My Magic Shoes

My magic shoes are not of the red glittery variety, but rather they are a little worn and now a little soggy. They are blue and silver shoes that are lighter than air. They beckon me to put them on and take them for a spin. They promise to take me to new heights and new places. They are my running shoes and just like when I was six years old they make me feel like I can run faster and that I am stronger when I wear them. I know it may sound a little silly especially if you have never experienced the feeling.

When I run in my shoes I am free, liberated from everything except the wind, the rain, and the sound of my soles striking the pavement. I am light and can fly through the air, no matter the pumpkin pie that I ate yesterday. Guilt runs are great though!

I think that today I actually became part Labrador Retrevier, as Mystic and I were running in sync, exhilirated by every falling drop of rain just happy to be alive and part of the world around us. She of course was more interested in running after birds. I however, did not share that desire but that is not the point. We were two free spirits, woman and dog together.

On such a day when people feel the regret of overeating yesterday and participate in crazy shopping sprees, keep it simple. Take out your magic shoes and go for a spin. Your shoes will tell you that you are fast and lighter than air. It is okay to listen to them and feel like you did when you were six. Besides the endorphins are a great bonus and help to create crazy blogs about magic shoes. Happy running.

Lori

Over The River and Through the Woods.....

Last weekend we had to opportunity to drive down to Grandma's house. With both baseball and soccer seasons seeming to last forever, it's been a really long time since we made the journey to Temple. Too long in fact, and we could not have asked for a better time for Aidan's sports seasons to come to a close. You see last weekend was extra special, for Sunday was Grandma's birthday, and we were lucky enough to be able to spend it with her. Speaking of the end to Aidan's sports season, here is a picture of Aidan's new trophies. He certainly earned them.

We left for Temple on Friday evening about 7:30pm. Since we had planned on leaving about 6:30pm, I would say that we were right on schedule. Oh by the way, that would be "our usual schedule", and not "normal people schedule". While Aidan and Lori and Christopher made sure that the backs of their eyelids were not going anywhere, I was lucky enough to get behind a passenger bus that was obviously being driven by Keanu Reeves. By staying on that buses tail most of the way, we made fantastic time. We pulled into Grandma's driveway a few minutes before 10:00pm with everybody well rested......ummm....well....almost everybody....Grrrrrrr.

When we arrived, we were pleased to find that Grandma was still awake. We stayed up for a few minutes and visited, and finally got the kiddos off to bed about 10:30pm. Grandma went to bed right after that, and Lori and I made it about 1 more hour before we were also greeted by the Sandman.

We woke up bright and early on Saturday morning (as one does when there are 6 year olds and 15 month olds in the house), and started enjoying Grandma's hospitality. It's always great returning to the house that I grew up in. Although I have not lived full time in that house in over 20 years, it's still as comfortable as ever, and the familiarity is refreshing. Aidan and Christopher did not waste time hitting up the huge backyard. Each time we are down, a good majority of the day is spent in Grandma's huge backyard. Oh how we wish we had something like this to play in at our house. You could fit 5 of our backyards into 1 of Grandmas. Before Christopher headed outside, I was able to snap a picture of he an Grandma.

After getting outside, it did not take Aidan very long to figure out how to use the new POGO SWING.


It looked like a lot of fun, and you could see the gears churning inside Christopher's head, wondering how he was going to get his turn. In due time buddy, in due time. A brief game of soccer followed,


until Christopher decided that picking up the ball was much easier than kicking it with his little stubby legs. As I tried to explain to him the rules, he just turns and give me the "what Dad?" look.


Christopher finally decided to take a rest, and frolic in the leaves a bit. This gave me a great opportunity to capture a fantastic photo of him. Isn't he just the cutest little monkey you've ever seen?


Uncle Jim was able to stop by the house on Saturday morning before going in to work, and we all enjoyed his brief visit. Hopefully next time we will hit a weekend when he is off and will get a bit more time to visit. Saturday seemed to go by really fast. That tends to happen when you are having so much fun.....just ask Christopher. (Click on Movie)



Aidan and I both got a real kick out of taking Grandma's convertible for a spin, as we both sported huge grins on our face the entire ride. After we got home, we had a great home cooked meal, and finally got a very tired Christopher to bed about 7:30pm on Saturday night. The rest of us sat down and watched NATIONAL TREASURE TWO: BOOK OF SECRETS. It's one of those turn your brain off at the door and enjoy the ride movies, and we were all entertained.

Sunday morning we woke early and wished Grandma a very happy birthday. She prepared a wonderful lunch for us, and Lori made a beautiful flower arrangement.


