Twin Cities--Breast Cancer 3Day--Aug. 18-20, 2006

 2500 walkers--$6.3 million

 

This walk was dedicated to my friend Gregg whose life ended this year.  He said that he would be watching over me at the Twin Cities walk.   He was one of the most heroic people I have ever met. 

 

This walk was a quick trip, meaning we arrived on Thursday morning and left before closing ceremonies on Sun night.  This was also memorable in that it is the first time ever that our luggage was lost.  It was on a later flight (that's what happened for checking in at the airport 3 hours early!).  Our bags finally arrived about 8 pm and all of that time I was thinking that I should run over to the Mall of America and figure out what I would need to buy to get me through the first day of walking.  That was a waste of 'mental energy'!

 

Most of the walk was through back roads, trails and some residential.  There is nothing wrong with that kind of path, but since I am always a tourist I love when the walks take us through the cities, or communities where I can get a sense of the city I am walking in.  The last 2 miles of the walk were exactly that.  We walked through a historical area of homes and buildings, and ended in front of the Capitol building.  That was indeed spectacular.  The closing ceremony stage was directly on the lawn of the capitol.  We could not stay for the ceremonies because of our earlier flight back to LAX, but I am sure it was breathtaking.

 

My feet are not too happy this morning.  I am sitting here typing with my feet on a bag of ice to reduce the swelling on the balls of my feet.  It is a 'wonderment' that new problems keep happening, even though these are the same feet as they were 2 weeks ago!  Bob would like me to eliminate a couple of walks, so we are in 'negotiations' about that, because of course, I don't want to!

 

One of the most impressive parts of this event was the community support and the crew support and enthusiasm.  The pit stops were so clever (and I have seen a lot of pit stop in my 63 walks).  There was one that was the North Pole, and one was about Sweet Dreams, and there was one that was a Cowboy theme, and then there was the Pirates of the Caribbean!  The Pirates were not only in outfits that they had made, but had a huge ship that was the Komen Ship and they had a whole dance routine.  It was more than wonderful and I was told they have been working on that since January.  All of the stops were just incredible.  Go pit stop crews! 

I want to mention that the community support was gigantic.  I have never seen such big cheering sections and so many people giving out candy and popsicles.  There was even a huge group out on Fri at 8:30 am!

Go Twin Cities!

 

While I was standing at Opening Ceremonies I met 3 young women.  One was Rachel (I didn't write down the other names but they are very special gals) whose husband and mother in law I met later.  They bought pins from me and later lent me their cell phone because I had forgotten mine at the hotel and was wanting to let Bob know where I was, even though he always finds me, cell phone or not!  I ended up seeing them every day and was just enchanted by each of them.

 

I spoke with Heather who is from SoCal.  We might have been the only walkers from CA.  She knew me from past walks and we walked together for quite a while.  I just was so impressed with her personality and enthusiasm for life.  I hope our paths cross again.

 

Megan and Rachel were our dinner mates on Fri.  They had seen all of Bob's pink signs on the route and were so impressed that we were Team California!  Most people think that Team California is huge, so they are always surprised to find out that it is really just one official person (me), and on unofficial person (Bob)!

 

I spoke to Barbara and Dennis.  Actually her name is Barbara Jo, but she goes by Barbara.  I don't meet many of us!  Barbara is a 3 yr. survivor.  She was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in her 8th month of pregnancy with her 3rd child.  She was so grateful that all of these people were walking and raising money--- because of that, she is able to walk.  Dennis was very supportive.  Barbara, you are one of the heroes in this fight!

 

We had dinner on Sat. with 3 women from near Fargo.  We had so many laughs that I didn't want to leave but had to get back to the hotel to get ready for the next morning.  Thank you for the belly laughs! They were a 'hoot'!

 

I met Jeff who tore his Achilles tendon in the morning but continued to walk.  He was honoring his Mother who had passed away on Sept. 11, 2005.  What a beautiful way to honor her memory.  Thank you for sharing your story.

 

When I walked in Sat. Lois was waiting for me.  She is a 2 yr. survivor.  Early in the day her friends had taken my cell phone number, telling me that there was someone wanting to meet me.  When we met she reminded me that we had exchanged e mails last year, but then I did not do the Twin Cities event.  She wanted to meet me and hug me, and I was so overwhelmed by her.  Lois, if you read this, please send me your last name so that I can wear a pink ribbon with your name on my banner.  Actually, if any of you reading this journal would like me to walk in someone's honor, send me their name and I would be privileged to carry them  for the rest of my journey this year.  I spoke with many other dear people, but if I don't write the names down immediately the names 'float' out of my head.  You know who you are, and I thank you for sharing your stories and hugs with me.

 

This morning's goals are to finish laundry, washing/folding, start repacking and getting to work this afternoon. 

 

Thursday morning we are off to Seattle. 

 

Thanks again for coming to my website and sharing the journey.