What a day. What a week. What a month. It has been a hard block at work, there were some very serious files these past few days and one in particular has been on my mind.
The 'Run for Joy' campaign is still keeping us busy. Annie and I have spent my days off going door to door in every business from Scott Rd to Tsawwassen Ferries. It is undeniably one of the harder things I have done. I don't find it easy to walk into each business asking for support but a special thanks to the many people I talked to that have made this easier. I have been picking up some great prizes with the promise of many to phone and follow up on - I am almost sleeping through the night again... almost. :)
We have had a flurry of ticket sales this week as the big day approaches - we are fast approaching a sell out and from the bottom of my heart, thank you all! I have organized small fundraisers in the past; through school PACs, church functions, etc. but this has been something different. It started out as a small idea and it has become so much bigger than I first envisioned . When I walk around and see my mother's face in posters on businesses around Delta and Surrey, I can't tell you what it means.
My day started by sending out an email at work after I was given the okay to set up a 50/50 draw. Thanks to co-workers who jumped in to help with advice and ticket sales. I had to drop Annie off this morning in Tsawwassen so after a few hours sleep (night shift last night) I parked my car, gathered my posters and courage and finished canvassing Ladner village. I came away several hours later with a big smile buoyed by all the positive comments and support from shop keepers.
I drove back to Tsawwassen and sat down with a coffee to wait for Annie. I was thinking that today we had caught up with everything we needed to; we had finished the mailouts and emails to media, canvassing most of our targeted businesses. We had followed up on emails and phone calls, updated our website and this was a quiet moment where I didn't have to check my list for the next appointment, the next area to canvass or the next call to make. I looked up and noted one of our posters taped in the window of the coffee shop and then picked up a newspaper on the table, the South Delta Leader from last week. This was one of those rare moments of serendipity with the Leader cover story about Jason DaSilva, a former SDSS grad, who recounted his diagnosis and struggle with M.S. The article gave some background on DaSilva; Jason is a filmmaker, currently living in New York, with a solid repetoire of films to his credit. He has chosen to make a film about his life with M.S. titled "When I Walk'. I called my sister to tell her to check out his website. When I got home my sister called me back, asking if I had a chance to view the trailer for the movie on his site www.wheniwalk.com . I can't tell you the rush of emotions as I sat watching the trailer for his film. I found myself thinking back to two young girls standing with their Dad while their mom lay in a hospital bed. The three of us were all crying, having been told her diagnosis but my mom did what she always did. She shrugged it off as if it was nothing, smiled at us and passed us a Kleenex box. So tonight, I sit here and encourage anyone reading this (I know at least two people actually read my blog) to check out his website. For those families who deal with M.S., you will understand my emotions. For those people unfamiliar with M.S., you will gain understanding.
I will close by saying my entry today has obviously taken an emotional turn. It would be an understatement to say I am tired tonight, but in a good way. I am looking forward to September 6 and trying hard not to think about all the details still to be taken care of as the date draws close. I continue to keep my marathon training light for now (still have hip muscle issues) but it is going well. I have promised Annie a 'day off' tomorrow to thank her for all her work. It's a chance for us to spend the day together wherever she would like before she leaves for Ottawa. So I will end this by promising another entry soon. And please check out Jason DaSilva's website and join me in continuing to work hard at funding a cure for M.S.
One odd thing came to mind when I read the name of Jason's film. He calls it 'When I Walk' and he is pushing himself to the absolute limit just to keep walking. He has reminded me again of the reason that I am running this marathon. Because until there is a cure 'Running for Joy' is something most people with M.S. (like Jason) simply can't do.
Take care
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Back again to finish the holiday epilogue! From Radium, we headed out in the morning towards Cranbrook, through Creston and onto Christina Lake. We weren't able to stop in and visit family in the Slocan Valley on this trip - so apologies til next time! We had a tight schedule to get back for a wedding on Friday. We arrived in Okanagan Falls on Wednesday night to spend the last days with Sue and Rob. Ralf's mom, sister and her kids were there as well as Bobby. We spent the evening watching the kids swim and the next day we hiked up to an old abandoned mine. We headed out at 3:00 in the afternoon on Thursday with temperatures in the high 30's.
We made it home in 6 hours with plenty of stops for coffee. The holiday had officially ended!
When we came home we were faced with a very ill cat. The next day we took Shadow up to the vet after the wedding service. He just lay on my lap on the drive up there; it was the only time we didn't have to crate him for a trip to the vet. When Shadow was little he and his brother had survived being thrown into a construction site and over the next 16 years with us he survived many misadventures. He thumped around in a cast after suffering a broken toe, 4 weeks of antibiotics and a plastic head cone when a coyote took a bite out of him, a torn ear, etc, but finally he was worn out. Ralf and I said our goodbyes and I stayed in the room with him until he was gone. We were both at peace because he wasn't in pain any longer, but there was a definite sorrow. Shadow had been there when the kids were little and Rachel had brought him home. He was there when mom was alive and whenever we came home Shadow always knew the sound of our car, or our voices and came running to greet us in the driveway. He submitted to a head rub and invariably took a swipe at you with his paw as you passed him. So our goodbye to Shadow was a goodbye to a part of our past as well. Ralf and I are earning our gray hairs this year.
