Meet Me at the Chocolate Fountain

Tonight was Volunteer Recognition Night at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center--the hospital where I volunteer on Tuesday nights.

The evening began with an inspiring program, in which three volunteers talked about their unique experiences at the hospital. The first woman started volunteering in 1978; she planned to stay "just for the summer" but couldn't bear to leave when the summer was over. The second speaker was a man who moved to New York to be an actor (familiar ...), but after gigs as, variously, a "singing hippopotamus" and a "dancing rhinosaurus," he decided to go back to med school. He completed his pre-med volunteer requirement, but he decided to stay on because he loves the patient interaction. He was followed by a young girl who talked about growing up (and attending school) a few blocks away from the hospital--she decided to be a nurse, and she hopes to work at MSKCC someday.

Then we headed out to a delicious dinner buffet, and the dessert was especially tantalizing: piles of cheesecake and pastries, which surrounded a Willy Wonka-esque chocolate fountain! We dipped fresh strawberries into the delicious brown stream. Had I known about that, I would have skipped dinner and headed straight to the dessert room.

Pictured is my wonderful friend Mariola (center), who trained me when I started volunteering almost a year ago. She was recognized for completing 150 hours of service, and she also recently trained Christina (right). Everyone I've met who is affiliated with the hospital radiates goodness and good cheer--it's an extraordinary place.