I really need to make my wife 'Sue' or 'Susan' cry on Mother's Day. You see she loves to cry. How? By giving her a printout of this thread.

This past weekend May 3-5 Friday-Sunday my wife was in the 'Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk'. Downtown Baltimore to downtown DC, about 60 miles. She trained for months and she finished the walk, YES!. All walkers had to raise $1900 to qualify for the walk. She raised about $2400 plus. She started 8 months ago with form letters to family, friends and neighbors. Her company chipped in too. She had qualified by early December.

She said she was going to do it, and that was all that was needed. I'm so proud of her, everyone is.

In all, 2415 walkers raised 6.76 Million dollars (net). Over 500 all volunteer staff, and about 20,000 of us greeting them in DC for the finish and closing ceremony. About 125 breast cancer survivors did the walk. No one knew who they were until the last minute parade when they changed thier shirts from blue to pink.

Regreatable 248 women died of breast cancer nation wide during that 3 day walk. The Boston walk is this weekend I think. I wish I had the website handy. I'll look that up and post tomorrow.

Sue's doing the walk again next year. She loved it so much. And did she cry, OH YEAH!

Now I know the Mudcatters have something to say to Sue.

Thanks, With Love! Roy

Sonja

Un abrazo - Andrés

BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me,so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said,"Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, w e began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.

Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends.

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others.

You now have two choices, you can: 1) Pass this on to your friends or 2) Delete it and act like it didn't touch your heart.

As you can see, I took choice number 1.

"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."

There is no beginning or end..Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.

Andres, my thoughts are with you and your family, keep us posted, won't you?

I applaud you, Sue. Brave work, well done. Thanks.

A

Andres --

Un abrazo and extremely positive wishes for you and yours.

I trust it will turn out perfectly.

A

So it is wonderful to hear that so many folks are carrying the torch, not only for those who may be affected in the future but also for memories of those who have lost the battle.

Again, bless you...

Bob-ert

jeffp

Frank

Way to go, Sue! What a great accomplishment for you and everyone involved.

I've just come to this thread from a stop at

thebreastcancersite.org

and I urge everyone to visit it daily just to click on their counter because their sponsors endow free mammograms for needy woman based on their number of visitors. It's free, no cookies (I think) and no solicitations (well, only gentle ones) but a simple way to help. Easier than walking sixty miles, for sure.

I lost two friends to breast cancer quite a few years ago and I still can't get through that chorus that say: 'no matter what you've lost - a home, a love, a friend ...' without choking up.

My sister is a Breast Cancer Survivor, and the research that your heroic walk is helping to fund could certainly provide the answer to the Cure someday -

For some 'Catters who might care to help out in a small way (My old legs wouldn't survive such a walk), the US Post Office offers a special stamp:

It's a first class postage stamp priced about 11 cents more than one might usually pay - the excess going directly to fund Breast Cancer Research...

"Fund the Fight - Find the Cure !"

Regards,

M.

Time to back up my own words with some actions. Thanks for the reminder, the both of you.

rea

Sue is going to love this. Where's the tissues!

The Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk web site is:

www.breastcancer3day.org

I'MPOSSABLE was one of the walk slogans. A little misleading to me at first because the ' is so small.

Keep it rolling.

Love ya all! Roy

Ellen

(I checked this thread because I was dying of curiosity -- either the guy who started this thread was a real sweetheart, or a real jerk... Just make sure they are Happy tears, okay? ;-))

- Ian B

I was going to do the "clap clap....BRAVO BRAVO" but Spaw stole the idea from me and used it as his own. Swine!

Nonetheless, congratulations Susan, and keep on keeping on!

khandu

Good luck (and some of my mother's strength) to you both.

BJ

FANTASTIC!

Well done to Susan & the other walkers!

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.I would have talked less and listened more. .
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. .
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the .
fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. .
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. .
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. .
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. .
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. .

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. .
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. .
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." .
There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's." .
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute....look at it and really see it ... live it ...and never give it back. .
Stop sweating the small stuff. .
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. .
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with.
And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, .as we only get one shot at this and then it's gone. .
I hope you all have a blessed day. .
.
Beautiful Women's Month .
>> > Age 3: She looks at herself and sees a Queen. .
Age 8: She looks at herself and sees Cinderella. .
Age 15: She looks at herself and sees an Ugly Sister (Mum I can't go to school looking like this!) .
Age 20: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly"-but decides she's going out anyway. .
Age 30: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly", but decides she doesn't have time to fix it, so she's going out anyway. .
Age 40: She looks at herself and sees "clean" and goes out anyway. .
Age 50: She looks at herself and sees "I am" and goes wherever she wants to go. .
Age 60: She looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world. .
Age 70: She looks at herself & sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life. .
Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world. .
Send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends. Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier. Please send this to five phenomenal women today in celebration of Beautiful Women's Month. If you do, something good will happen: you will boost another woman's self esteem "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." --Will Rogers

Art Brooks

Well the last time I saw Lesley
she was lying in a hospital bed
With a pile of cushions beneath her feet
and pillows underneath her head
We shared some fish and chips
and then she had a smoke
And we talked about the old days
and shared a couple of jokes.
I said "You'd better be out out by Christmas"
She said "I thought you understood
When they let you smoke in a cancer ward
It means you're in for good
So I changed the subject and for a while
And we talked about the old school days
When she drifted into sleep, I drifted away.
(Cho)
Lesley died today, oh and how I cried all the day.
Not just for a childhood friend I'd lost
but for living in town which pays the cost
Of being too near the place
that the experts say is safe...
(Stanley Accrington )

Always does for me anyway.

Have a good ole' cry Sue.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

troll

Stephen

Well done! You should be proud of yourself.

Also, this bloke of yours sounds like an all round good egg. I suggest you offer him a permanent position.

Best wishes,

Ian, Marlene Warrior Princess, and Annie the 28 pound Cat, (Feline Gin Queen, and friend to all the Hedgehogs in our garden.)

P.S. I've been trawling my memory for meaningful lyrics or words to stimulate your tear ducts but I can't think of anything.

I could show you my credit card statements, or may I suggest you watch the bit in the 'Jungle Book' where they think Baloo has died.

I know its only a cartoon but it works for me....

Dan