songbird's crazy world

What a lovely day for a walk! didn't go last year -- the rain -- but here's my report from 2 years ago . it's important for me to go to this event, I am a survivor and the American Cancer Society was there for me when I was sick. this year was a bit different, I didn't have a daughter with me. this year's album is here . the beach was gorgeous. new roof on the water tower: registration tent Survivor's tent: the walk begins real men wear pink...fairy wings! a pink gorilla! and, of course, yours truly

My page for this year's event: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY11Eastern?px=7087350&pg=personal&fr_id=27996

My birthday is in 2 weeks. Even more so than New Year's Eve or Rosh HaShanah, my birthday makes me feel very introspective about my life. Maybe it's because I see an actual number -- this year I'll be 49 -- and it puts my life into perspective. I was on the train this morning and directed my iPod to play Barry Manilow's "Greatest Hits of the 70's" -- that's when I was in my teens, going through junior high and high school and starting college. When I think about the girl I was then, her hopes and dreams, and I look at my life...well, this is not what I was expecting. there's lots of good in my life, for which I am grateful. my daughter Jen is becoming a lovely young woman, full of warmth and humor and a gift for getting along with people. After floundering in high school she has found direction and motivation in her life, and it thriving in college. Becca is doing well in high school. she has always been self-motivated, and though she took a...

Today was the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Jones Beach. This was the third time I participated. I do two Ameerican Cancer Society events every year -- Relay for Life at our school every spring, and Making Strides every fall. I found out about this event in 2005, when Jen walked with her cheer squad. In 2006 Becca and her friend A participated for Key Club credit. Jen was supposed to walk, too, but she was ill and opted out. I drove Becca and her friend, and walked alone while they did their own thing. Eventually i found Jen's cheerleaders and walked with them. Last year, Jen walked with the cheerleaders, Becca walked with A, and I walked with a group of ladies from temple. But they walk a lot faster than I do. This year Jen is away at college. I was invited to walk with the ladies from my cancer support group, but they were meeting at the Survivor's Tent at 7:45 in the morning, and Becca didn't want to go until later because she'd been at a party ...