Hope Lives! (and walks with a jogger stroller!)
This is a guest post from my very cool friend Lorraine Caron.
When Keri put it out there that she would be participating in the Pink Boa 5k today, I thought, "That sounds great, but 8 am registration?" Then I heard that Tiffany would be walking if her babe hadn't shown up, and I thought, "If a 9 month preggie woman can get out of bed to do it, I should... but 8 am registration?" So I decided to leave it up to fate and go if I woke up in time.
Fate (aka 8 month-old Sierra) intervened and I was up by 7, just in time to grab a bite and head to Target to get shoes and pants. (Can you tell how long it's been since I've worked out?)
And I'm glad I did. As it happened, Tiffany didn't walk (congrats, girl, hope I didn't spill your beans) but Keri, who had been up since 1 am still came out. So, even though I moseyed through the gate last, I don't feel like a loser. ;)
They were missing lots of registrations as well as T-shirts smaller than XL, but the sky was the clear pure blue you only get in Colorado and the Fort Collins wind was only a sweet breeze. (Not a tornado in sight!) Keri and I set off with Sierra in the jogger, heading for the finish line and the promised pink boas.
As we walked, we talked about the beautiful weather and how much our other kids would have loved to see the train that passed right next to the path (and honked at all of us - thanks train man! We've got your T-shirt waiting - Engineers (heart) Boobs!) We talked about improving our attitudes, where mallow grows, the responsibility of pet caterpillar ownership, and the hardship of having to see half-naked men out biking the trail. We chatted, as women and friends do, but the reason we were out on this beautiful morning didn't escape us.
Nearly every person walking (or running - some folks actually did that) had a pink sign or two or three pinned to their shirt. "In Support of...In Honor of...In Celebration of...In Memory of..." Some people had photos pinned on as well. There were women with no hair and shirts that said "Ta tas". And pink, pink, pink. All of these people were there because of someone's journey with breast cancer. Oh the stories that bunch could tell!
I thought about my younger sister's long struggle with cancer. From her diagnosis at 17 to her death at 26, she lived and grew and inspired all who knew her. And of course she cried and fought and gave up and tried again. She didn't have a cancer that inspired a mass uprising. Wilm's tumor is just a plain old kidney cancer. There were no marches of solidarity, no pink boa runs. So today I walked In Support of Heather, but I walked In Memory of Melinda, too. (I love you, sweetie.)
So we made it the three miles and got our pink boas. We'll get our T-shirts next week and I'm sure I'll be sore until then. But it was a great day with a lovely friend for a worthy cause. Check out the photos from today - my favorite is Sierra sporting pink feathers! After the first two pics, my camera battery pooped out, so the rest are from my phone. Low def - just like me. :)
When Keri put it out there that she would be participating in the Pink Boa 5k today, I thought, "That sounds great, but 8 am registration?" Then I heard that Tiffany would be walking if her babe hadn't shown up, and I thought, "If a 9 month preggie woman can get out of bed to do it, I should... but 8 am registration?" So I decided to leave it up to fate and go if I woke up in time.
Fate (aka 8 month-old Sierra) intervened and I was up by 7, just in time to grab a bite and head to Target to get shoes and pants. (Can you tell how long it's been since I've worked out?)
And I'm glad I did. As it happened, Tiffany didn't walk (congrats, girl, hope I didn't spill your beans) but Keri, who had been up since 1 am still came out. So, even though I moseyed through the gate last, I don't feel like a loser. ;)
They were missing lots of registrations as well as T-shirts smaller than XL, but the sky was the clear pure blue you only get in Colorado and the Fort Collins wind was only a sweet breeze. (Not a tornado in sight!) Keri and I set off with Sierra in the jogger, heading for the finish line and the promised pink boas.
As we walked, we talked about the beautiful weather and how much our other kids would have loved to see the train that passed right next to the path (and honked at all of us - thanks train man! We've got your T-shirt waiting - Engineers (heart) Boobs!) We talked about improving our attitudes, where mallow grows, the responsibility of pet caterpillar ownership, and the hardship of having to see half-naked men out biking the trail. We chatted, as women and friends do, but the reason we were out on this beautiful morning didn't escape us.
Nearly every person walking (or running - some folks actually did that) had a pink sign or two or three pinned to their shirt. "In Support of...In Honor of...In Celebration of...In Memory of..." Some people had photos pinned on as well. There were women with no hair and shirts that said "Ta tas". And pink, pink, pink. All of these people were there because of someone's journey with breast cancer. Oh the stories that bunch could tell!
I thought about my younger sister's long struggle with cancer. From her diagnosis at 17 to her death at 26, she lived and grew and inspired all who knew her. And of course she cried and fought and gave up and tried again. She didn't have a cancer that inspired a mass uprising. Wilm's tumor is just a plain old kidney cancer. There were no marches of solidarity, no pink boa runs. So today I walked In Support of Heather, but I walked In Memory of Melinda, too. (I love you, sweetie.)
So we made it the three miles and got our pink boas. We'll get our T-shirts next week and I'm sure I'll be sore until then. But it was a great day with a lovely friend for a worthy cause. Check out the photos from today - my favorite is Sierra sporting pink feathers! After the first two pics, my camera battery pooped out, so the rest are from my phone. Low def - just like me. :)
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