Relay for Life

For the past three years, in honor and remembrance of my grandmothers, Ann Lewerk and Geraldine McGuire, we have had a team at our local Relay for Life. We are AnnGeri.

Today began this 24 hour adventure. My mom and dad went to Avery Point to set up camp last night. They had already returned, ready to help by 7:15 this morning. I, on the other hand, slept in and arrived at 9:30 to help with Survivor Registration. At first I questioned why I was there...it seemed that my mom had everything under control. But then she got asked to help with cutting the oranges and serving the food and this and that so I became more involved as the morning went on. I was actually surprised by the diverse crowd of survivors. Some young, some old.

I held my emotions together pretty well (you all that know me know that I can cry for anything) but then the survivor lap came up. I watched as my Poppy began to line up. That just did it for me. It reminds me that he had cancer and that both my grandmothers had died from cancer; therefore, the tears started to come. Mom, Pat, and Poppy walked hand in hand for that first lap that started this worthwhile cause.

I pulled it together and the rest of the afternoon went off without a hitch. Well, I did cut my finger when cutting the oranges. I played a little DS and apparently I am not smarter than a fifth grader. My dad napped and my mom and I decorated the luminarias for the ceremony tonight.

I am again procrastinating about packing and instead am writing this. I came home to feed the dogs and will make my way back to Avery Point for the 9:00 luminarias. Want to talk tears...I'll need a lot of tissues for that one. They read off the names of all the luminarias which have been bought either in memory of someone who has passed from cancer or someone who has survived the disease. It's quite an emotional event.

The official plan is to pack tomorrow and prepare for the trip to Oregon on Monday. I better get motivated.