When I saw the topic for this contest, it was not only website appropriate, but for me it was a no brainer.  Ask me to describe a lively woman and only one person comes to mind- my mother, Cathy Farley.  My mother is 59 years young and 12 years ago she was diagnosed with systemic lupus, a debilitating auto immune disease in which there is an overproduction of the white blood cells that kill off infection.  When there is no more infection to kill, the white blood cells attack the soft tissue of the body.

Because of the nature of the disease, my mother changed.   She wore sunglasses at night in a darkened room while the disease attacked her eyes.  She suffered second degree sunburns through her clothing as the disease attacked her skin.  She limped around with two canes, confined to one floor and unable to pick up her grandchildren because the disease attacked her joints.  A 48 year old woman broke down emotionally because in a short period of time, she had gone from a strong independent woman to a woman unable to work, unable to drive, and dependent upon her grown children.

That was the beginning, but my mother persevered.  I drove her to classes three days a week because she wasn’t going to let her illness stop her from finally finishing the degree she started 20 years before.  I accompanied her to Scotland because she was determined to see her father’s birthplace.  And terrified of the heights, she stood next to me at the top of the ruins of her family’s heritage, Urquhart Castle.  In the past decade she hasn’t missed a family travel opportunity to Italy or Mexico and soon she will join the rest of the Farley women at a spa retreat weekend in Key West.

My mother’s compassion and fortitude have been tested by her illness, but she has never let it best her.  She is in remission, but still has to have her blood and medication levels tested weekly.  And though she is on the best medication for her condition, she has suffered several mini strokes- each leaving her left side temporarily paralyzed.  Despite this, she works full time and continues to be the amazing matriarch of our family- immediate and extended.

Though she has felt weak, in times of need my mother has had the strength to care for her ailing mother and take in each of her three grown children and even her ex-husband until we could find our own strength to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and start again.  She has also taken the helm at all our family functions and somehow in between doctor’s appointments and working, mom finds time to babysit one or more of her four grandchildren, decorate her new home (and mine), and add to her collection of Coach bags and Longaberger baskets.

My mother isn’t the same woman she was before the disease reared its head, but she isn’t a helpless victim either.  In the 12 years since my mother has been diagnosed I have seen her become stronger and more determined.  She has an illness but she isn’t sick.  She is an example of strength and courage.  Cathy Farley is my mother, my best friend, and the liveliest woman I know.

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Essay Contest First Place: Sara Farley

My friend Adela always has rouge on her lips. She´s not young anymore, so the gentle wrinkles around her large mouth absorb much of the lipstick. She´s thin, tall, blonde and quite a heavy smoker. Her eyes, ¡oh god!, how could I possibly describe them? Think of dreams, bring to your mind the most poetic fantasies you can. Imagine many colours at one time and you will at least have a hint of her eyes.

When the night comes, she lightens up. She loves to invite people over and offer them some liquour, maybe a scotch. Her friends adore her, both women and men. For she is quick, witty, and has an energy which is not often seen. “To have children is absolutely terrible, but not having them is even worse”, I heard her say. She likes to wear green dresses that always look old fashioned on her. But nobody seems to notice, or maybe, nobody cares. She has such an inviting warmth in her face, specially her eyes, that people around her seems to smoothen out. Besides this, too often she ends up the evening being very drunk, and a friend of hers (me) has to help her to her room; this undoubtedly makes her very sympathetic, and a bit vulnerable too.

Adela is a dreamer, she thinks a lot about the small misteries of life. She loves candles, gothic literature and Barbara Cartland. She also cooks like crap. The only dish she knows how to cook very well is ceviche, a Chilean mixture of fish, onions and lemon. She is a huge observer of human nature, destiny, fate. And she is scaringly smart. Whan you need a piece of advice she´s the best.

She would know what will make you better, and tell you things about yourself that nobody dares, with kindness. She makes people laugh, because she says terrible truths in a very gracious and as-a-matter-of-fact way. She talks very fast and sometimes you don´t understand what she´s saying. Nobody does. And you think that whatever she´s muttering is surely hilarious and would make you laugh so much. She came out from a novel. A beautiful novel which will certainly remain unwritten.

