Being an Honoree

Last weekend, I was invited by a friend from work to attend an event sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). My friend and colleague, Mark B., is a member of the LLS Board. He is also a runner for the Team in Training group that runs marathons to raise money for blood cancer. Just so happens, in the last year or so, Mark has been running in my honor. You can't believe how happy I was when he first approached me about making me his Honoree. It was like winning the lottery...I had never been honored by anyone for anything.

Recently, Mark ran a marathon in Dublin, Ireland and I was one of his honorees. It was such an "honor" and I was touched by the effort. Mark has raised quite a lot of money for the LLS in search for a cure. For that I am eternally grateful.

At the event, Mark presented me with a gold medal and introduced me to several cancer survivors and their families. It was such a surreal moment. We shared our stories, and drew strength from each other's experiences. It was cathartic, but in the end, I walked away in tears listening to a mother's story about her beautiful daughter, McKenna, who suffered so much only to lose her life to RSV (respiratory failure).

I have to tell you, I did not sleep well that night and for the next couple of nights. Each time I closed my eyes, I saw the images of these poor kids whose lives were cut short. But in all my images, these beautiful souls were smiling as if to tell me that they are in a better place now.

Now I know some of you may have your doubts about the existence of God, Heaven, and Hell, but I am a believer and I must say that if it were not for prayers, I would not be alive today. I guess we take so much for granted in life, but when I hear stories about young lives being truncated, my heart breaks in half. I start to question why I was spared and they were not. I may have survived cancer, but the guilt is something I guess I will have to work hard to get over!

Prom at the Office

So we had "Show and Tell" at work today. The theme was Prom. I didn't have to dig for my prom pics...it was still in a box near the downstairs bathroom. I had been planning on organizing the boxfull of pics but just never got around to it. It's been almost a year! :) Anyway, as you can see from the pics here, all my officemates posted their prom pics too. Weren't we a cute bunch of folks back then? lol

The little "exercise" got me thinking about my old High School friends and it prompted me to search for them on Facebook. Much to my suprise and glee, I found friends I hadn't seen since graduation. It was cool to learn that they are all happy, married, and raising beautiful families. I guess the old addage is true...like a bottle of fine wine, we do improve with age. Although I do miss being a size small!! :)

I'm so glad we all did this at the office. It prompted other people to bring their prom pics too. So I will update my FB and blogs when new pics get posted on my cubie wall.

In the mean time, I am going to relish this experience! Ahhh the good ole' times! :x