L Davis (GRAND PRIZE)
Florida
I generally love my life, my husband, family and career but since turning 50 this past March I've noticed that unless I start taking time to nurture and nourish myself I will burn out and shrivel up before I turn 60!! I feel like this next decade needs to be a defining time in my adult life a time to start cultivating a legacy for my family, students and friends to benefit and learn from. I have always believed that the most enjoyment one can get out of life is being able to give to others but I want to be able to give to others from the "best of me" not the worn tired cranky me! I have made some small baby steps this year to start a healthier and more productive life by trying to eat less sugar and more fruits and vegetables for snacks getting back on track with my dental visits and incorporating a walking exercise program into my routine. I've had my finger nails professionally done twice for the first time in my life and had a pedicure which was heavenly! My next goal is to have a massage. When I saw this prize package I thought what a wonderful way to jump start my goal and dream of becoming a fitter healthier and ultimately better person/role model to my circle of loved ones friends and precious students. I would love to win this spa vacation no doubt but even if I don't I'm glad that after 50 years of life I'm determined to have the next 50 be more about taking care of my health so I can do the same for others!

H. Strahl (2nd)
Illinois
I have been recently widowed (7 months) and am working hard to maintain a normal life for my 16 year old son our two cats and myself. It's been a life changing year so far and I am not looking forward to my 50th birthday this summer. My soul mate and I had been planning to do so many things together before fate intervened. It has been a real struggle to readjust to a future of not 'we' but 'just me'. I have never been one to devote a lot of time and effort on myself as a wife and mother everyone else's demands took most of my time and energy. I feel the need to take a 'me' time out; my son is turning into an independent young man and quite capable of looking out for his own well being. He also loves ice hockey and will be attending his last 'week' long summer hockey camp which is why I am looking to take my first ever 'Spa Vacation' just for me! To have some focus on 'inner' healing and strengthening my inner self while working on the outer me will hopefully give me the energy confidence and desire to move on to the next chapter of my life. My son is the most important thing in my life now and I want to be strong and healthy for him. A Destination Spa Vacation sounds like the most relaxing and invigorating way to spend a few days forgetting about the horrors of the last few months and making the future alone just a little less daunting.

L. Richardson (2nd)
New York
A spa vacation would be a dream come true. In April of 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had just turned 40 in November and was presented with this challenge. In May 2007 I had a mastectomy which was soon followed by chemotherapy and radiation. In the midst of these stages I lost all of my hair and soon began to mourn the loss of my femininity and youth. I felt as if I was watching someone else’s life. How could this be happening to me? Throughout this process I tried to care for myself by creating my own spa experience. I would fill my bath with warm water Epsom salts and lavender drops. This was my evening solitude. This ritual helped to soothe my burns from radiation relax my aching muscles and help me to ease into a restful sleep. I am back on my feet and working in the health care profession. I am a nurse practitioner and my job is to listen and care for people. I am still working on healing and fight every day to be strong and healthy. I never had the time money or resources to celebrate my victory. I have always wanted to experience a authentic destination spa and would be honored if chosen. I hope this reader can find me deserving of this grand opportunity.

T. Angelo (3rd)
Minnesota
Top 10 reasons why I deserve a Spa Vacation:
#10 My daughter an artful critical thinker shares her view on everything I do/say/attempt.
#9 My college-aged son has recently moved back home.
#8 I'm self-employed in this economy.
#7 My husband is self-employed with me.
#6 I'm thinking that the only way to release my face from this permanent wince is botox treatments.
#5 My husband is chronically ill and sleeps much daily.
#4 My freckles have danced their way into age spots.
#3 Where did I get this extra 15 pounds and what's the return policy?
#2 Catching this face in the mirror makes me miss my dear Mother even more.
And the #1 reason I deserve to win a Destination Spa Vacation… My fiftieth Birthday is looming; born 6/30/59.

K. Lauletta (3rd)
New York
They say when you become a mother you will always come second. What they don't tell you is that when you're a working mother you come after the children the husband the job the play dates the soccer games the birthday parties the house the laundry the dishes etc. I haven't seen too many spas open at 1:00am (about the time I flop into bed) to provide me with a desperately needed massage facial waxing or pedicure!! Even with the best of intentions and an appointment what YOU need most goes by the wayside first. I think every mother should be sent to a place for at least three days once a year where their only function is to relax and rejuvenate. Its not a luxury its a NECESSITY!! As a not-for-profit psychiatric social worker you work long hours for little money caring for the needs of others. As a mother and wife my role does not differ all that much. You work tirelessly to make sure everyone else has just enough of what they need to keep the peace...an interesting balancing act to say the least. I would adore some forced R-n-R to reconnect with my husband....and myself. What is there left to give if the well goes dry?