After a great lunch, we saved room for the birthday cupcakes that Lori made. Here is a picture of Grandma blowing out the candles. (Please take special notice of out oldest goofy monkey in the background)


We all had a really good time on a very short visit. Like always, the time went by too quickly. We loaded up the CX-9 about 2:00pm, said our goodbyes, and got back home about 4:45pm. Like a said, a very brief visit.

I want to thank Grandma for her wonderful hospitality, and again.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I love you.


William

Courage, Hope, & Inspiration: A Pink Trail of Tears

I had a rare opportunity this past weekend to witness a journey for many that symbolized so many different things for each involved and offered many views of the human spirit. I was a member of the medical crew for the Komen Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk in Dallas this past weekend. The walkers of the 3 Day, walk 20 miles each day for 3 days to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.

Estella, Shellye, Me, & Amy

My journey began at 5 AM on Friday at Southfork Ranch, as one of 5 friends supporting our inspiration and good friend Shellye. Shellye, oh by the way, is now a breast cancer survivor of over one and a half years. :)! We were all a little sleepy and a little excited by what lay ahead for the day, as we watched the incredible sea of pink and eccentricities roll in to walk and support all of the 3500 walkers. How awesome and inspiring it was to see so many family and friends walking together with signs of support for those that were survivors, in active treatment, or to remember those that had been lost to breast cancer. I saw women walking that were obviously in active treatment, and those that each step they took appeared to be a great effort but they kept going with all the determination they could muster in hope that each one of them was making a difference. Families pushed wheelchairs so that they could support their loved one when they got tired. It was an emotional and wonderful moment surrounded by crazy hats, pink bouffant hair, men in bras (which was a little disturbing), and lots and lots of furry boas. It was going to be an interesting experience indeed!


My friends and I ended up going in different directions as they were set up for various pit stops among the route and I was headed for main camp. I talked to several women on the bus that shared their experiences with me and we discussed the general lack of education that is given to patients with breast cancer. Many patients are given books or reading material but not actually educated on treatment options and potential side effects from the chemo and radiation treatments. We also talked about how so much is unknown for the cure for breast cancer and I was starting to feel a little unsettled.

Did you know that without family history that women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer? Kind of scary especially if you thought you were fairly safe. Anyway, I will keep going with the story.

At Main Camp all of our group set up our MASH unit for medical, chiropractic, and sports medicine services and began to assemble many of the pink tents ( 2 person) for the walkers and staff. Holy pink tents batman! The crazy tent decorating comes later including camouflage for some, really cool Christmas lights, blow up doll, UFO's, and virtually anything else imaginable. Of course mine and Estellas's tent had the super cool battery operated Christmas lights!


The first walkers came in to camp for the day with early blisters; strained knees, hips, and backs; and a few other less urgent complaints and life was good. Shellye, Estella, and Amy had been at one pit stops and only a fracture or two but nothing crazy. The night continued and we began having several women dropping from dehydration that required fluids, and some had to be sent out to hospitals.

Marco - The Water Boy- "If you don't drink your water you don't get in the shower!"

Day 2 started back at main camp with a rush of lots of crazy blisters, raw feet, sore knees and backs, airway issues, diarrhea and other assorted complaints. Virtually all of the walkers were determined to get back out there and walk their 20 miles for the day as a badge of courage no matter what the price. Some walkers had received medical red cards meaning that they could not participate for the days event because they were medically unsafe and they became quite emotional because of what the walk represented for them. When I really experienced that emotional roller coaster was when a group of us were brought to the 1st pit stop and a lady that was in active chemo with cancer that had spread to her belly, was red carded for dehydration. Although she was calm her family member that was with her just wept and said "she just needed to spend the night in a hotel and she would be well enough to walk". That was one of the same ladies I watched struggle as she walked through the starting gate and boy did it get to me inside. For so many of the walkers this walk was about having the courage to stand up and beat cancer and walk on. I continued to see more and more examples throughout the 3Day.

Amy and I arrived at Pit Stop 4 and started setting up. All of the neighbors were very excited that the walkers were coming through and one lady brought her trio of tiny little dogs (Okay I admit I own a Lab so yes they were tiny in comparison) to cheer and provide pet therapy for the walkers. The smallest dog, (I am uncertain as to the actual itty bitty breed) was actually named Komen and would perform a soprano-esque howl to cheer the walkers when coerced. Although many of the walkers felt like their feet were about to become detached from their body they would stop and laugh before trekking on. I met one lady that was in her late 60's early seventies that was having an incredible time with her hips and plantar fascitis but she refused to get on the bus, despite already completing 36 + miles as of day 2. She was a cancer survivor and she was not going to stop until she had finished the next 3.6 miles left for the day. There were so many people that I met that kept on going because although they were "just walking" those 60 miles represented so much more to them. I can't describe all that I saw but I was constantly reminded of the resilience of the human spirit and the innate compassion that so many people possess as they encouraged and helped all of those around them.

