I just came back from swimming in Saratoga Lake! I was brought there by my tutor(for school), Beth. She is a coach for a triathalon team. This is not just an ordinary team though...its the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team!
Honestly, when Beth told me to come to this, i thought well great! I would love to take a good swim(at 9:30 am!) and i love the cause its for! I will get to that part later (: So anywhoo, my thoughts were that it was going to be a bunch of women havin' a good 'old time doing this! And there were women...but there were also kids! Mind you i'm a kid myself(being as im only 14). But i mean college kids! Some of them werent over 24! Beth and i talked later about how amazing that is! There arent many college kids that would take the time and EFFORT to work for something like this. Thats amazing.
So we arrived at this bar that we were meeting at. There are a few girls and boys that are just a BIT tired. And who wouldnt be at 9am on a saturday?? But then theres this spunky chick! Her name is Colleen. I give her props for being so upbeat at that time of day! And in the situation of knowing that in about 15 minutes shes about to jump in the cold lake!
And after everyone was at the bar, we all got back in our cars and drove down to the lake. We struggled to get the wetsuits on(while Beth just gets to watch :P). But then Beth pulls out a letter. Its from one of her friends that has competed in the triatolon previously. She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and wants to thakn everyone for their support and raising this money for research.
Everyone slows down. This is the time when they stop complaining about the cold temperatures, and realize again the reason whyy they are about to jump in. Why they are competing. And it brings everyone together.
I look around, and i notice that the once spunky girl, is in tears. She has walked away from out circle. Thats when i break down. Its almost amazing to see someone like that! I dont want to say that i loved that she cried, but she cares! Thats amazing!
And i think i made it worse...
Beth asked me to share my story. My story is about my mother. She died August 12,2005. Her cancer was terminal. No cure. No saving her. No keeping her.
Thats why i love these people for doing this. Cancer takes years out of peoples lives. It breaks families. It ruins children. It hurts.
I just want to say thank you. Its amazing what you guys are doing. It cant help me as much, but it helps the next 10 year old girl. It might save her from losing a mother.
Than you!
And Colleen...i have to say...you were the one that touched me the most today. Dont be affraid of that lake swim! Stay away from the bouey! You wont drown!
See, NOW you're doing it again, now I'm crying all over again. What AM I to do with you. First I started my snotting when Beth read her letter, and then forget it, you started talking and it was alll over. Because no, no one should go through losing their mother, it's not right and it's not fair. Besides you're like the cutest thing ever.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I really did not like breaking down in public but I couldn't help it. I've never lost a mother, but I did lose my best friend, and it changed me forever. I can't imagine being your age and having to deal with that. I kept trying to pull it together before I really lost it and couldn't swim at all!
And four weeks ago my aunt was diagnosed with stage IV cancer, with no viable treatment option for her. So it's now a matter of how much time we have left with her. So I understand, no cure, no helping, nothing to be done but tell them you love them and let them go. So we do, we love them, and know they're going to a better place, even though they leave us here to pick up the pieces....
Keep going girl! You're awesome!