Wishing You Well:

Prayers and Poems for Comfort, Healing, and Recovery

(Loyola Press, $13.95 hardcover, ISBN 0-8294-2036-3)

Available now wherever books are sold.

Wishing You Well is the perfect companion for those times when you or someone you love is going through a particularly difficult time. These wise and compassionate selections encourage those touched by illness to find solace in simplicity, comfort in ritual, and hope in the healing touch of a loved one's warm embrace.

A rich and powerful spectrum of voices old and new - including St. Augustine, Marcus Aurelius, Isak Dinesen, Natalie Goldberg, Victor Hugo, Julian of Norwich, Helen Keller, Rainer Maria Rilke, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rumi, and Teresa of Avila - illuminate the pages of this inspirational book.

EXCERPT:

FOR AS LONG AS IT MATTERS

Here's the thing.

In every life crisis, there's that moment

when you must choose whether

to trade down to despair, or up to joy.

I will choose joy.

From now on,

with whatever I've got left,

I'll look for occasions of laughter.

I'll blow soap bubbles

and run barefoot on the beach.

I'll make a list of things to laugh at.

Maybe I'll even dye my hair red.

When I talk, I'll smile.

I'll see that there is always laughter in my voice.

Everyday.

As long as I have.

As long as it matters,

I'll choose joy.

Dorothy Wilhelm

Read about Dorothy's new book, Wishing You Well

Eight pairs of shoes were decorated by local artists to be auctioned at the gala event. Cowboy artist Fred Oldfield used a pair of his thoroughly pre-worn cowboy boots as the canvas for his trademark oil images of western scenes, cowboys and characters. Puppeteer Jeanne Charlton turned a pair of men's size 15 1/2 tennis shoes into a pair of race cars, driven by puppets called "Hollywood Trolls." Portrait artist Carol Ford created glamorous wearable art in the form of sassy high heeled tennis shoes, sporting rhinestone spangled athletic socks.

Althea Deuel shows off the Doc Martens she created!

Ford also created "Baby Time", a "three dimensional cartoon" featuring a pair of baby shoes and a weary mother surrounded by dozens miniature plastic babies. Aletha Deuel covered a pair of Doc Martens with some of the southwest scenes for which she is noted. Bronze artist Mary Denend conjured up a red, white and blue pair of high tops with a baseball motif. Browns Point watercolorist Ron Stone used shells from his own beaches to create “Browns Point Birkennstocks”. Joe Stortini acted as auctioneer for the gala evening, and Dorothy Wilhelm, this year’s Ambassador of Goodwill was the emcee. Music was
provided by Jennifer Lynn.

Emcee Dorothy Wilhelm & Fred Oldfield, one of the contributing artists.	"These boots were made for walking."
Carol Ford created these sparkly high heeled shoes, "Sassy Classy".	Baby Shoes, also by Carol Ford.
Jean Charlton of the Lakewood Puppeteers created "The Hollywood Trolls".	Althea Deuel put a Southwest Spin on these Doc Martens in "Southwest Left and Right".
Ronald Stone used stones from his own beach for these "Browns Point Birkenstocks".	Mary Denant used Red, White and Blue for "The Boys of Spring".

The fight against Alzheimers is going on now. There are Memory Walks planned all over the country.

The Tacoma Memory Walk is on August 28th starting at Annie Wright School in Tacoma. Dorothy needs members for her team. Can you join us? Go to www.alzwa.org, or contact Dorothy at Dorothy@itsnevertoolate.com or 253-582-4565 and say you want to be on Dorothy's team!!!

Stardust Follies

Tune In Next Week For More Dorothyisms