Pit Stop 4 Medical Crew

The funniest walkers that Amy and I met were Carol and I think it was her daughter she called "wild thing". They had determined that they were the last walkers on the route that had not been picked up from the bus and they were taking pride in last place. Carol was really struggling with her knee with each step but they were laughing and having a good time. The walker in front of them was having issues with plantar fascitis and she stopped to stretch with her husband and "wild thing" informed her that they were going to be in last place so she had better move it and proceeded to squirt her with her water bottle. This of course made her laugh and allowed her to keep going a little longer. The girl once again stopped to stretch and wild thing said" I am on to you now. I can stop and stretch too. Now get moving!" Too funny. It kept everything light and helped to keep her going and they protected their title for last place for day 2.

Wild Thing & Carol with one of the Safety Crew members

The final day was more of a relief for many of the walkers as they were starting to see the finish ahead although there would still be red cards to hand out. The walk ended in celebration for all of those that walked bravely through it all, the 360 + crew that survived and became better people for the experience, and most of all to celebrate all of the survivors with the walkers and the crew. Over 7 million dollars was raised for breast cancer research for 2008 through the Komen Foundation. Many of these funds were raised by the 3-Day participants along with so many hearts and spirits raised to new heights and hope for a cure.

Some of the medical crew for the 3Day

We said goodbye to our new friends and told the walkers how proud we were of them. The DFW 3Day was now officially over. I was filled with hope and love for all of those around me along with the overwhelming urge to sleep, drink lots of fluids, eat a steak or something substantial, and rejoice over the indoor shower and flushable potty. And of course most of all I was excited to be back with William and my monkeys that I had missed dearly! But I know that I will be back next year as a crew member or as a walker to continue to support the fight to end breast cancer. I have seen the tears and the blisters and I am not afraid to stand with those that are still fighting, to make a difference for all of our friends and family members whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.


One last picture of the boys at closing ceremonies before the hypoglycemic crazies started setting in. Enjoy your family and friends.

Lori

Winds Of Change.....or Joe or Ralph or Steve....

Well it's been a while since I've written a long blog. No, I have not been suffering from writer's block or anything as profound as that, I've just been really busy. Today I have finally found time to sit down at the computer, and wax poetic. So here I go baby....waxing!

First I need to follow up on a promise from the last blog. Lori and Aidan did indeed attended the "Sock Hop" and both said it was really "cool". Yep, Lori was "Togged to the Bricks", and Aidan was one "Hep Cat", while dad stayed at home too "off the cob" to really fit in at such a happening place. (Look them up...I had to) Here is Aidan and Lori in all there 1950's glory.


October sped past in an instant, but not before inducing sugar highs and enamel lows on it's final day. Halloween is always so much fun when you have kids. Dressing up, scaring people, screaming, running around making a fool of yourself, and most importantly.......CANDY!....LOTS AND LOTS OF DELICIOUS, SUCCULENT, MOUTH WATERING CANDY. It's amazing how much candy a kid gets now days. When I was a child, you were pleased as punch when someone dropped one piece in your bag. Now, handfuls are handed out at a time. Those dirty rotten little monkeys made out like bandits. Speaking of dirty rotten little monkeys, here are a few pictures of ours in all their galactic glory.

I present Darth Monkeyboy.


The Dark Side.....The Neutral Side....and the Precious Side.


"But Aidan LUKE, I am...... your FATHER".....yours too Christopher.


Master "YODA" wielding his LightSucker like a true JEDI.


All in all, the evening went great. Christopher and Aidan got to trick-or-treat with their cousins, and afterward, we all went over to Nana's house to experience the Gruesome Haunted Garage that Cricket, Lori and NANA set up for the boys. After they were sufficiently scared out of their wits, they all sought refuge in their bags of candy.

Speaking of NANA, it sure was nice having her down for the week. Everybody enjoyed her visit, and like always it ended too soon. While she was here, she got to see Aidan play his soccer game and his Baseball game on Saturday, and Aidan sure enjoyed playing in front of his NANA. Goodtimes!

Last but not least, I want to say a little something about our little Rembrandt. Early this week we got an email from Aidan's school letting us know that his artwork was picked to be displayed at the School District's Administration Building. Only 15 students were chosen from his school. Only 3 students out of the 140+ in his grade were chosen. We are very proud of him. Here is the picture that he drew and painted, he calls it "Winds of Change" (Not really...I made that up...he actually wanted to give it a boy's name...oh well...what can you say, he's 6)



So, there you have it. All caught up for the moment. I will not be so lax with updates in the future.

William