Knuckleheads unite!

Don't you just love how sometimes in life, there is magic. That kind of a feeling where things are happening for a reason. Not logical things, but divine things. Like a ball bouncing off the top of the wall in Center field. Mays territory. Magic. Like pitcher after pitcher throwing ball after ball, walking in runs for our team of knuckleheads. Magic. Like UUUUUUribe having the game of his life as his baseball life wanes and Renteria sending one into the stands 13 years after the last time he was in a World Series. Magic like 21 year old pitchers in black and orange holding their own against the odds. MAGIC.

This year, it seems like all the magic is with the SF Giants. And you know, it all makes sense.

Here we are in the midst of a recession. People have lost their houses, their jobs, their hope. Somehow having this team, who has been called misfits, castoffs and knuckleheads become Champions is more than fitting - it seems destined. We are the Giants. We are those people who have been counted out, and overlooked. And we can, just like they have, surprise people with our resilience and tenacity. "Don't stop believing" has been the rallying cry and song of the 2010 Giants, and they never did stop believing. Just look how it has paid off.

My hand has gone numb from knocking on wood but I do believe. This could be it.
This could be the year we take it all. And you know it will be all the sweeter knowing "they" didn't believe we could do it.

I know a little bit about beating the odds. Because I am a knucklehead too. The greatest victories happen when the "experts" say it is impossible. When the word "impossible" become your motivator, you are a knucklehead too. When someone says you "can't" and your answer is "watch me!" You are a knuckle head too. And God bless the knuckleheads. They are the ones who make magic.

So when we see Brian Wilson throw his magic slider by a batter in the 9th with 3 balls and 2 strikes, remember. When you see Freddy Sanchez hit his 4th double in one game, remember. When Juan Uribe magically pirouettes after fielding a ball, then thows a seed to Aubrey Huff in mid air, remember. Rember too that a young fellow born in Portales New Mexico, Cody Ross, had been sitting on his sofa just a month before he was signed by the Giants 8/21. He became the Most Valuable player of the NLCS. And when you see those East Coast broadcasters at a loss at how to explain it... remember. This year 2010, is the year of the knucklehead. The year for GIANTS!

P.S. On a side note. This year the SF Giants traded Benji Molina to the Texas Rangers. He played wonderfully in game one and I think all of us in SF were glad for him, he is a great guy. There is great love and respect for Benji in Sf on the team and in the stands. I find it once again ironic, the baseball donated to Wine Wars from the Giants was a Molina baseball. I find it perfect to know that regardless of who wins the Series, Benji gets a ring. Yep...just perfect.

GIANTS WIN!

I told you, you can't stop believing!!!!

Look what happens when you don't give up.

Believing you can make a difference

Last night I was lucky enough to be given a ticket to the NLCS between the Giants and the Phillies - Game 5 - the chance to clinch it in SF. This game came on the heels of an incredible game where the "come from behind" Giants were playing the best baseball game of the year to a sell out crowd at ATT Park. From what I saw on the TV this was a game where the fans were more than into the game, they helped drive the course of the game through their collective will.

I looked forward to game 5 after having been at a Braves Giants game in the Division finals. A game that we lost eventually, helping to create a sense of "TORTURE" that the 2010 Giants have been known for. But it wasn't just the 2010 Giants.

Atlanta/SF , Beth, Rob and Skyler Conroy and Chris Hurley

A "Wilson" Ball


The crowd - largest in SF history.

No, there have been other times. True Giants fans can name them all. The one I remember most was in 2002 in the World Series. In Anaheim. Dusty Baker felt the game had been won, but it was not over. He asked Russ Ortiz to come out of the game. When he went out to the mound, he handed Ortiz the game ball.... Oh no, I thought at the time. You don't do that. It is thumbing your nose at the other team. The Angels went on to win the series. Other fans remember the line drive to McCovey that ended their hopes in another series. No there have been many many times.

I have heard a Giants fan say "I am not even watching this series, they have broken my heart too many times."

And the 2010 Giants have been great at keeping that feeling going... TORTURE.
But all along, this year, we will lose the lead, regain the lead and finally the Giants find a was to win those games why? A lot can be said for the crowd believing. Now that we are so close to the World Series, even I had a fear in my stomach as I boarded the ferry to the park with Kerry Gallagher, I feared the crowd would stop believing.

