Martin Luther King had a dream. Some feel, that his dream came true when Barrack Obama was elected the 44^th president of the United States of America. I too have a dream. I long for a nation and a world that is simply color-blind.

My wish is that Barrack Obama will be seen as a wonderful human being, the best man for the tasks that lie ahead and not just be celebrated for his ethnicity alone. I am proud that the majority chose him as president. I pray that he will be granted the wisdom necessary to lead the nation through some of the worst times in its' history.

Once considered rare; lupus is an auto-immune, inflammatory disease striking mainly women of child-bearing age from fifteen-forty. It can affect every part of the body. The immune system normally produces antibodies to fight germs or toxins. In lupus, the immune system becomes hyperactive producing excess amounts of antibodies that are directed against the body‘s own tissue. Lupus is a very complicated disease, varying widely from patient to patient.

Discoid Lupus is a skin disease that causes a rash on the face, neck, and scalp and inside the ears. It usually does not cause other symptoms or affect internal organs; however, it can cause scarring and baldness. Occasionally it may develop into a mild form of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

SLE is the most serious form of lupus that may involve the skin, joints, connective tissue, blood vessels, collagen and internal organs. Drugs used to treat high-blood pressure and irregular heartbeat have been known to trigger attacks of lupus in those having no history of the disease.

The exact cause of lupus is unknown. Some of the symptoms are fatigue, chest pain, muscle and bone pain, rashes, sun sensitivity, depression, swelling, edema, bruising, hair loss, cold hands and feet, dry eyes and mouth, fever, etc. It has recently been discovered that lupus can cause brain damage early in the disease, even before it’s diagnosed. It was believed that brain involvement was a long term effect of the disease.

Developing self-awareness and a healthy lifestyle is vital in learning to manage and live with disease this disease. Protecting your kidneys is your number one priority.

A food allergy occurs when your body’s immune system mistakes a food as being a harmful substance and reacts by releasing histamines to protect it. This action causes allergic reactions like, itching, hives, watery eyes, coughing, wheezing, runny nose, tingling tongue, lips and throat, stomach pain, etc.

A severe allergic reaction is life threatening; can kill in a matter of minutes without prompt intervention. This reaction is called anaphylaxis allergy. An injection of epinephrine given immediately could save a life. It is important for those with serious food allergy to understand just how deadly a food allergy can be. The slightest trace, touch or smell of an offending food can kill. Educating oneself about the risks of severe food allergies is vital for life. You should always have an epinephrine (Epi-pen) with you wherever you go.

Sometimes, people confuse food intolerance with food allergy and do not take food allergies as serious as they should. Food intolerance does not involve the immune system. A food intolerance can make you sick, because you are unable to digest it, but is not life threatening. Some people are lactose intolerant. They are not allergic to dairy products. You may be sensitive to a food, but if it does not involve the immune system, it is not an allergy.

Everyone should become aware of food allergies; learn how to recognize them and know what to do in order to save a life. If a child has a peanut allergy and a request is made through your school asking other children not to bring any peanut butter sandwich in their lunches; please comply. It is as dangerous as a child bringing a loaded gun to school and firing at their classmates. This is how serious an ignored ban against any food or substance is. Do not ever suggest that a parent is over-reacting. Severe food allergies are deadly. If your child’s life was in danger, you would want cooperation not criticism. Children have died within minutes of coming in contact with an allergen. Contact can occur through touch, taste, inhalation and smell. It may be hard for you to comprehend, or grasp the horror of food allergies, but they are, never the less, real.

Parsnips are related to carrots and look like pale carrots. They may be boiled, fried, roasted or used in stew; much like the potato. Parsnips may also be eaten raw like carrots. They have more vitamins and minerals than carrots and are also potassium rich. (Some people are allergic to parsnips.)

Wild parsnips causes phytophotodermatitis and must be handled with full-body protection. If skin is exposed to wild parsnip it is necessary to go inside within the next 10 minutes and stay there for 6-8 hours. Skin will not be affected by artificial light. (Sunlight reacting with the photosensitizing compounds found in wild parsnip leaves and stems will cause your skin to break out with an itchy rash, swellings and lesions within minutes of being exposed.) Wild parsnip leaves have also been confused with hemlock with disastrous consequences.

If you are not an expert at harvesting wild vegetables and mushrooms; leave them to nature. It is not worth the risk. Grow your own vegetables or buy them from a reputable source. (Find another way to walk on the wild side.)