Back home and the routine of running; still working through some problems with my hip muscle but getting excited/worried about the race. Ralf, Annie and I have been dropping off dinner tickets for the past week and getting some wonderful gifts for the silent auction. Sandra has been sending out media packages during her lunch hour, so thanks to them all for all their help and hard work. I will end here for the night but will keep everyone updated on ticket sales and prizes!
Jan
We made it home in 6 hours with plenty of stops for coffee. The holiday had officially ended!
When we came home we were faced with a very ill cat. The next day we took Shadow up to the vet after the wedding service. He just lay on my lap on the drive up there; it was the only time we didn't have to crate him for a trip to the vet. When Shadow was little he and his brother had survived being thrown into a construction site and over the next 16 years with us he survived many misadventures. He thumped around in a cast after suffering a broken toe, 4 weeks of antibiotics and a plastic head cone when a coyote took a bite out of him, a torn ear, etc, but finally he was worn out. Ralf and I said our goodbyes and I stayed in the room with him until he was gone. We were both at peace because he wasn't in pain any longer, but there was a definite sorrow. Shadow had been there when the kids were little and Rachel had brought him home. He was there when mom was alive and whenever we came home Shadow always knew the sound of our car, or our voices and came running to greet us in the driveway. He submitted to a head rub and invariably took a swipe at you with his paw as you passed him. So our goodbye to Shadow was a goodbye to a part of our past as well. Ralf and I are earning our gray hairs this year.
Back home and the routine of running; still working through some problems with my hip muscle but getting excited/worried about the race. Ralf, Annie and I have been dropping off dinner tickets for the past week and getting some wonderful gifts for the silent auction. Sandra has been sending out media packages during her lunch hour, so thanks to them all for all their help and hard work. I will end here for the night but will keep everyone updated on ticket sales and prizes!
Jan
Friday, August 1, 2008
August 1
It has been a busy month since my last posting. Annie made me promise to update this more.
Ralf and I took our holidays and headed out with our full load camping gear on July 12th. We headed over to Sooke for the first night then over to Comox. Ferries were full but you just gotta love that priority boarding for motorcycles! We fit our 'bikes in with quite a few others at the tail end of the ferry and returned to the mainland, heading along the Fraser Canyone to 100 mile house. We had a great time visiting with good friends, Noreen and Hardy; they have a beautiful log house near Horse Lake. We were treated to gourmet meals including Bison steak and hiked through the area around their property. Noreen has to struggle with deer netting around her gardens but the backyard of their home is like a park. After we said our goodbyes we headed through Lone Butte towards Alberta. We stopped minutes ahead of a black cloud and heavy rain fall in Hinton pulling into a KOA cabin outside Hinton (I believe in keeping the tent dry!).
Next morning we headed toward Camrose and spent a few days with Rachel, Travis and the all IMPORTANT grandchild, Julia. She was not at all certain on our approach (too much black leather and noise) but warmed up as we stripped down. Julia was pleased to show us the new top teeth - they are very sharp, fyi. Rachel took us all to visit cousins Edna, Gordon and Greg in Edmonton where Julia further impressed everyone by showing how much she could eat in one afternoon. We had a great time and admired all the continuing progress Travis is making on the house. Sunday, July 20th, Ralf celebrated his birthday and we headed over to Lake Louise. We had to take a motel as the campsite was full (one hour wait in line to be told that!) and the next day we hiked all over Lake Louise going to both tea houses. We headed out late afternoon and went on to Radium Hot Springs, the perfect place to soak after hours of hiking. The heat was 37 deg and it didn't cool down much over night.
(more updates to follow!)
It has been a busy month since my last posting. Annie made me promise to update this more.
Ralf and I took our holidays and headed out with our full load camping gear on July 12th. We headed over to Sooke for the first night then over to Comox. Ferries were full but you just gotta love that priority boarding for motorcycles! We fit our 'bikes in with quite a few others at the tail end of the ferry and returned to the mainland, heading along the Fraser Canyone to 100 mile house. We had a great time visiting with good friends, Noreen and Hardy; they have a beautiful log house near Horse Lake. We were treated to gourmet meals including Bison steak and hiked through the area around their property. Noreen has to struggle with deer netting around her gardens but the backyard of their home is like a park. After we said our goodbyes we headed through Lone Butte towards Alberta. We stopped minutes ahead of a black cloud and heavy rain fall in Hinton pulling into a KOA cabin outside Hinton (I believe in keeping the tent dry!).
Next morning we headed toward Camrose and spent a few days with Rachel, Travis and the all IMPORTANT grandchild, Julia. She was not at all certain on our approach (too much black leather and noise) but warmed up as we stripped down. Julia was pleased to show us the new top teeth - they are very sharp, fyi. Rachel took us all to visit cousins Edna, Gordon and Greg in Edmonton where Julia further impressed everyone by showing how much she could eat in one afternoon. We had a great time and admired all the continuing progress Travis is making on the house. Sunday, July 20th, Ralf celebrated his birthday and we headed over to Lake Louise. We had to take a motel as the campsite was full (one hour wait in line to be told that!) and the next day we hiked all over Lake Louise going to both tea houses. We headed out late afternoon and went on to Radium Hot Springs, the perfect place to soak after hours of hiking. The heat was 37 deg and it didn't cool down much over night.
(more updates to follow!)
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