I was excited to know though, we would be sitting in Section 138 (the left field bleachers). These seats generally contain some of the most rabid fans around. The loud, the crazy, the TRUE Giants fans! I thought "Hey, I better up my Giant's game!" I considered painting my face , wearing a beard, basically going nuts. BUT..... The most I did was wear my orange and black (bought a beard as a present) and took my seat.

When we went into the park I saw men putting the orange pom poms under their hats as they climbed the stairs to their seats. Oh no... pom poms. Men hate pom poms.
This was the first bad omen.

The game started off well enough (even though I thought the stands were a little too mellow) as the Giants took a 1-0 lead. But when the Phillies started scoring, there was a sense that belief left the stadium. It stood up and walked out and left zombies sitting in Section 138. I scanned the crowd and saw only a few brave souls yelling at all.

Kerry and I did our best trying to get them to yell. I stood up at during the 8th and pointed directly at person after person and yelled "DO YOU BELIEVE?!" Having a few yell back "I BELIEVE!" Having others smile but say nothing. No.... this was not good. The entire section should have yelled "I BELIEVE!"

What happened was predictable...the Giants could feel the let down. The disappointment. This was going to be a celebration and we as fans were denied once again. But we as fans have responsibility to share. They own a piece of this loss as surely as Pablo Sandoval with his bad throw to first. Yes..... if you do not believe something will happen... it will not.

Maybe it is because I had an enemy who could have beaten me too. I could have stood facing Cancer and been intimidated into submission. I do not stop believing that we can control our own destinies. I am incredibly pissed off when people give up. I simply cannot understand that.

I KNOW the Giants can break this spell. But I KNOW it will take more than play on the field. It will take people in the stands believing in them. Let's hope as we head to Phillie, the Phillie fans will ignite a fire in our players. I will take this win anyway it comes, but it will come.... after all

CRAIG believes!

What is the right decision?

When a woman gets the news "you have Breast Cancer", inevitably they are faced with huge decisions. For me it felt as if the decisions were being made for me, for the most part.

You have breast cancer. you need to have a biopsy. Ok now you need to have a lumpectomy and then you will have radiation and depending on whether it has spread possibly chemotherapy. Sorry, the lumpectomy wasn't enough, you will have a mastectomy. You can choose to have reconstruction or not. You will have chemo. You can pick which poison you'd like and how long you would like to be poisoned with it.

It all felt pretty black and white. But I have been asked by other people when they receive the diagnosis, "what should I do? Should I have a mastectomy? Should I have a lumpectomy? Can't I just have radiation?" I would never begin to tell them what to do, I can only say what I would do.

I have never regretted the choices I made.

There is a women who is making those choices every minute. One I read online was asking what to do. Her diagnosis is stage II invasive interductal carcinoma (the same as mine but mine was IIB if you want to be technical). Her surgeon is leaning toward lumpectomy and the woman is leaning toward Mastectomy. I told her to listen to her gutt. She knows inside what is necessary, it is important to filter out the fear, filter out the noise and just feel the right answer. That isn't easy to do... but it is what I think she is already doing in asking the question.

I know what it feels like to lose a breast. It is pretty overwhelming for awhile. But I also know what the fear of Cancer coming back feels like and it can be like waiting for the sniper to hit his mark. It is unsettling and disruptive and a constant fear.

I have seen a lot of people battle Cancer. Some with grace and tenacity. Some with little or no resistance. Too often those who let the fear win, find the cancer wins too. I remember one mother when our kids were at school , opting to do nothing when she got the diagnosis of Breast Cancer, except homeopathic holistic options. She died within 6 months. I cannot say what drove that decision and perhaps for her personally that was the right decision, but I bet her children don't feel it was.

This week we received a video from a warrior. Kathi is battling stage 4 Breast Cancer. It is obvious it has taken a physical toll, but emotionally and spiritually it hasn't gotten close to winning. We were humbled by her thanks for walking in the 3 day, and I prayed when I heard her say she would like to walk with us, that one day, she will. GREAT strides have been made in Breast Cancer. Today 25% of the Stage 4 patients live beyond 5 years. That is enormous. That is why I will keep on walking in 2011, because it isn't time to stand still. If you donated this year someone wants to say something to you.

SEE KATHI's VIDEO

I want to walk until there is no more Breast Cancer. I want to walk so the toughest choice a woman has when it comes to her breasts is how much cleavage should I show. Yup... it isn't time to stop now. It's time to ramp it up a notch and find an end to this disease.

