Pairs well with: "Kind and Generous" by Natalie Merchant and
"Secret O' Life" by James Taylor
It's been a week since I completed my 3rd Komen 3 Day event in Atlanta, GA, with Team Diamond Stone.
It was the 3rd year in a row that I've walked 60 miles in 3 days to raise awareness and money for breast cancer advocacy and research.
It was the 3rd year in a row that I laced up pink shoestrings in my Asics tennis shoes, wore a "Boo Bees" team t-shirt with my name, "Beecause I Said So" on the back, donned a backpack loaded down with my camera, chapstick, extra socks, gum & Madge (lazy ass) in the side pocket.
It was the 3rd year in a row that I started the walk at Stone Mountain with swollen eyes (from crying throughout the opening ceremony) and ended the walk at Turner Field with swollen eyes (from crying throughout the closing ceremony and shoe salute).
And for the past week I've been racking my brain trying to come up with the words to adequately explain to you exactly how I feel at the completion of this year's walk. Honestly, it's hard to find just the right words that would explain the feelings & emotions & joy that a 60 mile walk create. (I mean, how exactly do you explain what 3 straight days/spent with some of your dearest friends/basically isolated from the rest of the world/away from everyday stress/like bills and jobs and family problems and world problems and carpool and laundry/talking about EVERYTHING you can imagine & then some/ends up being more like a girl's trip to the greatest therapist in the world/rather than a time for us to give a little push back to the world of breast cancer.) They would have to be the most perfect, precise words chosen with the utmost care. This experience, my team & the cause are all very important to me. So important, in fact, that I choose to hold them with both hands & treat them so delicately.
I cherish them. I am changed by them. I am better because of them.
And, well, maybe that's all I need to say about that.
Then I went & watched this. And cried the entire time.
(this is only 7 minutes long & worth every second you watch)
So:
Thank you Cati Diamond Stone
- for kicking cancer's ass! For making your life's work to kick cancer's ass! For your friendship, your wit, your generosity, your over-active bladder, your dimples, your strength & courage - I love you.
For welcoming me on to this team - I am forever indebted.
Thank you Team Diamond Stone
- for laughing at my jokes (esp Mary who even laughs at the really bad ones), for making a Holy Shitake! pizza from Mellow Mushroom a permanent part of our 3 Day experience, for the late night talks followed up (quickly) by the early morning talks, the You Tube videos, the blister-popping parties, the Madge pranks, the beignets, the hands to hold when I got tired along the route, for dancing to the Cupid Shuffle at every pit stop, for the hugs and for the tears, for the smiles and for the high-fives, for loving me even when I wasn't too lovable, for walking side-by-side through the finish line - with arms held high, smiles from ear to ear, tears rolling down our faces & beaming with the pride that comes from walking 60 miles together. The laughter. My God, the laughter. Thank you for the laughter. Jesus be a raindrop...
Thank you to every friend & family member who sponsored me
-your kindness & generosity is absolutely humbling! I thought about all of you during the walk and I've told Cati about each & every one of you. She knows who you are and I hope you know just how special & important you are to our team. Everyone knows someone who's life has been affected by breast cancer. I hope you thought of them when you pledged your dollars to me and know that I - and every walker on that 3 Day route - took every step to get us closer to a world where there is NO more breast cancer. Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey.
Thank you to Sarah
- not only for holding down the fort for the entire long weekend, but for every night I stayed a little later at the gym working out to ensure I was physically ready for this. And for the countless conversations building up to the walk talking through what I needed to pack. And for the pep talks you gave me each night through the phone lines from Hattiesburg to Atlanta, making me feel as if you were right there with me. And, most importantly, for expecting that I will do this every year (as long as Cati D. is heading up Team Diamond Stone) because it is a spiritual event. I love you so very much for getting that.
Thank you to Donna, Jes, Jamie, Max & Rowan and Misty
- for taking time out of your busy weekend lives to come out to the walk & cheer us on! It was so incredibly special to see each of you out there! What a boost!
And to all of you
Thanks for hanging out with me the past few months. It's been fun preparing for this special event with all of you. I appreciate the kind words & encouragement I received from so many folks about the blog. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Take good care of you.
xoxo,
Kim