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Essay Contest Second Place: Tessa Garcia (aka Yvonne Contreras)

My favorite lively woman is my cousin Latasha Clark. She is my lively woman because she has been through so much in her life. When she was a young child she had to go through seeing her mother being abused. She grew up in a house of violence, which, I think, does not affect her now. Latasha had to go through poverty growing up. She had to watch her younger brothers and sisters all the time while her mother was out partying. She could never really go outside at a young age because she always had to babysit, but she continued to go to school. Even though during the beginning of her senior year she got pregnant, Latasha still managed to graduate from high school. She had her baby, and then got her own apartment.

By her being the second oldest of her mother kids, her younger brothers and sisters look up to her. She was and still is their role model. She took care of her younger siblings, and her own daughter without anyone to help. But two years later she had another child. She was struggling for a while, but she managed to get a job at the airport where she made a lot of money for her family. Lately she has been taking care of her siblings and mother. She has been doing a lot for me, too. She has been giving me money when I need it. Basically, she has been taking care of me for the past last year. Just recently, she had her last child. But she is still doing well, and taking care of her business. She just shows you no matter how mush you go through you can still be the best, and live a nice life.

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Essay Contest Honorable Mention: Shanika Bell

There is one particular person that brightens my day, and I feel that she should be recognized for her loving, kind nature and her will to give. My mother is high on life. She sings songs in silly voices to her babies and everyone else that walks in her path. She has the voice of Minnie Mouse and a soft, sweet presence that drives people to love her. The word “lively” does not say enough about her.

I admire my mother for the amazing things that she accomplishes. My brother Daniel and I (Kaylee) are teens, and we have two younger brothers, Gabriel and Erik, that are two and four. One thing that amazes me is the fact that she juggles from teen world to toddler world everyday. Those are two of the most difficult stages of life. Childhood and adolescence. Despite the fact that she has one of the most difficult jobs in the world, (being a mother) she continues to share a smile and a silly song with anyone and everyone.

About one month ago, my best friend Trinette was in need of a home. I had a long conversation with my mother about possibly allowing Trinette to be a part of our family until graduation. Within an instant, my mother said that it would be fine.

Ever since we moved to our new small town, our house has been known as a safe haven for teens. All of my friends from school think of my mother as their own. She feeds anyone who is hungry, and is always willing to help someone out in time of need.

My mother is a super-wife. She manages to keep her husband happy, take care of her children as well as others, and provide a happy environment for everyone to enjoy. All I know is that I hope that I can be as wonderful to my children, family, and friends as my mother. I don’t think that anyone can compare to the kind of person my mother is. She almost seems supernatural at times. She’s a real jaw-dropper! She deserves recognition.

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Essay Contest Honorable Mention: Kaylee Hartman

The woman I feel is the person who is the greatest is my mother. I know that the world can use a lot more just like my mother. She is pretty, strong, smart, kind, caring, helpful, and a great listener. My mother is always smiling and making everyone happy. No matter what kind of mood your in, she always makes you feel a lot better. I know that my mother is the best.

When I was four years old my parents got divorce. I have to say my mother was great during this time. After all she had me and a three day old baby, my brother. My father wanted his freedom, to do what he wanted. I knew that my mother would never leave us. My mother did not want us to be sad, so she never stopped smiling. She is always making sure that we are always positive not negative. My mother made sure that everything was still normal for us. Even if my father was not good to us.

My life is not prefect, but who’s is? No one has the prefect life one hundred percent. I have a great mother who takes great care of me. My mother works, takes care of me, takes care of my little brother. We have a place to live, and some food on the table. The money is not rolling in, but for now we do not. My mother is always telling me I can do anything I want anytime. Plus one day I will have a lot of money. My mother is sure that I am going to be someone special no matter what I do in my life.

Not having money did not mean we would not get to go some place. Making us have fun was important to my mother. She is the best, we always have fun with my mother around. Of course we must do some work around our place. Plus do our homework, no matter what. She helps us all the time. We are able to use our minds better because we learn a lot at school and home. No one is able to handle as much as my mother. She works very hard and take good care of us.