DONATE if you can to 2011. http://www.the3day.org/goto/donatetocathy

The sum of all our steps - so much more than 60 miles

From my perspective.

Looking back on the 2010 3-day walk there are so many memories, it is hard to narrow things down. I tried to come up with 10 representative pictures that will help me tell you what this walk meant to me. I don't know if that is possible. But here is my best try.

Oh and by the way... there are 12 photos. Just because.

The team.

Our team was a collection of people from Patti's life and mine. Each person had their own reasons for walking in this walk. All of them have exceeded what they thought was possible in the beginning. That is what the 3 day will do for you. In the beginning you don't think it is possible to walk 60 miles (or you do in the beginning of training, until reality sets in and the legs start freezing up). Undoubtedly everyone had their doubts at one time or another. But you realize on your 18/10 back to back training walk that you are not alone. You have your team right there with you.

You don't believe in the beginning that you will be able to raise $2300, until you realize that you don't have to do that alone... There are the donors and your team to help. You don't think you could ever sleep in a little pink tent, until you wake up in the morning after day one and realize, maybe you were right! But there is something pretty fantastic waking up with 1400 people getting ready to attack the next day of the walk. Each step of the walk is made easier by having a team with you along the way. There is strength in numbers they say... but as far as a team of walkers go, the number is less important than the commitment of its members. I was blessed with a GREAT team.

Stephanie walked with us this year. Its a big year for her. She retired and she walked in the 3 day. Glenn and I have been friends with the Cihaks for eons. They are our children's godparents. But lately with all of life's twists and turns we have lost some of the closeness we used to feel. Not that we weren't emotionally close still, but we weren't spending the kind of time we did in the early days. As we approach transitions in life, and lately us baby boomers are flooded with those, you take a survey of where you were and were you are going. The Cihaks have been there throughout.

So with Stephanie walking with us, it helped us reconnect in a very meaningful way. I got to train with her. Chat about everything and everybody. I got to get to know this gal who is obviously talented and accomplished in a way I hadn't ever seen before. Stephanie was solidly behind this walk from the day she signed up. She shared the frustration we all feel when people around us don't seem to get it. And she shared and was a huge part of the success you can have as a team together. She and Chuck were instrumental in the success of Wine Wars as they cooked their ways into the record books. The $10,000 the event raised helped make our team #3 per capita in fundraising.

Allison and Katie got to spend some time with her that they had never really spent before. Our ties were strengthened and our friendship deepened by having her walk by our sides.

One of those walkers impressed me no end.

Dana.

Dana had said last year (about the week before the walk) that he was going to walk with the team. I discouraged him. OK, maybe I just said he couldn't. I told him there was training involved and I wasn't going to see him hurt by shortcutting that. I told him next year he was welcome to walk as long as he #1. Saw his doctor and #2. Trained.

Well that is exactly what he did. Religiously he referred to the training schedule and for the most part stuck to it. It paid off. Dana walked the entire 60 miles and was his own unique self along the way. When I remember the 2010 walk, I will remember Dana and how he took this challenge on and did such an amazing job. Yup, Dana impressed me and a lot of other people.

I will remember the homeless man asking him if he was a pimp with all those fine ladies. I will remember the look he had on his face that hinted at the motivation he had inside that kept him going. I will remember a stubborn, determined and very "Dana-like" will.

On the walk there are moments that you simply glow about. Those almost always are because people have come out to show they care. On day 2 the Coast Guard welcomed the walkers at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. They had those bright young smiles and even the men among them (because there were a couple of gals) are tough enough to wear pink. Even their dog is dressed in pink. The inflatable is adored with pink balloons. They stand at their fence for hours as the walkers come by. They stand for photos and encouragement. They stand in salute.

I often wonder if this walk impacts others as much as it does the walkers. I have to believe it does. When you see a woman who is obviously still battling cancer walking with determination and with a reserved energy that you simply marvel at, how can you not be impressed. When a woman in her 70s, walking with a limp with a steely glaze in her eyes passes in front of you as she struggles down the road, how can you not be moved. You are stopped in your tracks by a young man wearing a sign that says I am walking for my Mom, as you realize his Mom lost her battle. I think about how long it took me to ever go and see these miracles. I can only wish others not wait so long.

