This one's for the girls!

"This one's for the girls" was the theme this year for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. We trekked to Little Rock Friday in a small caravan to participate in the race in honor of Debbie. I met some very sweet girls from our neighboring county and felt like I had known them forever. They were good people. We ate good food, "camped" at the hotel, dyed our little girls' hair pink, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company. Okay, I didn't participate in the dying of the hair. Props to Kristi.

There were 14 to 17 in our group at any given time. And did I tell you how nice everyone was? This will go in my book of good times!!

Our little girls were excited about their pink hair and strutted it around all day Saturday. (and the day after that and the day after that.) I finally had to make Sadie take her pink hair out! I think she would have left it in forever.


We left the hotel at 6:45am and drove to our designated parking area and began our walk to the starting line. At this point I should tell you that this was my first race for the cure. I was excited about it...even at 7:00 in the morning!

I wasn't the only newbie this year, but there were a few two timers (Diane) and a couple of veterans around in our group. I'm glad. I would have been lost because it was so overwhelming. There were people EVERYwhere. When I say everywhere, I mean everywhere.

Our first stop was at the Channel 7 News table to get the little girls some tattoos. Look what happened. We all turned into little girls and plastered Channel 7 tattoos on all of our cheeks. (Lauren's wouldn't stick good. Kristi was the sticker.) Then Debbie got interviewed on Channel 7. We, as her team, stood around "for support" and air time. Debbie is a three year survivor, a very sweet girl, who I'm glad survived. I am very proud for her and very proud of her.

Then we located the tent to turn in donations through a maze of women every shape, size, color, height, width, age, religion, and shoe size. I was very proud of my Sadie who raised $93.00 in donations all by herself. An accomplishment in my opinion.

There were many innuendos regarding the safety and concern for female appendages. I got a kick out of them. This was a port-a-potty decorated by the Little Rock Children's Clinic. Too cute.

And the race began.... We walked, of course, not ran. But the people. You would not believe the people. I was mesmerized. Everyone there was there for the same cause. They were walking in honor of or in memory of someone close to them that was affected by this undiscriminating disease.

It was emotional for me. I felt like a part of something. I so needed to see the good in people because often times I do get cynical. I saw good in every one of those thousands of people walking that day. As we walked, I prayed for every one person affected by cancer in any way whether directly or indirectly. And I also thanked God for the many blessings that I have in my life. I imaged that 3.2 miles would seem like a long hike. But there were distractions that kept you entertained along the route. There were also thousands of supporters, mostly men who I imagined were spouses, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends of those in the race, who cheered everyone on as they walked for a cause. That too moved me to tears a couple of times. It felt good. The time went by quickly...too quickly.

One of the distractions was a fire truck parked in the intersection blocking traffic on the route. There were many of these intersections, but only one with real live dancing firemen on top of a fire truck. They were there, wearing pink, truly for the crowd.

Also there was a city block lined with Harley motorcycles with tough biker men wearing their tough black leather and pink everything else. This was another sign that I thought was adorable.

And on another block were some belly dancers performing and right beside them were these men posing in a Yoga stance. I don't know how long they stood like that, but anywhere else it would have been out of place. Here it was inspiring.

There were also schools bands, cheerleaders, live bands, radio stations, TV stations, mayors, and other dignitaries along the route. Gov. Beebe and many many other supporters gave me high five as I briskly walked past them.

You would hear survivor stories as you walked over loud speakers and radio station speakers. Announcers would be in the crowd stopping survivors to ask how long they have been a survivor. It was unbelievable....the numbers.....the people....the good.


And my little Sadie made every step of the walk and was tuckered out and had a sore foot. Bless her bones - she stuck with it and kept on trucking.


Good Day. Good Times. Great Cause. Much Love. My favorite color has always been pink. Forever it will be pink!