It’s funny how small, meaningless things in life often put is in the right place at the right time. Lately, I’ve been wondering if I took on too much by signing up to do the 3-Day for a 2nd time. I relied a lot on my sister and Sindy last year to inspire me. I seriously would have quit on the first day, because I was SO cold and miserable. I’m wondering if the heat this year will turn me into the same whining wimp I was an hour into the walk last year.
Tonight, I dropped off my daughter at a youth event at church and noticed a mom at the back of the room wearing a pink shirt and pink hat, and there wasn’t any hair peeking out from under the brim. I normally wouldn’t approach anyone and ask anyone about their health status, but something in me made me walk to the back of the room and talk to her. I introduced myself and said, “I don’t mean to pry, but I couldn’t help but notice your pink clothing. Do you have breast cancer?”
She said yes, and I told her about the walk. I actually started to get a quivering voice, and I could feel my eyes welling up with tears as I talked to this mom, and I didn’t even cry at the closing ceremonies last year! I told her that I would be so honored if she shared her name with me, so that I could carry it with me on my walk, and let everyone know she was a survivor, that she was fighting breast cancer. She agreed, and now I’ll be carrying the name “Tina Q.” with me on my journey. I thanked her and left, knowing that if I stayed longer I’d cry.
I needed that moment tonight to remind me why I’m doing this. I can put up with the heat, the blisters, sleeping in a tent, and the portable toilets for people like Tina, who are putting up with chemo & radiation, pain & illness, depression & anxiety, and the possibility of leaving their husbands and children and their families too soon.
I can do it.
September 11th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Okay, this one got me teary… *sniff*