On day 2, after walking through a less than friendly Sausalito, I was so thrilled to see my business family waiting for us at the border to Mill Valley. I was immensely proud to have their support. To see Myriam with her bright welcoming smile. To get a Carllie hug. To see my manager Steve with his basket of candy. The others with their dogs and their children. To see the open house signs saying "we are walking with you" all did my heart good. But honestly, I know what it meant to the walkers. It meant someone on this side of the bridge got it. I am very grateful to Susan Gordon who did so much to make this happen. I am grateful for the 1/2 page ad in the Marin IJ that Alain Pinel ran to advertise the walk and this cheering stand. I hope it becomes a tradition and each and every person who came will tell 10 more how incredible the experience was.

I will remember the incredible crew that work this event. Walking so far takes a lot of energy and emotion. It would be easy after day one, to simply stop and go home. But for me the crew makes that next to impossible.

Like the Manbulance
John and Ken are a dancing mood lifter. There is no way you could walk by this sweep van without dancing a bit with these great guys.

Like Bill, "Welcome to my crosswalk" Bill. He has a gentle way of just making you feel taken care of. A bright smile and a warm heart, he isn't too flashy but you can't help but remember him. I remember Bill from 2009 and I will remember him from 2010.

The dancing girl with the clappers in her hands. How can you dance that long and not fall down???

The fellow with the pink leggings. The guys who wore a tutu.

AND the San Jose cops. My oh my they are in a category all themselves. I will remember dancing on the first day with the one who had been pounding on the doors of the port-a-potties.

You thank them and they reply that each and every one of them wants to be there. They certainly make you feel special. Especially that fine young thing that rode his bike up the hill to the bridge with Katie and me. He talked us all the way up the hill.

Yup.... we are so lucky to have people who will give of themselves to support us.

And Katie and Patti found out how wonderful the medical volunteers are. Katie's resolve to walk this walk was incredible. I know with her schedule and the weather conditions in the Northwest training was challenging for her. But she ultimately walked 45 miles which is quite an accomplishment. She had help all along the way from the medical crew. She especially commented on the fellow who worked on her shoulder saying he was especially competent and kind.

Patti had one on one attention to a blister that was above and beyond from a gal named Cherise. I know from last year, when you need medical you are soooooo grateful they are there for you.

When Katie told me at Christmas she would be walking in the 3 day it did my heart good. I knew this walk would help us be closer, but it was the fact that she wanted to be closer that touched me so much. When the time came that she needed to stop walking she apologized and was very sad. I saw the look in her eyes that I know too well. The look that says I want to do this, I should be able to do this, but I can't. I told her how proud I was of her and how happy I was that she was there with me. I was proud of the initiative she showed trying to raise money for the walk. I meant it. I will always remember her walking by my side in this walk. It meant the world.

Maybe the best of all things on this walk are the kids. Mine and other people's. For me to walk with my daughters this year was incredible. Allison's commitment to the 3 day seems to grow with each year. I know there will be a time when she will be in some foreign country and not able to walk with me. As proud as I am of her accomplishments on her career front I am as proud or more proud of how she has fully embraced this walk. So, when I saw this little guy come running up to her with a small sprig of jasmine, I felt like he has doing it for me. He was thanking her for being there. And his gift made us all beam.

Allison is an intelligent, determined lady. The fact that she re-injured her foot on day two, didn't surprise me. I think it did surprise her. I know the demands of her life made the kind of training I did, next to impossible. I do know she did everything she could do to train as much as she could train. And she raised a lot of money to participate.

With an injury like hers, you would think on day 3 she would simply sit out the rest of the walk. But if you think that you don't know her. That strong will had her back at it - finishing the walk with me despite the inconvenience of pain.

People who support you. Now on that topic I am overly blessed. I had over 100 donors this year. That is a lot! I finished as #3 in the SF Bay Area for fund raising. Wine Wars had businesses and people who went above and beyond, helping us all exceed our own expectations in a very challenging economic time.

During the walk we had people come to cheer. Wren brought us lattes and.... SONYA came from Arizona to surprise me at the finish. Bill and MB came to closing ceremonies and I understand Barbara and Curtiss and Jill came to meet us along the way (but we missed seeing them.)

You know what you are doing is important to you. It makes it even more significant that others see that and stand with you, whether as a walker or a cheerer. I am filled with gratitude to them.

I will remember our family.

On this 3 day walk I was surrounded by all my family. Our two daughters, now all grown up and on their own, back by my side. Bright smiles on their faces I was sent back to days when they were my little ones. My heart could burst with the love I felt and still feel for them. You can grow up and move away, but you will always be my little girls. I want you to be happy. I want you to be as blessed as I have been. I want us always always always to be able to be together as a family. As different as each of us are from each other, we are family. YOU are my family and I love you.