P. Drda (3rd)
Nebraska
I have been a Registered Nurse for 29 years and I have worked in several areas in the hospital setting. I have been married for 26 years to my best friend. I have two children (14 and 18 y/o). I give a lot of myself to others and to my family and have done various volunteer activities and still do. What has defined my life since March 2005 was when I was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer at age 46. I had a Colon resection 6 months of chemotherapy and a liver resection that year. I had a recurrence in June 2007 and had a hernia repair and a cancerous mass removed. I had 4 months of chemotherapy at that time. Then another recurrence of my cancer in December of 2008 and underwent 33 radiation treatments to my abdomen as well as taking oral chemotherapy. I do have problems with joint pain weight gain, neuropathy and fatigue due to the multiple treatments. As well as hypothyroidism and I am on Coumadin due to a blood clot in my leg during treatment. In spite of all of that I work full time as an Occupational Health Nurse and have worked through all of my treatment. During Chemotherapy I only took off the day of Chemo and the day after. My experience has helped me to be a better nurse and a better person. I am a survivor! I was originally given 24 months to live so now every day is a bonus! I facilitate a Cancer Support Group twice a month and have done that for 2 1/2 years. I read constantly. I have attended all of my daughter's very busy activities as a 14 year old. I volunteer at her activities when I can. I love to travel! I'm learning to cook vegetarian style. I want to take Spanish classes! I have used hypnosis to get through the chemo and treatments. I have used massage when I am able to and I always feel better after doing that. I feel I deserve to be treated and pampered for a few days to continue to "reclaim" my body after all that it has been through. I don't know how much longer I have to live this life but I know that I want to live it abundantly. A Destination Spa Vacation would mean time to take care of myself and focus on my wellness. When you have Cancer anything that is positive energy helps your spirit outlook and longevity.

C. Voll (3rd)
Florida
5:15am- Alarm sounds. 5:16am- Hit Snooze button. 5:21am-Alarm sounds...again. I lay there in the only moment that I know will be calm and mine. My dog a fluffy little 6 pound Maltese snuggles up next to me and for a moment I wish I could just puppy nap with her all day. I'm a Registered Nurse and I know that my day will most likely be a hectic one from the moment I walk in until I leave. Alas I can not play hooky and I must get up and start the day. 6:30am- Drink an Instant breakfast while walking from the parking garage to the hospital. It's way too early for me to eat a real breakfast but I know the first available opportunity for me to eat something is a long way from here...so the liquid breakfast will have to suffice. 6:45am- Get my assignment of patients and the report of how things went overnight from the Night shift nurse. 7:15- Hit the ground running....My day from here on out consists of mostly standing on my feet and having very little time to sit. I spend the day doing physical activities like helping people learn how to walk after a debilitating accident or helping an elderly person that doesn't have the strength to make it back from the bathroom on their own. Throughout my day I will spend numerous hours bent over hospital beds at awkward angles starting IV's and doing dressing changes. I have the background information of 5-6 patients in my head at any given time and need to be constantly vigilant assessing to make sure their condition is not declining. I have enough paperwork in one day to make someone that works a 9-5 desk job cringe. 2pm- This is usually my first chance to eat lunch and by now I will have been going for 8 hours. My stress level can be very high at this time and actually getting to sit and rest my tired body for my 30 min lunch break feels wonderful. During this time I will be interrupted with no less than 3 phone calls with patient related questions. 2:30pm My lunch break is over and its back to the grind. I will continue working at this pace until 7:30pm but usually later. At the end of the day it’s all I can do to get in the door after 8pm try to eat something for dinner shower and get prepped to wake up the next day and do it all over again. Why do I do this if it sounds like I'm put through the ringer? I absolutely love it. Because even though at the end of the day my feet are throbbing my legs feel like I ran a Marathon and my back aches from lifting patients twice my size its the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. In my job no matter how stressful and crazy my day becomes I still go home at the end of the day and know that I have helped at least one person....I made someone feel better in a time when they were scared hurting or ill. That's why I opt not to hit snooze the second time...but that's also why I need a spa vacation.

C. Gravanda (3rd)
New York
As of April 2009 I was told to stop all my medications (Breast Cancer diagnosed in Sept 1999) and was told that I am a "Cancer Survivor". It feels so good that after all this time (10 years), I have beaten this disease and now going forward with my life!! In the meantime I feel I have lost so much of my self esteem and would love to feel alive again by getting pampered and becoming a whole woman again. Gaining weight with all the meds and feeling down about myself but knowing that now I can hold my head up high and say yes I am a survivor!! I believe I deserve this Spa Vacation with 10 years of my life "on hold". It's now my time!