If Lucy were older I wonder

what she would say...

Spawn

photo by Marnie

What I said to her

On April 17, 2005 we had a naming ceremony for Lucy here at our house. We had just moved in only a month or so before. It was a glorious spring day and we had many friends and family here to celebrate our new baby.

I was poking around on my old computer trying to find a copy of the ceremony because a friend wanted to know a particular quote we used. I started reading what was said and read and it was lovely. It brought tears to my eyes and now that I know my little girl a bit better means even more to me now.

Here is what I wrote and read to her that lovely spring afternoon:

Lucy, you are the best thing I have ever done with my life. You bring me so much joy and because of you I feel love I never knew possible. And that love continues to grow each day that I am with you making each day a blessing.

You are the most beautiful being I have ever known. Lucy, sweet, gentle soul, it is an honor to be chosen to be your mother, and I take on my commitment to you with wonder, excitement and a promise to do all I can to help you grow up to be whoever you will be, no matter what. I give you my unending, unconditional love.

Welcome to our family Lucy and to this wondrous world, I love you and I will always be here for you. May you find your heart’s desire in this life, may you love well, live well, and experience all the joy life has to offer. May you be blessed with abundance, peace, clarity, vision, wisdom and hope for these things will take you far. I love you little one and I always will.

Almost 40

Last weekend was the 3-Day 60 Mile Breast Cancer Walk I have been training for and let me just say it ranks in one of the top ten events of my life. It was empowering, exhausting and downright fun. My friends Radha and Jay joined me as team rjr.

We talked and walk for 3 days. We talked about our kids, our past, our partners, our families and on and on. I can't remember the last time I had this kind of uninterrupted time with friends. It was wonderful.

Along the way I meet some terrific people.

Like the woman on day two I met on the bus back to pit stop 5 who wanted to walk back over the Golden Gate Bridge to camp with me. She was from Wisconsin and was here with 3 other friends walking. She was delightful and gave me some great advice about raising a daughter.

The woman I saw on day one who did a training walk with me in Concord a few weeks ago, I had the honor of cheering her into camp.

The woman who came out to cheer us on when we left the Cow Palace on day one. She was clearly in throws of chemo and holding her toddler son, while her husband stood by holding a sign saying "thank you for walking". I wanted to hug her and tell her I once knew how scared she is and to hang in there.

The woman who needed 2 walking sticks to help her make it through the day. She had a team of about 8 women walking with her. Everyday she made it to camp they would form a circle around her, drop and do push ups while cheering her accomplishment.

An then there was the crew.

The bicycle guy who road along side us to make sure we were safe and cheer us on. He seemed to appear at the most needed moments.

The woman who in the morning and afternoon helped us cross some really busy intersections and always had something really funny to say.

The guy who worked at the food tent and wore a hair net on his completely bald head and then went out and walked every mile with us everyday, one day actually wearing the hairnet while he walked.

I could go on and on and on.

The power of it all was palpable. I manage to walk almost 40 miles, way more than my goal. The last 6 miles with my feet taped by a wonderful chiropractor named Rachel.

Walking into holding on the final day was overwhelming. The path was lined with my fellow walkers some 2000 strong all yelling and cheering for me and my wonderful little team. There were a lot of high fives, pats on the back and tears.

The closing ceremonies held under foggy cold skies at Marina Green were emotional to say the least. We survivors were separated from the rest of the walkers and given pink 3-Day shirts. There were about 80 of us. We walked into a special circle in the center of all our fellow walkers who were on one knee saluting us with one of their shoes in the air. Quite a moving sight.

I couldn't have done it without my little family. Marnie and Lucy's Saturday visit was a shot in the arm and their support at closing ceremonies meant the world to me. And then there is all of you who donated so that I could walk. I made my goal and then some. My undying gratitude to all of you that I know and don't know. Your money will go to help create a world with out breast cancer. A world in which hopefully my daughter and others will never have to face what I faced two years ago.

P.S. The participants in the San Francisco 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk raised almost 5 million dollars.

Working on it

I am working on a post about the 3-Day last weekend. It was an experience of a life time. Stay tuned.

Day 3

Final Day 14.6 miles. Feet tired but no blisters yet.

Day Two

How we started our day. Really beautiful with the sunrise coming up over the city.

We wre at lunch now and it is hot.

camp @ Crissy Field

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Ocean Drive in SF at mile 9

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Opening ceremonies

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This is why they are crazy

I normally don't talk politics here, but I just can't stand it anymore. I am scared, really, really scared about our upcoming presidential election. Not only as a lesbian mom but because our country is headed in the wrong direction and I am one of those people who believe it can still be turned around. Read this. It's one of the reasons I am scared among many, many others, but I won't get into that right now.

I'm Off

I am running around doing last minute errands and packing. I am off to SF this afternoon. I am excited and scared all at the same time. On Saturday they have us walking from Crissy Field to Mill Valley and back, Holy Cr*p!!! I think I didn't train enough. The cool part about this leg is we get to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. I keep saying to myself it's not a race, right, its about the journey in more ways than one. A big fat thanks to all of those folks who have donated you all rock.

I am going to try to post here from my new Palm Centro this weekend. Hopefully some info and photos of the experience. Stay tuned.

3 Days and counting

The 3-Day Walk starts at 5:30 AM this Friday morning. My little team (Jay, Radha and myself) gather Thursday at the hotel. We will probably try to eat carbs (think pasta) to fuel up Thursday night and get to bed early.

I am excited and a little nervous. Yesterday I had a moment when I thought "What was I thinking!" I know this is a experience of a life time and it is made all the more special knowing I have such wonderful support from my friends and family.

If you are interested in coming out and cheering us walkers on this weekend here is all the pertinent information. I would love to see some familiar faces.

You are also more than welcome to continue to donate. Just click the link to the right on this page or go to my personal donation page.