I was up before the sun today, yes that is strange I must
admit. But my brother invited me to join up with the San Antonio Fire
Department for the Komen race. Doug and
I headed to the Alamodome and I got some great pictures of the antique fire
truck and of my brother starting the race and finishing the race. As he crossed the finish line I couldn’t help
but get overwhelmed with pride, love, and honor. I felt he pushed the envelope to run that 5k
to will cancer away from me, from everyone.
I remember at Christmas when I was in treatment and we got together with
my dad’s family, all the cousins, I had stepped outside, bald as an eagle, and
lost all the strength that holds your knees in place. He was right there, out of nowhere, making
sure I was okay. Today, I felt like that
all over again….
I went to the race to take pictures of my brother, and
really with nothing else in mind. I
guess I had forgotten a lot of the stuff that happens there, like walking into
the survivors’ tent through a two line train of young cheerleaders yelling for
each survivor as we pass through. I
forgot about all the sponsors that are there handing out free food, water,
scarves, and so much more. And apparently I had forgotten where we walked to
and from last time. I was in treatment
when I went the first time, and Doug and I were talking about the route we had
taken then. I couldn’t remember anything other than getting a carnation at the
finish line, perhaps that’s why they handed them out!
After the race to find a cure already, we went and had breakfast
at Crackle Barrel. Our waitress, as
chance would have it, lives up the street from us. She is about a year older than my daughter,
and of course we used to see her more when the kids were growing up. I knew her baby brother had leukemia and her
mom had battle breast cancer. When she
came up to our table she told Doug how much she liked his shirt, I think they
said Inspire. Then she saw my survivor shirt and gave me a hug like my own
daughter would. I asked about her family and she said her mom was battling
breast cancer for the fourth time, this time in her liver…..
And then the day just fell into place. All the pink, all the
cute t-shirt sayings, all the cancer sucks, all the everything – we come
together as a group because we are helpless to do anything but come together.
Cancer can strike, will strike, whether you’re skinny, fat, old, young,
healthy, sick,…Sure it’s about raising money, but surely it’s about so much
more….
