Another Sticker!!!

Joined/Started a Team

Ok... truth be told, I didn't think I would ever get this sticker.

I really didn't expect anyone to want to do this walk. It's 60 miles in 3 days and you have to (at a minimum) raise $2,300. If you don't raise the money, you are on the hook for it (they have their reasons ;~)

So 60 miles and $2,300... that's enough to turn anyone away.

I figured I would do all the prep work alone and then hopefully meet new friends on the route. I remember how much camaraderie there was last time... and I was just hoping to find that along the way.

Well, I am still hoping to find it but I will have a friend at my side! Everyone (all 4 loyal readers) meet Laura... my teammate!


This is Laura in 'Aunt Laura' mode (it was her niece's 1st birthday) but don't be fooled.... she looks nice and sweet but she is hardcore. When she tries something new, she goes all out! I am really lucky to have her on my team!

Once I meet my goal, I will be campaigning for Laura to be sure she meets hers. Another person making a bold statement that we won't let cancer win... we will find the cure!

P.S. we are always up for more teammates! If anyone else is interested, please let me know! We will get you signed up and on our team!

No movement

Unfortunately I haven't really started training for the walk yet. I want to but the weather has been just too cold to go for neighborhood walks. There is always the mall but considering you can cover the entire mall in less than 10 minutes, I would have to walk it at least 10 times to get any real practice in and that would be mind numbingly boring. Not to mention I have a 1 year old who wouldn't appreciate my brisk pace while sitting in his stroller. For now I just have to wait until the weather breaks.

In other news, I am 65% of the way to my donation goal! I can't believe how generous and supportive people have been, it really warms my heart. I can't wait to make them proud and complete this journey.

I am thinking of ways to honor the people that have donated to my cause. So far I have writing their names on one of the t-shirts I will wear on the walk but other than that... I have nothing. Does anyone have any better ideas?

Another Sticker!

WoooHooo!

I visited the Breast Cancer 3Day message boards... another sticker to my badge.


In my heart of hearts, I am still a 12 year old girl collecting stickers in my sticker book ;~)

Permanent Ink

My mom hated needles... and when I say 'hated', I really mean abhorred them. She wouldn't even get her ears pierced. Couldn't stomach the thought of getting the fleshiest part of your body poked with a small needle yet she was poked, prodded and stabbed nearly half her life with needles.

Ironic, no?

Forget her ears... she wouldn't even pierce mine! When I was a very new baby we lived in Spain. Well in Spain the parents pierce the ears of little girls so people can tell they are girls... no piercings, then you are a little boy. See where I am going with this? Oh yeah, no piercings for me... so she dressed me like a little boy so she didn't have to explain. Thanks mom... I'll bring that up in therapy ;~)

When I was 5 I had it set in my head and heart that I needed pierced ears. I absolutely could not live without them so my mom took me to the mall. To her credit, she stood and watched as they pierced my ears. I am sure she flinched but she watched.

The I got 2 more holes... and then one in the cartilage. I think she was running thin on patience at this point. I think she was also scared... this was about the time that nose rings and eyebrow rings were all the rage. Now I wasn't a particularly rebellious kid but this was just at the level that I might do and she knew that ;~) I think she prayed a lot during those years.

When I got my belly button pierced I thought she might disown me. She wasn't happy but she was just glad she didn't have to see it day in and day out. Had I actually gotten the nose or eyebrow done... well things might have gone in a different direction for us. As it was, she rolled her eyes and moved on.

Then I came home with a tattoo.

Pause * Oh the heartache we put parents through. If I could say I was sorry, I so would right now. Not that I regret my decision but man, it must be tough to be a parent. At least this was the extent of my rebellion. Here that Chase, this is as far as it went ;~) * Unpause

I walked in and told her what I did. I showed her the finished product and she didn't say anything... she just watched my reactions. She read my face and then asked if I was happy with it. I wasn't. I told her it was the design I wanted but the execution and placement weren't what I thought they would be. I cried about how disappointed I was because I wanted it to be so perfect but I screwed up with something so permanent. If I could have melted into the floor, I would have.

You would think this is where she says "I told you so" and lectures me about doing something so stupid without research or a good firm mind (all of which would have been TOTALLY legitimate).

Nope.

She looks me square in the eye and says "Get it done again. Get it done the way you want and where you want it and when you have the money, get the wrong one removed."

This is why I loved this woman so much.

So I did. Here is my tattoo.



It's on the left side of my hip, right around my pants line. It's a breast cancer ribbon with a preemie purple heart in the middle. My first goddaughter Emilee Faith died at 30 days after being born 3 months too early. After she died I bought her mother and I both a preemie purple heart necklace. It's been years and I have since lost the necklace but I carry the purple heart with me thanks to my tattoo.

I am sure my mom was less than thrilled with my tattoo... just the thought of that needle probably gave her the willies for weeks. But she knew what it meant... she knew it was important to me. No matter the cost to her, she wanted me to be happy... needles and all.

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And no, I am not showing the wrong one. So don't even ask ;~)