Good Timing, Coach!

Sitting on my sofa writing thank-you notes seemed like a good ending for a dull Monday.  I woke up in a funk, spent my day in a funk, and by the time I got home, the only thing I wanted to do was nothing.

It was a year ago this week that the doctors found "a spot" on my dad.  In fact, it was on Tuesday that they found "a spot;" Thursday, it was lymphoma; Saturday, he was admitted to the hospital; and a week from today was when they diagnosed my daddy as stage four.  This so-called funk, in my opinion, is synonymous with sadness.

My phone rang around 8 p.m., and I actually answered an unknown number.  I'm glad I did because it was my Team in Training coach calling to introduce himself.  We talked for about 20 minutes on what to expect, dates to write down, ideas on warm clothes to buy, and a brief overview of the next couple of months.

The phone conversation was nothing magical, but it was perfect timing.  Part of the reason I'm doing this century ride is to find a positive outlet to get me through the next couple of months.  He couldn't have picked a more perfect time to call.

So, here's to Solvang-- the hills, the 100-miles, the family going with me, and to the wine I'll consume to help numb the pain.

Most importantly, though, here's to my daddy!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/solvang12/aswanp

(Please donate if you can!)

Happy Birthday, Drake!

Six-years ago, I was sitting in the hospital anxiously awaiting my nephew's arrival.  Tommy and Misty didn't find out the sex of the baby, but we all knew it was a boy.  So there we all were, Misty's family and my family (with the exception of Lauren who was at work-- she came as soon as she could) waiting... and waiting... and waiting...

I was 21-years-old at the time and two months away from college graduation.  Because I had a midterm on Monday, I was studying while everyone else was playing games and having fun.  Maybe I should say attempting to study because I'm not sure if I actually got anything accomplished.

After hours of being at the hospital, Misty finally delivered a smurf.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the boy was blue.  As much as we all tried to be excited when we first saw him, Mom finally said, "Tommy, is he breathing?  Why is he blue?" 

One of my fondest memories from this weekend was the following morning.  My dad took one of Tommy's broken pole vault poles to the hospital with "Drake's First Pole" written on it.  Everyone was excited (especially after he shed the blue color)!

Being the firstborn on both sides of the family, Drake was (and still is) spoiled rotten.  I always knew that my mom (Nana) would be an incredible grandmother,  but I honestly worried a little that Hoss would still put the dog first.  But, I was wrong, Drake was the apple of all of our eyes.

Hoss and Drake always had a good time together.  Hoss would always pace in front of the front door when Tommy, Misty, and Drake (and then Cade and Jett) were coming over.  He LOVED his grandsons!  They swam, fished, and took walks in the woods together.  Hoss used to wake Drake up from his naps just to go on walks.  I'm pretty sure Tommy and Misty were furious with him for doing so, but they allowed it anyways.   They saw movies together, slept in a tent in the backyard one night, and most importantly, had a wonderful grandson-grandad bond.

I can't help but feel jealous today about Drake and Hoss' relationship.  My kids will never know Hoss, they'll never hear his funny stories, and they'll never have pictures with him.  But, I'm also thankful that Drake remembers and misses his Hoss.

Happy Birthday, Drake!  I know Hoss watches over you every day.

Today's Horoscope

Every Sunday, I look at my horoscope in the Dallas Morning News.  This was my horoscope today:

Review recent mistakes to learn from them.  Find a positive outlet for your desire and justice.  A new phase of purpose rouses your creativity.

This is fitting for my Century Ride adventure.  I am excited, I am blessed, I am strong!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/solvang12/aswanp

Is This My Life?

Today is Thursday, and I've now been raising money for Team in Training for four days.  The ride isn't until March, so I figured I'd take my sweet time in fundraising.  I posted to Facebook on Monday and had two selfless donations by a former colleague and a friend that night.  Maybe I'm wrong... Tuesday was the night I put it on Facebook.

To my surprise, I started getting a lot of donations from colleagues on Wednesday afternoon.  I was excited but confused about the large numbers of donations coming in especially when I didn't know some of the people donating.  And then I found out-- the only person I'd actually told at work sent an email out on my behalf.  His name is Brian, and while he's been at Southwest for years, he's new to the Communication Department, too.  At 4 p.m., I had $75 worth of donations.  By Thursday morning, I was up to $700.  This is all because of the selfless acts of Brian.

But it doesn't end here.  Around noon, Brian asked me how people can write a check for my ride.  Herb Kelleher and Colleen Barret-- Mr. and Ms. Southwest Airlines-- were the two writing checks.  This was the moment that I couldn't help but cry.

With another generous donation from my dad's "brother," Mark, I am sitting at $965 in a matter of 48-hours.

I still have $2000 more to raise and five months until the ride.  But, I'm confident that it won't be difficult to reach my goals.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, and a special shout out to Brian for making this experience so easy and fun!

Team in Training

I'd be lying if I said I was excited about riding 100 miles.  Really... 100 miles on a bike seat?  Up the inclines?  Training through the winter months?  What in the world have I gotten myself into?

And then it hits me... Cancer patients don't sign up for cancer.  They don't choose the seasons when they have to fight the battles.  The mountains they climb are far more superior than any hill I will ride.

I struggle daily with the thought of how cancer has changed my life.  I have feared the word since I was old enough to understand death.  My grandparents all had cancer, then my dad.  There is nothing more that I hate than cancer.

But, this is also why I have chosen to ride 100-miles.  The cold weather, the hills, the stupid bike seat that hurts to sit on for any period of time... I have made this choice.

To all of the cancer patients, families of cancer patients, survivors, and victims... THIS IS FOR YOU!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/solvang12/aswanp

The exciting first post

How many times have you heard people say "life isn't fair?"  For me, I've heard it my entire life.  I remember my dad saying it to me all of the time-- not for anything huge but for the minor, stupid drama that life sometimes deals.  It wasn't until Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma on 11-1-10 that I started to understand the severity of that statement.

Please don't think I'm starting this blog as a sob story because that is far from the reason.  In a way, I hope it continues to help the healing process.  But the main purpose is to track the events and journey of committing to century ride and actually doing the 100-mile bike ride to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

So, stay tuned.  Things are about to get good!