Relay for Life Wrap-Up

As you are no doubt aware (ad nauseam at this point), Dr. M & I participated in his school’s Relay for Life event Friday night. By the time I got up there at around 6:45 Dr. M had already been at the event for over 4 hours (on campus since 7:30 or so). We grilled some hotdogs, walked the loop, waited out the cold in the tent, walked the loop, crocheted (well, that was just me), walked the loop. There was music most of the night & they had some raffle drawings. It was a pretty small event – no doubt because of the cold weather.

When I wasn’t practically trotting I remembered my plan to walk mindfully. I slowed down and considered the path before me, and thought of the people I was there honoring. I’m a stomper (just ask our former downstairs neighbors – oy!), but I tried to tread lightly. Frankly, the loud music & cold wind weren’t really conducive to meditating. I’m going to try again the next time we go to our local fen.

By the end of the evening I was using a cane to walk. The event was supposed to end at midnight, but other folks were packing up at 10:30, so we decided to pack up too & left a little before 11:00. Dr. M was so tired and I was pretty sure that I couldn’t feel my thighs anymore. It took about 2 hours under an electric blanket for me to thaw out. Yeesh.

Then I spent the next two days in quite a bit of pain (unrelated? Not sure, really – lower back/butt/thigh pain). But today I’m feeling a lot better. I’m pretty sure I’ll survive – although at one point in the night I was not the least bit sure.

So, would I participate again? Absolutely! But next time I’m going to remember my long johns…

2013 Project 365 – Week Fifteen

So last week I was crowing about how it felt like spring, and this week it’s COLD again. That’s Ohio!

Sunday, April 7^th    

Pinky the geranium REALLY wants to escape out the window!

Goldfinch!

Dr. M set up our tent so it could air out – we used it at the Relay for Life event on Friday.

Monday, April 8^th     

Dr. M took a lot of great pictures today. You can go to his blog to see some of them or you can check out my Wordless Wednesday post if you haven’t already seen it. But here’s a teaser for you.

Tuesday, April 9^th           

Doves

Daffodils!

Wednesday, April 10^th   

Downy woodpecker.

Tis the season – a sparrow with some nesting materials.

Thursday, April 11^th    

We had a gullywasher Thursday night!

Friday, April 12^th  

Today Dr. M & I walked in the Relay for Life event on his campus. It was SO COLD – when we got home I got into bed with the electric blanket on & it still took me two hours to get warm! It was a good experience - walking around the quad, checking out the other tents, listening to the music… We didn’t quite make it until midnight. Dr. M had been on campus since 7:30 a.m. & at the event since 2:00 – he was worn out. So we left an hour early. Here are a few pictures.

The State of the Bug - cold!

One of Dr. M’s coworkers died of cancer a few weeks ago. Her family & students painted the campus rock with messages. Very poignant.

Saturday, April 13^th    

Around the yard – our daylilies are coming up and the Easter lilies we planted last year – I hope they bloom. My primrose is getting ready to be overtaken by the daisies.

The moon!

Go to Mamma Fran’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Most of our photos are taken with a 12 megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, using a 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera that Dr. M takes with him most days. He also takes pictures with our old reliable 7 megapixel Canon Powershot A710.  The Bug uses our new Nikon Coolpix S6200 most of the time. If you’re interested in which camera was used for a particular shot, just ask! 

Kissing the Earth

When we walk like rushing, we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We have to walk in a way that we only print Peace and Serenity on the earth... Be aware of the contact between your feet and the Earth.

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I just read these words on another blog (here – Jan is always making me think!). I often walk like my mother these days – full speed ahead as if there will be a prize (like maybe cake!) if I get there more quickly.

[No, I’m not cake obsessed – what makes you say that?]

Anyway, as I’m walking tonight I’m going to try to keep Thich Nhat Hanh’s words in mind. I’ll walk with peace and serenity, caressing creation instead of stomping on it.

Relay for Life

It’s a list I hold in my heart. Slim, Nadine, MaryAnn, Jeanine, Barry, an 18 year old girl from Kentucky for whom I prayed for two years, Lee, Ruth, Denise, Kathy…  these are the ones who’ve left us. And then there are the ones who are still here, maybe in remission, maybe still fighting, but always & forever living in its shadow. Sherri, Jenny, Bev, Terri, Kate… I am one person, with a smallish sphere of friends, (and a terrible memory – I know there are folks I’ve left off this list!). Let’s multiply me by a number too large for me to contemplate and then imagine how many people those folks know who have been affected by cancer.

I can’t really. I really can’t.

Dr. M & I are participating in his school’s Relay for Life event on Friday night, with the department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (they call themselves the Social Deviants). It’s gonna be chilly, and we’ll be there until midnight. But it’s such a small effort on our part. We’ll be laughing and mourning, walking and resting, eating and drinking, and then we’ll drive an hour home.  Piece of cake. (ooh I hope there IS cake!). It kind of sounds like a wake – maybe if we all do this often enough it will be a wake – for cancer. Boo yah!

Dr. M & I have already met our modest goals – but if you’re interested in helping out send me an email. Thanks!

A Quiet Room

A quiet room

tapping keys.

A million miles away

I hear that insistent call

to action

I could give coins

to Compassion

to ERD

to United Way

or to the red kettle

But where shall

I give

myself?