I support Children's Hospital of Orange County.
As a native of Orange County and a mom of two, I'm a little ashamed to admit I didn't know much about Orange County's only Children's Hospital. It was actually my devotion to the Anaheim Ducks that lead me to CHOC's doors. Well, that and my friend Pam De Jong, who is CHOC's Marketing Manager.
After I made this video at CHOC Night at The Ducks Game last season...
...Pam asked me to come in and tour CHOC, check out the Ducks' wing and learn more about what CHOC does in our community. Honestly, I didn't know why CHOC would even need to raise money. I thought hospitals received their funds from insurance companies. I know, not so bright on my part, but after admitting that on my blog I realized it was a common misconception when comment after comment said,"I didn't know that either."
So Pam and I arranged another tour, this time with some of OC biggest bloggers-- you know, to get the word out about CHOC. Last week as the tour was just getting underway, through CHOC's doors walked newly retired Anaheim Duck, future-hall-of-famer, and big-time CHOC supporter--Scott Niedermayer.
Pam knows (like anyone who has ever met me) I love the Ducks and knew I would want to meet him. During the introduction of the tour I hear "Suz!" and I see Pam wildly gesturing for me to come on. I pulled my friend Jenelyn, another girl who loves hockey (and baseball), out of the crowd and we walked over to meet Nieds. (That's what we call him on Twitter--Nieds.)
According to Pam--totally unverified by anyone else--I curtseyed several times as I spoke to Scotty (we call him that, too). I can neither confirm or deny the curtsey part, but can say my streak of becoming a bumbling idiot when I meet a Duck continues (read the story of when I met Ryan Getzlaf and his girlfriend here).
I did manage to say "thank you" for the years of great hockey. I told him I understood his decision to retire in order to spend more time with his family and then darted out questions that could be classified as "stalker-ish" if one didn't know me. Personal stuff about his kids and his plans for his family. All very "What about Bob?" I was chatting...uncontrollably. He was very gracious and obviously used to watching relatively normal people fall apart when meeting him.
My friend Jenelyn didn't fare much better.
Though she didn't chatter, she got more quiet and shaky--which can I just say is a much less embarrassing default. She and I have our Ducks fanship to thank for our friendship. We met because of our mutual respect for J.S. Giguere and we are now solid friends.
Hockey does that to girls.
Anyways, getting back to embarrassing her. Here is the iPhone picture she took of me and Scotty.
She couldn't hold the phone still.I started this blog for girls who love hockey--we really love it. We aren't in love with the players. We admire them. We respect them and their families for the sacrifices they make to play the game we love. In this photo you can see the kinetic energy and passion of two girls like that, the one in the photo and the one taking it. (Me and Jenelyn in case you're not paying attention.)
Thank you Scott Neidermayer for playing the game of hockey. We will miss you.
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Read my post about CHOC Hospital at OC Family here.