See I know that my mother never say anything bad about my father. I know she never said anything bad around me and my brother. In the beginning maybe if she had to say he was not coming again. She never said a bad word about him, nor did my grandparents. We only knew if he was coming or not. It was hard for my mother to say he was busy, when he just did not want to come. I know of one time when he was to come get me for the weekend. I had my suitcase ready and I waited for three hours. He called and told me he was busy. My mother and little brother and I would go out for ice cream some times or just out looking around at the park. Sometimes he would say he had to work then we would go out with my mother and see him at the mall in a tank top and shorts. I knew he was lying after that I could not believe someone who lied to me more then one time already before I was ten years old.

After that I knew I had a great mother, she always makes sure we are alright. Nothing can make me unhappy. My mother is always having a great time. I have always known I have the best mother in the whole wide world. I am going to be a great psychologist one day. My dream is to help teenagers that are from divorce. I am also going to help the courts see you only need on great parent who raises you right. The world must know we need to help our children, so they do not have problems. Plus for some reason we need to teach the adults. It seems to me we have too many major problems in this life time. Maybe we can get a happier and safer world if we really work on it as a whole group.

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Essay Contest Honorable Mention: Ashley Barry

Drumroll, please…

First Prize –Sara Farley

Second Prize – Yvonne Contreras

Honorable Mentions — Ashley Barry, Kaylee Hartman, and Shanika Bell

The first place winner will be published here at LivelyWomen.com and receive two 8-ounce bottles of Gloves in a Bottle donated by Gloves in a Bottle, Inc. Second place will receive publication and two 4-ounce bottles of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion donated by 21st Century Formulations. All three honorable mentions will be published here on LivelyWomen.com.

I’m currently awaiting photos from our winners and will post the winning essays later this week! Be sure to check back and show your support for brave ladies and their favorite lively women.

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King

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Lively Women Essay Contest Results!

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King

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Lively Women Essay Contest Update (no results yet!)

NEW CONTEST DEADLINE: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, May 22.

Now, stop procrastinating and get your entry in today!

Read the rules and regs.

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King

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Essay Contest Deadline Extended by Popular Demand!

Have you entered the first-ever Lively Women Essay Contest? The deadline is less than a month away, so finish those taxes and get writing! In case you missed the original annoucement, here are the pertinent details:

• Submit your 250- to 500-word essay about a lively woman you know and love, and enter to win prizes for you and your lively subject and publication right here at LivelyWomen.com!
• Deadline is May 15, 2007.
• Sorry guys, this is for women only.

Now, get your esssay in the (e-)mail! Submit to me at kristen@b5media.com.

Updated 5/16/07

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King

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Essay Contest Reminder — Deadline May 15, 2007

Flex those writing muscles, ladies. The first-ever Lively Women Essay Contest is now accepting entries.

Do you know a lively woman? Maybe it’s your mom, your sister, your best friend, or just that cool girl at the bank drive-through who’s always so nice to you. Whoever she is, you think she’s wonderful. And here’s your chance to let the world know why!

The Contest. In 250-500 words, tell us about your favorite lively woman and just what makes her so great. Your entry should be original and honest, and don’t forget to proofread! The deadline is May 15, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. GMT-5 (EST). Submit your essay to me at kristen@b5media.com as a .doc or .rtf attachment. Sorry, guys, but only women are eligible to enter.

Judging. After the deadline, I’ll review the essays to pick a first-place and second-place winner. The winning essays will be ones that get to the heart of why the subject is truly a lively woman and what it means to them. Winners will be announced on or around June 1, 2007. (Once all of the entries have been processed, I’ll finalize the date).

Prizes. The first-place winner will receive two 8-ounce bottles of Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion (one for her and one for her favorite lively woman), generously donated by Gloves in a Bottle, Inc. The second place winner will receive two 4-ounce bottles of Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion (one for her and one for her favorite lively woman), generously donated by 21st Century Formulations. The first- and second-place winners and three honorable mentions will be published right here on LivelyWomen.com, along with a photo of the author, her subject, or the author and her subject together.

Terms. By submitting your essay, you agree to let LivelyWomen.com and b5media publish your work and keep it in the LivelyWomen.com and b5media archives forever. The only compensation is the prizes described above. Please don’t send simultaneous submissions — only original, unpublished essays will be accepted. If your essay is one of the 5 published, please don’t publish it anywhere else until 30 days after its publication at LivelyWomen.com.

Updated 5/16/07

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King

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Lively Women Essay Contest — Deadline May 15, 2007