debutaunt.com

We Did It

I finished my Light the Night walk last night. I was so excited because I beat my $3,000 goal by over $200. I still can raise money for about a month if I want. I wonder if I could raise $5,000?

There were so many people there. I did the entire walk, although at one point I did say "A hill? What? Are they on crack?" It was a big hill. My reds are a bit down too, so I was out of breath. I also had a little hitch in my getalong (left knee). But overall, I finished; a little more whiney than I should have been, but I finished. And that's all I wanted to do. I wanted to say "Screw you cancer, I'm still here."

Elvis walked with me as did my parents, Bros #1 and #3, Zoe and two of my neices and one nephew. It meant so much to me that they were all there - especially Bro #1 (my donor) I just wanted to hug them all.

I wore stickers that said "I'm walking in Memory of" and others that said "I'm walking in Honor of." It was sad to me that I had so many "in memory ofs," versus the "in honor ofs." Mom wore Clem's sticker. And Bro #3 wore Ashleys. I bet he would have really liked her.

I turned around and looked. Survivors carried white balloons and the others all carried red ones. They had lightbulbs in them and lit up in the dark. It made me bummed that there weren't more white balloons. I only saw about ten. I also teared up when I thought about this past year. It's been over a year now since I was diagnosed. I want to celebrate this occasion every year as a celebration. I want to have many many more years where I pass this date and think... it was twenty-five years ago that I was diagnosed, and I'm still here.

I also teared up when I saw little Zoe. My neice put her hair in two pigtails. She was wearing this goofy looking outfit, but it was cute - capri pants and long pink socks. She was so lighthearted walking. Just like la-la-la. A walk through the park with a balloon. Her sticker was on her back:

"I'M WALKING TO HONOR MY MOMMY"

I can do this. I'm still here!!

Your assignment for today is to call an old friend. We haven't done that one in a long time. Is there someone you haven't been in touch with lately? I have friends that I don't see often, but when I talk to them it's just like I spoke to them yesterday. You never know what might make their day.

I love you internets. And I appreciate all of your donations. We are now going to start working on our 293038923 thank you notes.

Elvis' sticker said "I'M WALKING TO HONOR MY GIRLFRIEND"

hee

Posted by debutaunt at October 22, 2006 09:42 AM