In Search of a Cure...

In speaking with a dear friend the other day, I mentioned this bit of wonderment that I'm keenly aware of lately. There are so many people I know that have heath issues of so many different kinds. Many of these will or could take their lives.

Maybe it is the stage of life that I'm at. You know, how when you are very young everyone of your friends is getting a new toy, or as you get older everyone is getting married, and later everyone seems to be having babies. I believe that is because I am at that stage of life where those particular things are happening to those you are close to. The fact that I'm only 20 years younger than the oldest of these people makes these observances very intense.

I know when I first because aware of how that works. We were visiting Utah and I walked down to chat with Gramma Chris, Claude father's mother. She was sitting in her chair reading the newspaper and checking the obituaries.  I found that interesting. Gramma Chris looked at me and said very matter of factly, "I want to find out who of us is left." It was then I really noticed Gramma Chris was old and many of her family and friends had predeceased her. It was just very clear that we are aware of things because, in part, that is where we are at in our life circle.

There are lots of illnesses people are facing. My own mother has Alzheimers. I have family and friends with breast cancer. Claude and I choose to contribute to St. Judes Children's Hospital. I help to collect donations for the Heart Association. Our Countryside Homemaker's Club saves tabs from soda cans to send someone to camp each year. So many worthwhile opportunities and each makes a little difference.

Saturday, I was invited by Andie, my daughter, to participate, with others from her Mom's Club, in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure. This was held along the river in Louisville, Kentucky. I was happy to be able to do this on many levels. First to be with my daughter. Second to help a worthwhile cause financially. Third to raise awareness by a presence in mass about an issue that affects so many. Fourth I have a sister, sister-in-law and dear friend who have had breast cancer and have fought it at various stages.

Here are some pictures of my Saturday morning in Louisiville at the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure.

I walked 'In Celebraton Of' Jo Johnson, June Gulbrandsen & Jeannie Hutchings.

Andie was coordinating this effort for her Mom's Club. She made sure I had a number that added up to 13. That is my lucky number. Claude and I were married on Friday the 13th, 13 months and 13 days after that we had Nissa, we lived in apartment 13, our first grandmonster was born on the 13th, we have a son-in-law who was born on the 13th, etc., etc., etc. No fear of the number 13 in this home. I thought it was a cute thing for Andie to think of and do for me.

Here are the four of us with the pink balloon arch in the background (Sandi, Andie, Kate & Stacey).

As we waited for the walk to begin, the survivors parade in over a pink carpet in order of the number of years they have survived. That is very moving. Then the carpet is left and people take their pictures walking on it. These young girls formed their own conga line and enjoyed parading to the music from the bandstand.

Andie kept saying, "Next year we need more gear!"  There are lots of very enthusiastic participants in this annual event. There were dogs with pink hair, men in pink shirts, bold knee socks in varying shades of pink, ladies with pink hair, lovely hats decorated especially for the walk, and some really interesting leggings on men and women. Hair bows abounded. It just added to the joy of the moment.

Blue Bell ice cream had a booth and handed out teeny tiny ice cream cones. Yippee!! Who doesn't like ice cream.

Soon we saw the line of walkers begin. If I have the process right, they started the runners out first on the course the walkers would take. Then the regular walkers lined up and headed out. We were near the end of this group when we began to walk. The survivors and families came next. They even had a special lane for the survivors to walk in.

Along the way there are cheerleaders, people with banners with names of their loved ones and friends, and lovely people with little bottles of water to quinch your thirst and trash bags to toss your finished water bottles in.

The line of walkers went on for a very long way. And we eventually met the runners returning. We would walk on their side of the road as this mass of humanity turned and headed back to Louisville.

It was a beautiful day for a walk. From the American flag at the beginning...

to spending time with Andie and her friends in a very worthy effort...

to the beautiful views of bridges and river by Louisville, Kentucky...

This was a morning of time well spent, money donated to a very worthwhile cause and effort expended in building beautiful memories to last forever. Thank you Andie for inviting me to share this moment in time with you and your friends.

While I can't personnally solve all of the ills and difficulties in life, I can find hope and take joy in the little bits I can do to serve my fellow beings.