A 21.4 mile walk.

SYNOPSIS:  The alarm went off at 5:30 am this morning.  Team Diamond Stone woke up, all of us spread out all around the house that sleeps 17 (that we rented for the long weekend), and began layering up team shirts, cushioned socks, and lots & lots of pink apparel (it's 51 degrees outside peeps!).  It's too bad that Kim, Melissa & Mary stayed up talking & giggling like school girls till 1:00 am (have I told you how therapeutic this weekend is for me/us???).  Before coffee was finished and bagels were fully toasted, two Lincoln Navigators picked us up out front (at 6:30 am) and we were on our way to Stone Mountain Park for Day 1 of the 2014 Komen 3 Day event.  I was crying before 7 am.

Team Diamond Stone 

7:00 am 

Stone Mountain Park

Day 1 of 2014 Komen 3 Day Atlanta

Signs at the Opening Ceremony

Did I tell you that Cati Diamond Stone, my unbelievable friend & team captain, is the Executive Director of Komen Atlanta?  Yep.

She welcomed the walkers at the Opening Ceremony.

 This is a banner that we were allowed to sign as a memorial for those we've lost to breast cancer.

I signed for Mrs Lorelei Schuman and my friend Wanda, two of the most recent friends who've succumbed to this terrible disease.

 Team Diamond Stone's shoes -- ready to tackle 60 miles in 3 days!

 Cati & her sweet daddy, Dr. Dalton Diamond

 Joi & Martha

 Forget the blisters, Mary's got swollen fingers

 I think I might like this church.

 Part of the Atlanta skyline

 About 2 miles to go on Day 1

 21.4 MILES DOWN

DAY 1

BOOM!

We're back at the house.  Most of us have showered.  We all have eaten & fixed a drink.  We're talking about the fun events of the day & are already planning for tomorrow.  And another 20 miles.  But all I can think about are the few people (walkers) who were invited to speak this morning at the Opening Ceremony.  They were obviously told to step up on the stage,  speak in to the microphone and explain why they're walking.

The first walker to speak was a man.  He slowly stepped up to the mike and said, "I'm walking for my wife.  My best friend.  My soul mate.  And my partner for 38 years.  I miss her every day.  And I don't want her to be forgotten.  I love you, honey!"  Tears were rolling down his cheeks.  And mine.

I am incredibly lucky that my friend (and the reason I participate in this exact event) is alive and well and cancer-free.  Cati is beside me, every step of the way, laughing and cutting up and limping and talking and planning about next year and comparing stories of raising 5 year olds and reminiscing about our college days.  Cati is happy and healthy and right.freaking.here.  I can't imagine her not being here.  

That sweet, gentle man who spoke this morning shouldn't have ever had to realize a reality without his sweetheart.  

No one should lose their wife.  

No child should lose their mom.

No woman should lose her mom, sister, aunt, grandma or friend.  

No person should ever have to lose anyone to a horrific disease like this.

And that message, and that sweet man's words and tears, and my friend, Cati, and many, many, many others are why I started walking and didn't stop for 21.4 miles today.

xoxox, 

Kim