There are no words that can adequately express what I feel for my man in a pink boa. Love is to shallow a word. Respect is only part of it. I could try and try and never come close.

When Glenn first came along to cheer this 3 day last year he shyly hopped from spot to spot. I had given him beads to hand out, and boas to wear. For the first few pitstops he blended into the grey of the city. Somewhere along the line he gave out his first beads and watched as that simple act could reignite the spirit of the woman he gave it to. By the end of the walk he, Dana, Curtiss and Chris were all wearing their boas. John (who is British) preferred to put the boa on his crutch he was using at the time. But there they were all in pink.

It seemed to me by the time the pink came out, Glenn's eyes lit up. He could see how much of a difference they were making on this walk to people he didn't even know. I hope he could see how much of a difference he made to me.

This year Glenn was our head cheerer. This was Stephanie's first walk and Chuck's as well. Chuck seemed to avoid the pink boa until the second day. I remember him standing in Mill Valley with one around his neck. But Glenn, Glenn wore his 24/7 throughout this walk. In doing so..... it is obvious, he gets it. I am so lucky to be married to a man who can see beyond himself enough to wear pink.

The final memory is for Patti.

This walk started for me when Patti got her diagnosis of Cancer.

Patti is a dear dear friend of mine and a godmother to the girls. I have known her since 1972. We have shared alot with each other. Marriages, divorces, deaths. We have heard the sounds of babies crying and children laughing. We have felt the wind on our faces on the Mediterrean and lived in the same chilling fog of Richardson Bay. We have both gotten that call that told us we have Breast Cancer.

When Patti got her call, she called me. I felt like a mother eagle lifting up to the sky with my talons at the ready. Eyes sharply surveying for danger around. I wanted to battle for her. I wanted to protect her.

What I discovered as I flew above, was that I needed to protect myself. I realized I had been hiding from my own Cancer for 14 years. I was preparing myself to fight a fight for Patti that I hadn't fought for myself. And in that there was a great gift.

It's funny how something so devastating can ignite a passion that directs your life to a place that is transforming.

Patti and I walked last year with Allison and two of our Sorority sisters, and it was certainly a once in a lifetime moment. This year walking with Allison and Katie, Stephanie and Dana and Cathy Shea, the walk was meaningful in some different ways. But both walks for me carry one great moment. Patti and I walking into the survivor circle, hand in hand. Sisters.

I stood next to another survivor at the end who I didn't know. I looked at her and saw tears glistening in her eyes. I said to her "look what you did." Then quickly I added "No look what we did" and the tear fell from her eyes and she responded "Yes look what we did."

That same moment when she heard the words "you have Breast Cancer" had made that woman my sister too. Standing next to Patti, this woman, and all those others in pink I wanted to shout to the sky "Look what we have done! Take that Cancer!"

So now 2010 is behind us and I am looking back only to look forward to what is to come. I cannot give up this fight just yet. I would like to say I will always walk, but I can't promise that. I can promise I hope I will always be able to walk.

Next year I will. In Washington DC. To the steps of Congress and the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. I will walk and shout to the sky "Take that Cancer!"

If you would like to help keep me walking please donate to the 2011 walk. Same address. Different walk. http://www.the3day.org/goto/donatetocathy

We are not nearly done.

Rain out on the series closing day? NO WAY!

After a good night sleep ( well for some of us...Cathy Shea spent it at home, Patti was sleep walking and well... some of us are not meant for camping regardless) we woke up to the sight of the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. At 5:30 am it seemed like a good omen. Maybe we would not have fog today, maybe it would be clear and warm.

No such luck, by the time we left the breakfast tent, a light rain started to fall. We dropped our bags with Glenn and john, bundled up and headed off for the final day of the walk.

The rain didn't dampen our spirits. We were on the home stretch...the finish line in sight. Just one more day in and around San Francisco...

Weaving our way through the Presidio the towering trees gave us some cover from the rain.

Katie looked at home in this decidedly Northwest weather.

A sculpture made of tree trunks stood in a field and everyone stopped to take a picture.

Some people had actually read the suggested packing list that included a rain poncho...not us. we had believed the forecast that called for clear skies and temperatures in the 70s. Silly us.

Katie was hurting by t he first pitstop and sought the medical tent to see if they could wrap her ankle. Which they did....

