These shoes took a special journey this weekend. I wore them on the train as I traveled to Philadelphia and they walked in Day 3 of the Breast Cancer 3-Day. It was cold, it was wet, and by 7am I had planted the left one square into a puddle and soaked through the shoe and two pairs of socks.
They covered my feet through 15 miles from Fairmont Park through the city to the Navy Yards. They were with me when I cried a little at mile three because I couldn't keep up with my team. They were with me at City Hall when I needed a break and took a sweeper van a half mile to the next pit stop to sit and refuel.
These shoes carried me through Chinatown, and down Elfreth's Alley. They were with me as I met Sharon, who was walking in her 5th Breast Cancer 3-Day this year, despite having been laid off from QVC a year ago and still being unemployed.
They carried me to my loyal and proud husband who was cheering me on just before Pit Stop 4. They almost failed me when I tripped and nearly laid out in the street, but Tini caught me, and I forgave them. They stuck with me when I decided to keep walking instead of stopping for a cheesesteak at Pat's or Geno's. They stopped with me to greet cheering teams, to high five, to woo, to wow, and to give "Making a Difference" bracelets to children who were out braving the cold and rain to cheer me on.
These shoes moved slower as we approached lunch. They held feet that were tired and stiff and cold. These shoes found the energy to dance a little as I entered South Philly High to blaring rock 'n' roll to get my lunch. I sat and wanted to take these shoes off. I knew though, that as soon as these shoes were off, I wouldn't want to put them on. I needed these shoes to finish the job.
These shoes plodded on the last two miles to closing ceremonies. These shoes were with me as I held my banner high with the names of the women I was walking in honor of, and in memory of. These shoes proudly walked into closing ceremonies with Team Dash, celebrating the completion of an eight month journey of training, fundraising, and raising awareness. The left shoe came off and was raised high in salute to the breast cancer survivors who walked alongside us. These shoes held me up as I cried for all of the families who are missing mothers, sisters, grandmothers, daughters, aunts and friends because of this devastating disease.
These shoes are muddy, damp, and a little smelly today. They are also a prized trophy of a day that will remain in my heart forever.
These shoes also took a special journey this weekend. They rode in my duffel as I traveled to Philly for the 3-day. They were with me when I heard the news that Day 1 and then Day 2 of the walk was cancelled due to bad weather. They sat at the ready as Jenni and I debated going home early, wondering if any walk would happen at all.
These shoes were with me when Team Dash decided that a little rain would not get us down. These shoes were on my feet as we created our own Day 1 with about 100 other walkers at the Willow Grove Mall. They walked laps around the three levels of the mall. They were bouncy as we saw more and more walkers coming out, undeterred by bitter cold and rain. These shoes walked five miles on Friday, pounding the hard mall floors.
These shoes were on me as I mourned the loss of the 3-Day camp experience, and camped instead at Casa Tini. These shoes were sniffed by Lola, Tini's dog, who loved on me despite my obvious disdain for her. These shoes jumped at the chance to walk again on Saturday.
These shoes walked the King of Prussia Mall on Saturday. They rallied with over SIX HUNDRED other walkers who would not be denied the miles they committed to walking to do their part in eradicating breast cancer. They walked, they danced, they posed for photos. They were with me as I met other walkers, other teams, other people on a mission. They stayed dry and comfy in the mall, but still worked hard pounding the marble floors.
They walked another 5-7 miles that day, past volunteer crew members who came and walked with us. They stopped to add names to posters of people touched by this deadly disease. They took candy from kids there to cheer us. They were with me as I laughed at an adorable toddler in a t-shirt that read "Find a Cure Before I Grow Boobs!"
These shoes carried me past hundreds of people shopping that day. People who didn't expect to be surrounded by pink crazy people! I hope that these shoes helped us to remind at least one woman to go home and give herself a self-exam. To schedule that mammogram that they'd been putting off. I hope these shoes made someone go home and call their mother or their grandmother or their sister or their aunt and tell them that they love them and they are glad to have them healthy and alive.
These shoes took a different journey. These shoes are clean and dry, but just as prized. They embody the spirit of the 3-Day walk. The determination to keep walking even when Mother Nature doesn't co-operate. They were part of a gathering of fighters. People fighting this disease in their own bodies, and people fighting to eradicate this disease in our lifetime. These shoes carried me alongside women who are my family, who I love with all of my heart and who I thank for supporting me through this incredible journey.
Well said and well done. Kudos to you dear friend.
Posted by: Gayle | October 20, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Ahh... I knew I missed something. Kudos to you, well done!
Posted by: Sharon | October 20, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Just beautiful! Your post made me cry. Bless you and your shoes.
Posted by: Angie @ Many Little Blessings | October 23, 2009 at 11:06 PM