when you're smilin'

Linda Stringfield's smile is reflected into a mirror while chatting about her blush application during the "Look Good...Feel Better" program at St. Rita's Cancer Resource Center in Lima. "Look Good...Feel Better" is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to women cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the apperance-related side effects of cancer treatment.

Being as averse as I can be to makeup sometimes, I wasn't sure what to expect when I got to this assignment. While there was talk about what brush is the best brush and all that bla bla stuff, there was also an unprecedented amount of honesty and authenticity from the women in attendance. Some women were having a more difficult time dealing with their cancer, getting openly emotional when discussion about personal experiences began. Some women have made amazing peace with their situations and were there to comfort the others.

It was an extremely sensitive situation that local media was press released about by a public relations office, so these women had no idea we were coming. Many of them had no problem with our presence while others begged not to be photographed in their current state. I felt happy /guilty about being there.