I started showing signs that I would be dealing with epilepsy for the rest of my life when I was about 16.

One thing that gave me solace was the song by Joy Division, “She’s Lost Control.”  Ian Curtis, the lead singer of the band, had epilepsy, and wrote the song about a girl having a seizure. It was nice to know someone cool has seizures too.

It’s wasn’t easy back then for me to face the fact that I need pills to make me “normal.” Other people with epilepsy need a lot more than that. Locally, there’s a little boy that’s been fighting to take his service dog with him to school. This boy has to wear a safety helmet as it is, and now he has to fight to take this dog with him to school. It looks like he and his family are winning the fight, but why should they have to fight? And that’s only one family’s story.

When Doug and I went on the National Walk for Epilepsy last year, it was energizing to see how many other stories there are out there. Seizures are confusing and discouraging, but none of us are alone.

There is a lot of research to be done, and many families’ lives would be improved with more knowledge and understanding about seizures. I’ve seen new medications released and information campaigns developed in just the past 20 years, so I have faith that there are even more significant developments to come.

And I’ve got faith in you, my friends and readers… I’m going to be there at the National Walk for Epilepsy again – two months from today – on March 27. We could use your help.

1. Help by LEARNING about epilepsy. Just click over to the Epilepsy Foundation’s website to learn something you didn’t know. That will be priceless.
2. Help by DONATING to make our short walk around the National Mall count more. Click over to my walk page, then click SUPPORT TEAM DC GRRL or MAKE A GIFT.

ALSO SEE: Why I’m walking for epilepsy

I just wrapped up my first year as a volunteer with GirlsRock! DC, and what an experience!

About 70 campers from all over the District, Maryland and Virginia put on an unforgettable showcase on Saturday morning at the 9:30 Club. As a girl, I had recitals for flute, violin and voice. I performed in plays and musicals. But nothing I ever did before college was like this.

These girls were so confident on stage, all performing original songs or DJ sets. It was really overwhelming, especially after spending two days with them earlier in the week as a workshop teacher. I’d seen them just learning to get along, just meeting each other, and here are all these great cohesive bands up on stage looking just as good as any college band. (Sometimes better…)

If you didn’t get the chance to attend the show on Saturday, I encourage you to click around the GirlsRock! DC website. See what they’ve done and check out some of the stories that have been written on them. (Donations would be appreciated, I might add!) This is really a super opportunity for families that rock to take in together, and for girls 8-18 to take part in.

For older girls like me, I encourage you to follow my lead and volunteer some time. It is all kinds of inspirational and FUN!

Global warming is an urgent, but solvable problem. That’s why I’ve joined the We Campaign, a powerful nonpartisan movement of concerned citizens that was founded by Nobel Prize Laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. We’re already a million strong — and growing each day.

They have a very compelling video that shows the need for action:

The We Campaign is working to ensure that elected leaders make the climate crisis a priority. Visit: http://www.wecansolveit.org/. Here, you can learn about solutions to global warming, take action steps and even find events happening in your community. Although it’s not too late, global warming is very serious and there is no time to lose. So please don’t any longer wait to get involved — sign up today: http://www.wecansolveit.org/

Together, we can solve the climate crisis.

This is such a great idea – Once Upon a Prom helps high school girls get prom dresses, and helps grown-ups clean out their closets.

Men may not understand that prom dresses are one of those items that can be especially hard to just ‘throw away,’ but they take up space in the closet or attic, and they are increasingly useless and depressing as a girl gets older and will never fit into that dress again.

Saving these dresses for our daughters is simply oppressive. The style will simply not be in fashion by the time our daughters are going to prom. (IF we have a daughter to pass the dress on to.) Okay, there is a slim chance, and if you have an immense closet, keep that dress. But if not, Once Upon a Prom will put your prom dress to immediate use for a girl that actually wants and NEEDS it NOW.

Check it out. Visit Urban Chic in D.C. & Baltimore, March 24-31

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/20/AR2008032002247.html