Shortly after this Katie called it quits.

She had walked 45 miles over three days. That was quite an accomplishment.

Allison was much improved after her 1/2 day rest. Back on the road she posed in front of Willard Street, where her great grandmother lived when the 1906 earthquake hit.

In one neighborhood there were a couple of families sitting on their stoops leaning their support.

One of the touching moments on the walk was this darling little boy who ran up to Allison to give her a small sprig of jasmine. The look on his face couldn't be recreated by this photo. It was priceless. I do believe it put a tear in Patti's eye.

On this walk there were hills and hills and hills.

We wove through Dole Valley, the Castro, Buena Vista, by Dubois Park . Up and down and all over town.

Allison thinks she should move to this house. I disagreed... since I should live in this house.

The team kept a good pace.

At the top of the hill the Warming Hut Hotties took a group shot.

On ward through more neighborhoods.

With our heroes keeping us safe.

To Dolores Park.

We were getting a little tired by now. There were a lot of HILLS.

After lunch in the park, we started the last half of the last day.Walking through the Mission, by China Town, the Financial District, on to North Beach, then down to the Marina.

Our SJ heroes stopped for some lunch.

Cheery folks at a cheering station.

Heading into Hayes Valley

Near the Symphony Hall.

The Civic Center

Oakland Firefighters with their cheering area... We got to dance our way through a Congo line....

Down into Union Square Area...right by Saks!

Catching some teams getting some "refreshments!" BUSTED

Street art

Chinatown gates at Grant and Bush

And at last our own pitstop at Columbus Cafe where we got to see the GIANTS take the final game against the Padres cinching the western division of the National League! YAHOO!

Campari.

It has been 15 years since I even considered drinking a Campari. But when I walked in the bar Chuch was drinking one and it looked really good. I caught myself and remembered, I used to love Camnpari, until I had Chemo. Adriamyacin is the same color as Campari. After that day, every time I saw it I tasted the poison of Adriamyacin.

I guess.... I am over that.

Leaving the bar we stopped by the official last pit stop at Washington Park.

Where Crew were cleaning up.

Bill's last crossing.

Goodbye Bill....

And then...TA DA! We were done. FINISHED. 3 days 60 miles.

$34,000 for Team:Are We There Yet? and 3.7 for the SF 3day.

Allison with her determined and enthusiastic walk.

Katie with a valiant effort. It was great to have her here.

Stephanie on her first Walk. Completed the entire walk!
Patti on ther second walk breaking her fundraising efforts of last year. Completed all 60 miles.

Cathy Shea with little training completed much of the walk

with the determination to continue walking.

Me! #3 in the SF Bay Area for fundraising with no BLISTERS and all miles completed.

Dana, who wanted to walk last year, but was told NO by some team leader we know, compeleted not just the 60 miles but the suggested training. Countless hours of walking. Unmeasured determination.

As we celebrated I got a phone call from Sonya (my dear friend from Arizona) she said she was there...and there she was sneaking into holding!

Tri -Deltas get things done.

TEAM: Are We There Yet! YUP at least as far as 2010 we are!

The Youngling girls.

Godmothers and God daughters.

The crew went first into to head off to the closing ceremonies.

THE LAST WALKER!!!! Time to go.

Bill's ready

I cried when I saw that shirt.

The firefighters came by and looked like they were going to break through the line of walkers, but they came to salute us.

Who wouldn't smile.

The survivors lined up.

And then headed to closing.

The cops lead us in.

And supporters acknowledged us.

The walkers raised a shoe in salute to the survivors.

The ceremonies began with the riasing of the flags that signify the spirit it takes to battle breast cancer.

And each and every one of us, understood that personally.

Until finally the flag was raised to signify a world without Breast Cancer.

then the survivors all got up on stage around that flag to dance a victory dance to "She's a pink Warrior."

We will never give up. We will never give up. We will never give up.

Time to celebrate this weekend.

With the ones that supported us through our training and our fundraising.

Our friends and family

Those ties that bind.

And grow stronger each year.

Deeper and more connected.

As I finish this post, know I am not done telling this tale. I have more to say. But in the interest of getting these photos out there, the rest of the story will wait.

In the next few days look for the top ten things this years' walk blessed me with.

With the top ten pictures. As for now, know there will be 2011. It is just a question of whether it will be in SF or DC. I will keep walking until I simply cannot.

Because everybody deserves a lifetime.