1 week ago...

1 week ago today I was half-way through the 1st day of the Susan G. Komen 3-day here in beautiful Atlanta. I was headed out with determination and had no idea what lay ahead of me. I also had no idea 2 HUGE blisters were forming on the side of my feet...

1 week later I have been trying to figure out how to explain the experience of the 3day. It isn't about walking, it isn't about blisters, it isn't about camping. Somehow through this event that seems to be about walking and blisters and camping there is this not so subtle metaphor for what I have heard my friends who have had to fight the breast cancer fight share. This is in no way to suggest that the experience means I understand what it is like to fight breast cancer in any way shape or form...please know that. What it means is that you hear about these women who keep on fighting and in their fight they learn how to take a break when they need to, how to nourish themselves, how to bandage themselves, how to keep on going when they don't think they can keep on going and how much they appreciate the love and support of family, friends and strangers as they are on their journey. Somehow the walk represents a very small lesson in all of those things...that would be the metaphor...during the walk there is this constant reminder of all things you have heard from these women that you admire and love that have just done what needed to be done once they were diagnosed.

Ashlee and I headed out with determination for the 30 wonderful women (and many many more) we had listed on the back of our team shirt we would walk this walk. I don't want to put words in Ashlee's mouth but for me it was more than that. It was almost more insight and a lesson into what they actually meant when they were sharing what they were going through. Not that I have been lacking respect for these fabulous women but after this experience and after listening to all the people on the walk and reading their shirts and signs and feeling the heartfelt thank you from the people who came out to cheer us on my respect somehow has grown or maybe it has just expanded to include more things I respect them for.

After the metaphor you also realize you are on the mend...quickly. My feet are healing quickly and yesterday I actually made it out for a short walk. Next year (minus the camping) I am ready to do it again. I appreciate all the kind words, the donations that were made so that I was able to participate in the first place. For all of the ladies who had to fight the fight...I will continue to walk the walk.

XOXOXOXOXOXXO

1 week to go!

Ashlee and I are 1-week away from venturing out on our 60-mile trek through Atlanta for the Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure! I think we are both excited and nervous about what awaits us on this journey. Today I started fretting that I was overly prepared with my gear...why that would be a bad thing I do not know but I wasted a good 30 minutes today worrying about it!

Our team shirts hold the names of 30 women we know who have been affected by breast cancer. Now that the shirts are printed I keep thinking of others who I forgot to add to the back of the shirt. A sad, sad fact. Everytime I start worrying about the fact that we are 2 old ladies camping and that I am not allowed to bring my hair dryer with me which means I will most likely have a huge fro by the end of this walk I think about our fabulous friend Kristi who spent 2010 fighting this horrible disease and she was our motivation to get out there and get walking. That thought helps me remember that the experience and the cause itself will be what I have to take away from this event NOT good pictures of me having a good hair day in my pink get-up!

Getting to this point has been a very rewarding experience in itself. The training and fundrasing has kept this cause top of mind and heart all year. I was walking the other day listening to the fabulous Martina McBride (who we totally ripped off for our team name.) and it hit me that getting to the place where you have collected enough in donations means you have some pretty special people in your life. The help and support of family, friends, strangers and co-workers has given me this opportunity to participate in this amazing event! In closing the team of 2 that make up THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS SAY THANK YOU for all the cheers, support and donations! 60 miles and camping...here we come!