Last season, Codee got "carded" for illegal body contact. "If you've never gotten a yellow card," she says, "you've never played!"

Lori, a mother and businesswoman, does a lot of multitasking during the day. But on the court, she has only “one thing to focus on—a round, yellow ball.” Lori volleys parenting, a computer programming business, coaching junior tennis, assisting the head pro at the O’Dell Weeks Center, and, of course, her own love of the game and participation on various teams.  Under Lori’s direction, the Weeks Center’s 14 & Under Team has won the State Championship four years in a row. “Kids pick up the game so well,” she says. “I love watching their improvement from day to day.” Originally from South Georgia, Lori says tennis helped her score great friends in Aiken and Augusta. And since going out to lunch after a match is just part of the social aspect of the sport, Lori is thankful that tennis is great exercise. “I hate the gym,” she says. “I enjoy this and it helps me maintain my weight and health.” 

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Lori has a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. Her son plays on Lori's State Championship-winning 14 & Under Team.
 

2. In high school, Lori was ranked #4 in the state of Georgia for doubles tennis. And as an adult, she's won the State Championship (in the 4.5 Women's League).

5 Things On My Life List
 

Cecilie is an artist, a social behavior therapist, and a recycler and reuser. She takes Shag lessons with a “hunky” partner and teaches art to children with autism, Down syndrome, and spina bifida at the Aiken Center for the Arts.

My Life List:
Slow dance to scratchy old records on a mild summer evening (complete with fireflies).
Be autistic for a day and remember everything about it the day after.
Let the fun, kid side of me show more often.
Visit a vineyard and stomp the grapes barefooted.
Take a boat-access-only camping trip to an island off the SC coast.

 

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Cecilie worked at the Gibbes Museum of Art, Creative Spark, and the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry (all in Charleston) before moving back home to North Augusta.

2. Cecilie doesn't make "pretty pictures." Her work is "very expressive, autobiographical and all about working out feelings." Happier than ever, she's putting away those dark colors and pulling out the light ones.

3. One day when she has a family of her own, Cecilie plans to soon start a "World Cuisine Night." Once a month, her family will experience the food and culture of far away places.

I'm A Feminist Because...

“…I laughed with ‘Maude.’ I worshipped Gloria Steinem. I read Naomi Wolf. I believed Anita Hill. I sympathized with Lorena Bobbitt. I voted for Hillary Clinton. And the only footsteps I choose to follow were made with high heels.”

Linda, a Midwesterner, lives in Columbia and thinks she’s southern. She writes jokes for stand-up comics and essays for publications (including skirt!). Her second marriage has “passed the 18-year expiration date” and is still good. Linda recently wrote Seeing Red, a romance comedy, and she “cannibalizes her life” at anotherlinda.blogspot.com.

1. Linda's book Dozens Of Uses For A Dead Dick (based on the Lorena Bobbitt case) was available at Spencer, breaking their "no penis policy." 2. Linda went to college at "The School of Hard Knocks." She was married at 18 and has been reading and studying ever since. 3. When Linda married her second husband and they combined their households, they had four teenagers living under one roof. "We were like The Brady Bunch, only much raunchier."

I'm A Feminist Because...

“…I broke the broom that was shoved in my locker and refused to be undermined or humiliated. Upon rising to a leadership position, I have been told too many times to make sandwiches, clean up trash, or be quiet and get back in the kitchen.”

Madalyn is a South Aiken High School student and the highest ranked NJROTC officer. While studying the feminist movement in history class, she experienced those same old struggles in the wardroom (anti-feminist jokes and all!). Now officially in charge of the guys who disrespected her, Madalyn has the last laugh.

1. Madalyn is just 16 years old. 2. Madalyn's father was in the Marine Corp. She loves the "community aspect" of being part of something like NJROTC, especially at a big high school. 3. Madalyn has a 4.01 GPA. She loves psychology and her hip hop dance class.

Amy, an Environmental Educator in the Air Quality Division of the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, is saving the world one air molecule at a time. She’s fantastic at coordinating events and campaigns to help us mere mortals improve the quality of air in South Carolina.

~Nominated by Liz McDonald, Lexington, SC

Amy lives in Lexington with her partner of 12 years and their cats and dogs. She’s mowing down pollution with lawn mower exchanges, anti-idling campaigns, and car care awareness events. Amy loves taking care of the planet, but in her next life, wants to be a backup dancer for Beyonce.

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Amy first knew she had to "save South Carolina from air pollution" when she was teaching PE and the field behind the school was clear-cut and burned.

2. Amy's lawn mower exchanges offer South Carolinians the opportunity to exchange their gas mowers for a discount on an eco-friendly electric model.

3. Amy wakes up every morning with enthusiasm and a good attitude because she's excited to help others make baby steps toward creating a healthy planet.

By day, she’s a wild-mannered high school teacher, igniting her students’ passion for learning. She’s withstood life’s ordinary catastrophes: hurricanes, divorce, dog poo. Super-powered by her Uncanny Ear and Megawatt Glow, she cruises the city in her dented Unsinkamobile, battling arch-enemy Perfection in the struggle to Accomplish Great Things.

~Nominated by Annette Soni, Columbia, SC

Archana is a teacher at Blythewood High School, a Katrina survivor, a bad driver, and a good mom. She has a dachshund named Macy Gray and two daughters (11 and 16), who look nothing like her. She loves math and has a thing for paper and pencils.
 

ONLINE EXTRAS:

1. Archana admits that she's not the best driver. "The dents and dings make me stronger," she says.

2. Archana teaches math, but also lends an ear to her students. Archana just hears them out and tells her students to listen to their own voice. "The answer is always within them," she says.

3. Archana lives by the Indian word "abhaya." "It means fearlessness," she says. "Nothing is permanent...enjoy what you have...look for the good stuff and don't be afraid to LIVE!"