The Breast Cancer Three Day

It's been awhile but I am back to setting goals for myself once again. This years goal is to walk sixty miles in the Breast Cancer Three Day. I've been interested in participating in this event since it started as the Avon Walk, but never did. Lately, though, I've been compelled to really try to take a look at the world and what or who needs help. I've been feeling alittle restless and trying to figure out what else I could do in my life. Yes, yes, I am busy and active, working fulltime; going to graduate school; but I felt like I needed to do something else, not only to challenge myself but to make some kind of a difference to a cause.
I have to collect $2300 by the end of August/early September, and I've managed to collect $150 so far. I have never been much of a seller and am alittle intimidated about the collection of the funds. However, in talking with people, like my co-workers, and it's amazing to me how people are willing to help us out. My co-workers were all excited about figuring a way for me to raise funds. We brainstormed the other day, so it truly amazes me and makes me realize people are looking for ways to make a difference, but sometimes don'tknow how or don't want to plan it.
I'd like to think that someday, when I leave this earth, I made a difference to someone's life. It is something to strive for.

If you are interested in submitting a donation to this fabulous cause, please go to the following website:

www.the3day.org

Once on the site, click on the buttong "donate" off to the right of the screen.
You will be brought to "search for participant".
Type in my name. Viola! There is my donation page! You can also print off a copy of my donation form if you would rather mail it in. Cool huh?

Memories

This is a fun pic... me, Kendra and Jen when we were YOUNG, carefree and fancyfree. Those were the days when we thought we were invincible. Isn't that hilarious? We would get all dressed up, almost like we were going to a halloween party, and go dancing at Citiclub, which was a Goth Bar at the time. Thing was, pretty much anyone came there. It was a good time... picture a total dive bar... you went through these doors and up two huge flights of cement stairs and there Cityclub was. You were searched at the door, and then set free to go boogie the night away!
Only recently, within the last few months Kendra, Jen and I made contact with each other. It's been an interesting journey to see how each of us have "grown up" and gotten on with our lives. Kendra and Jen's daddies passed away... awful. Both from cancer. We all got married and missed each others weddings. Isn't that silly? That makes me sad. But onwards, right?

Anyhoo... so I thought I'd share some funny pics from when we were kids...

My Mother In Law

My husband has an unusual family... there is Dolly, my mother in law... she lives here in Redford but has a barber shop over in Plymouth. the way the economy has been, it looks like she is going to be losing her shop. She wants to move it to her house, which is adorable and would be safer and perfect for her. She has three children: Amy, the oldest. Judy and Joe, her twins. She raised her children by herself while putting herself through barber college, then establishing her own barber shop. She'd been in business for 25 years and I think the thought of having to move her business to her house is killing her mentally.
Dolly used to smoke dope and drink... party... she was not loved by her family. Her mother had her out of wedlock, then married another man, by the name of joe. Her mom had two other girls with Joe, and they all treated Dolly like unwanted garbage. All of Dolly's life, she strived to please her mother.
It seems after her mother passed, Dolly hasn't been the same. Lost, sad. Angry. The kids grew up in a difficult household..filled with anger and fear. Now, the kids don't want to have anything to do with Dolly, blaming her for everything that happened to them. It creates quite a bit of tension during family gatherings.
Last night I went to Dolly's house to put eye drops in her eye because no one else would do or wasn't available to do it. I found Dolly crying, sweating like she had a fever, and just upset. She unloaded on me about how all three of her kids hate her, and she knows she wasn't the best mother, but she just wishes for the love of her children. Especially Joe. she thinks Joe hates her. I asked joe about that, and he said he wasn't sure if he hated her or not...

I called mom last night after talking with Dolly and thanked her for providing me with such an awesome and stable childhood. As loopy and crazy as I thought my parents were, we truly were blessed with a stable home, loving parents, gramma maki who doted on us... so many wonderful opportunities that were given to us.

Treasure family... it's all you have in life....