Blisters for my sisters(and my Brothers)

Today, I tend to my blisters and re-live the events of the past three days.

Day One: opening ceremonies of The Breast Cancer 3- Day at Freestone Park in Gilbert Arizona. A sea of pink and people, balloons, banners, bravery, survivors, supporters and walkers. Today we will walk 20 miles for the cause. It was good to see familiar faces and more men walking this year. Breast cancer is on the rise in men. I started my walk with a woman named Connie. I remembered her from last year and we kept a good pace. Her sister is a survivor and she was walking again for her. Connie informed me this would be her last 3-day event since her son wouldn’t be waiting for her at the end on Sunday. He was killed by an underage drunk driver three weeks after last year’s event. The last picture she has of them together was at the finish line last year. He was her only child. She now has another battle to fight.

Along the way there are cheering sections and some great t-shirts, “save the ta-tas”, I’m only here for the boobs”, “of course they’re fake, the old ones nearly cost me my life”, “tit crew”, “save second base”... one guy was wearing a shirt that read, “my wife has one boob left... ME!” His wife is in her thirties and had a double mastectomy and is expecting their first child in a few months. She won’t be able to hold her newborn to her breast to feed. But she is alive and thankful. It made me realize there are some great men out there.

Day Two: Put on your shoes and give me 20! Lots of stretching. This day is the hardest mentally. As the temperature reached 90 degrees the route took its toll on walkers. Along the walk a lot of the people you see bring laughter, tears, sorrow and inspiration. This is what keeps us going.

I saw the familiar face of a woman that has handed me a card the last three years with the picture of her daughter on it. She lost her battle with breast cancer four years ago and was the same age as myself. This year the card had her other daughter’s picture on it also, who now has breast cancer. As I hugged the lady she told me she wondered – why her daughters and not her, and said parents should never out live their children. She handed me a rose and thanked me for walking.

Day Three: Get out the shoe horn! Only 20 miles to go! It’s gonna be a hot one! I walked with women from age 20 to 70. Some first time walkers and some veteran walkers. I talked with a man wearing a shirt that read, “My wife walked 23 miles to the altar.” Last month they got married on day one of the Seattle 3-Day and were celebrating their honeymoon walking sixty miles in Arizona. A close friend lost her battle with breast cancer and they were walking for her. There were stories of heroes and those of heartache.

I reach Margaret Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. There it is again the sea of pink and people, balloons, more banners, cheering, laughing, crying and hugging.

I made it! Another 60 miles!

There are lots of reasons we walk. Whatever the reason, whatever the cause, I have lots of reasons to be thankful. Like my daughter and granddaughter spending three days with me. My blisters will heal.

Thank you to everyone for your support, and until next time. Take care of yourself, check yourself and tell the ones in your life you love them.

Tears happen; endure, grieve and try to move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is us... live while you are alive.

loveandhearts,

“G”