Monday, February 15, 2010

Good Morning Cindy!!


I have a friend who reads me every Sunday morning a.m. Except I saw her yesterday and she confessed that she read it on Saturday and then didn't have anything to read on Sunday, so I'll just say Hi to her now and thank her for being part of my bloggy family, along with being one of my real friends and a S&S weekender.
SOOOO...
This morning I went over to the office thinking I could just open a folder, put a memory stick in and get a little work done before the orthodontist apt. today. I clicked the remote and got the TV on, chowing on my cereal and slurping my OJ in a total ladylike way...then an advertisement came on...I heard the music first...'What kind of world would this be?..' and I started to cry. It has been 2 years since I first heard this song associated with the Breast Cancer 3 Day... I saw an ad for this event in a magazine I was reading at the Daytona 500. And I thought "wow! This could be so cool to do this with a friend or 2." So I emailed a couple and Elaine Caflisch said 'Let's DO IT!' I love you for that Elaine. It was an experience that changed our lives. I laugh every time I think of Elaine repeatedly tearing up when she honestly admitted to me that she rarely does. I'm not bragging, but it was a serious undertaking. You are required to raise at least $2300 - or you pay the difference. We each met and passed the goal...I'm not sure I could ask for that much money in these economic times. The walking requires you to spend hours walking many, many miles to get into shape. I knew we could walk those miles...I just didn't take into consideration how many hours every weekend would be spent on walking. And it gets monotanous...yes, I got totally bored with myself and the same scenery over and over again. It was the hottest weekend of the summer in Cleveland when we walked. We watched overflowing sweep vans pick up the walkers who had gotten to their limit and needed a ride to the end and we vowed we would not get in...so we walked....we remembered MaryBeth Mathews, our friend who never saw her children grow up...so we walked...we met amazing people along the way...the night before the walk, we met cousins at the pool, walking for a sister(&cousin), and then they ended up back door neighbors in our tent community...so we walked....so many people with so many stories...girls who lost their moms, Moms who lost their girls, and our hearts would break as we walked by the ladies with no hair and signs that just said THANK YOU....and so we walked....and right before we left home, there was a letter slipped in my front door from a neighbor with a story of her husband's sister, who lost her fight shortly after watching her brother finish the NYCity Marathon, we were crying reading it before we even got 5 miles out of town.....and so we walked.... I don't know if we will do the 3 day again, although Elaine was on the crew last summer.....but we'd like to find another walk. And if you have the chance to do something like this, even if it is a once in a lifetime thing...do it... you will never be the same...and everytime you hear that song, you will find yourself with tears running down your face...Others may not understand, but I know one look from Elaine says it all. So as I pass this 2 year mark, I salute those people who will walk this year...Nope, your life will never be the same...

5 comments:

Susan Anderson said...

My old boss does this every single year, and she says it is the highlight of her year. Unfortunately, I can't participate because the sun triggers lupus flares for me, but I sure love listening to her experiences. Each one has been amazing.

=)

Anonymous said...

I love you both for making the sacrifices necessary to do that walk.

Be Still and KNOW... said...

Charlotte's walk is in October... and is a 2 day... Petra ran last year (not for two days!!!)

blessings to the walkers and the reasons why they walk...

Karen Sue said...

sue-
then when I find a walk for this year, I'll walk for you too! Thanks for leaving me comments. It means alot to me.
Jocie-
The sacrifice is small as you walk along and feel the love all the way.People just leave their hoses out on sprinkler or mist so you can walk through, and a lawn chair or two, or a cooler of water to help yourself.
Brenda- the weekends of summer and fall are already starting to have events. Gotta check schedules.

Ripley Library said...

What you and your friend did was something wonderful. Just in case you didn't know, I was so very proud of you for being a part of that and then sharing some of those moments with me. This was a part of what makes you so very special.