Music Monday — on Sunday I wore pink

 Three little words that change your entire life:  

“You have cancer.”

I heard those words in January 2005, just before my 45th birthday, I can’t tell you who was more surprised, me or my doctor.  She was convinced  my symptoms were hormonal, but she did a biopsy… uterine cancer. And that began my year of hell — surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. 

And yet, here I am, 20 years later. 

Credit modern science.  And the resources of the American Cancer Society. 

Yesterday I participated in a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

Can you guess where the walk took place?  Here’s a hint.

Yes, one of my favorite places, Jones Beach.  

Welcome to the event

You see all sorts of tents — corporate sponsors, unions, every health organization on Long Island, lots of tents … of course I visited the  Survivors Tent (it’s for all survivors, not just breast cancer survivors) and got a ribbon to wear around my neck

And a sash.

I wore the sash for the first part of the walk … but it kept slipping off my shoulder.  I’ll bring safety pins next year. 

And they gave me  a t shirt because I’m a survivor.

And when I signed a petition in support of federal funding for cancer research,  they gave me this

Got some corporate swag

And then it was time to walk

The course takes you almost the entire length of the boardwalk, from the East Bathhouse all the way west to Field One and back again. 

A reminder that this walk takes place at the beach. The weather cooperated, it was a great day for a walk. 

But the real action is on the boardwalk.

Yes, the local radio station was hosting a party in the bandshell.

There was another party going on in front of the West Bathhouse, where volunteers served up hot chocolate and bottled water.

I like the kites.

And I got to pose with a celebrity!

Not exactly my most glamorous look …

The tribute wall

I stood there for a few minutes, thinking about all the people I’ve lost to cancer.  My grandmother who died before I was born.  My aunt who died when I was 14.  My mother-in-law.  My friend. 

And then I thought about the survivors.  ACS considers anyone who was diagnosed with cancer and who is still alive a “survivor” whether they’re newly diagnosed, in treatment, or in remission.  

I am a survivor.

I added my sticker to the tribute wall.

That sticker equals VICTORY. 

I want a world where the tribute wall is covered in survivor stickers.

By the time I got back to my car my legs felt like jelly.  And no wonder!  My Fitbit says I walked about 5 1/2 miles.

There were 80,000 of us at the beach.  We raised $2.5 million.

My donations page is still open if you care to contribute.

And because it is Music Monday, I will leave you with some of the music that inspired me, back in 2005.

And finally … it was in 2005 that I discovered Cantor Debbie Friedman.  This song, sung in both Hebrew and  English, is based on a traditional Jewish prayer for healing.  

May the Source of Strength, Who blessed the ones before us help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing …and let us say “Amen”.  Bless those in need of healing with “refuah shlema”, the renewal of body, the renewal of spirit, and let us say “Amen”.