Di Smith, of Stockton, left, selects a necklace from the Cookie-Lee Jewelry booth Friday morning at the 11th Annual Women's Wellness Celebration at Hutchins Street Square. Ringing up the purchase is Ramona Baker, right. (Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel)

Women gather at inspirational celebration in Lodi

When Amy Dickinson shed her green cardigan to show off the sleeveless black and white vintage dress that she bought at her church's garage sale, nobody noticed, but an act of feminism had just occurred.

Dickinson, who writes the syndicated advice column "Ask Amy," joked that she was on the upper side of 40ish and was the first to admit that she'd scoured the drug store, looking for just the right wrinkle cream.

But Dickinson drew the line when a colleague of hers suggested that she get botox injected into her face. She was proud of her body and wasn't going to hide it.

"I'm just going to age and you're going to watch it. It's not pretty," Dickinson said to a round of applause.

Nearly 800 women, and a handful of men, gathered at Hutchins Street Square on Friday for Kaiser Permanente's 11th Annual Celebration of Women's Wellness, a day of health exhibits, food and inspirational speakers.

Speakers at the event included Dickinson, Stockton pediatrician Agniezka Lech and playwright, actress and poet Sarah Jones.

Dickinson took questions from the crowd ranging from: "Where do I meet prince charming?" to "My mother doesn't like the man I'm dating. What should I do?"

Dickinson mixed her advice with sharp quips — "It's like a high school problem, but here we are." — and self-depreciating humor.

Speaking out against what she feels is the current culture's regression to pre-Women's Movement, ideals Dickinson thanked women who made fought to be treated equally.

She recalled her mother, a typist, who insisted on not being called a "girl" by her boss.

After Dickinson, Lech, a internist and pediatrician for Kaiser Permanente Stockton told her story of immigrating from Poland and, through a series of what she calls lucky coincidences, becoming a doctor in the United States.

Agnieszka now works at La Clinica, a Spanish-speaking clinic.

She left the crowd with a thought: "Human generosity and goodness shall prevail."

Kaiser Permanente's Dr. Agnieszka Lech speaks at the 11th Annual Women's Wellness Celebration on Friday at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi. (Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel)

An air of excitement filled the room as groups of newly inspired women spilled out of the theater and circled around the building's foyer, where they mingled around informational tables with cups of coffee.

"It's as fun to be out here networking as it is to inside," said Lita Wallach, a consultant from Lodi.

Wallach has attended the first Women's Wellness Celebration 11 years ago, and has returned almost every year since then.

"It gives me a shot in the arm to get up tomorrow and do it all over again," she said.

Wallach described the event as having the distinct mark of Kristen Birtwhistle, which she said was a touch of class with a lot of meaningful moments.

Birtwhistle founded the Celebration of Women's Wellness with fellow medical group administrator Jose Rivera and Dr. Jack Gilliland.

Rivera said he helped found the event to honor the women of his life.

"It's about the greatness of my mother," he said. "It's the corozon, the heart, the spirit."

Wrapped in a blanket to imitate a homeless person, playwright, actor and poet Sarah Jones makes a point as she addresses the audience at the 11th Annual Women's Wellness Celebration on Friday at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi. (Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel)

Daline Duncan of Stockton said he came to the event out the generosity of her boss, who thought the women in her office could benefit from the experience.

"And I agree with her," Daline said.

The last performance of the day was Tony Award-winner Sarah Jones, who performed as a group of speakers at a mock Congressional hearing. Coming in through the side of the auditorium dressed as a homeless person, Jones made her way to the stage.

Picking up various costumes from the empty seats that symbolized the characters she played, Jones embodied 12 very different people.

From an Korean pharmacist to a El Salvadorian immigrant turned U.S. Army veteran who lost his left arm in Operation Iraqi Freedom to a lesbian physician from India, Jones told the stories of people and health care in the United States.

Sarah Jones acts as a young Girl Scout at the 11th Annual Women's Wellness Celebration on Friday at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi. (Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel)

At the end of her performance she was rewarded with a standing ovation.

Performances were followed by lunch and break-out sessions on health, body image and time management.

Stephanie Higgins, who comes the event every year with her four sisters and a good friend. She said that one of her sisters flies out from New Hampshire to attend the event.

"It's a chance for us all to be together," Higgins said. "It's a day for celebration and you kind of get a high."

Contact reporter Amanda Dyer at amandad@lodinews.com.