Some things are obvious, others not. Last weekend my wife and I attended the Susan Komen Race for the Cure here in Charlotte, North Carolina. We were in awe and tears as we watched the 12,000 plus participants walking, running and living!
My wife lost a very close cousin Janey to breast cancer and I lost my 41 one year old cousin Dale to cancer last November. The cancer "story" is about both loss and survival but I think what moved us most that gray chilly morning was the survival part. Survivors walked. Survivors ran. But most of all survivors lived and laughed... a lot!
I pride myself on my powers of observation...I don't miss much -- unless of course it is right in front of my face. That morning my wife Rhonda pointed out something profound as I went on and on about the amazing women carrying 15, 20 even 31 pink balloons! (breast cancer survivors at the event are encouraged to carry one pink balloon for each year of survival) All these women are heroes but it was Rhonda who noted the signifigance of the women holding one or two balloons, that they have not yet reached the significant milestone(s) of survival. I wondered how they felt as if I could ever begin to know.
It hit me like a ton of bricks as I noticed a women standing right next to me with one pink balloon. I don't know her name or if I would remember her face. I want her to be there next year with two balloons!
Lets resolve now to work for the day when there will be no women with one pink balloon!
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