Sunday, June 24, 2007 10:32 PM, CDT

Part II
This year I had to walk the lap. Thank God I was walking with my friend Laureen (if I could just take a minute to say that I met Laureen through book club. There are seven members of book club. Laureen had colon cancer a few years ago….now I have colon cancer. What are the odds that two young, healthy woman out of a group of seven would get colon cancer???—anyway, I’ll move on), my Uncle Bob, my cousin’s husband Sean and Bill Rasku. There is comfort in numbers. I did feel a wee bit gypped because the bagpipers were not accompanying our lap. Apparently some of the Relay organizers felt it was too somber. However, I liked the pomp and circumstance of the whole thing; I happen to love bagpipes (and I think you either love them or you hate them. For example, I love them and Greg hates them!). I’m actually hoping they can come back next year for the Survivor’s Lap.
I wasn’t as emotional as I thought I would be. I actually felt a little silly. However, as I came around to the Prima-Donna campsite, there were my family and friends (and a lot of the friends that were there came for the survivor lap to surprise me!!). At first, I was confused because there were no yellow shirts. My cousins, Pam and Wendy, had shirts made up for me…..pink shirts (pink is my favorite color!) with Family, Friends, Survivor, Hope and Love written on the back to look like a Scrabble board (my favorite game!). Wow. Talk about an overwhelming wave of emotion. Wow!! I mean everyone had the shirt on. Greg, my Dad, my uncles, my male cousins--even Ryan and Dylan O’Neil, who are two very large, very handsome teenagers, looked great in their pink t-shirts. Thanks guys.
There they were: my parents, Greg, my kids, my sister, my cousins, my aunts and uncles, my friends—even Faith (because if you remember when I told you about Faith…she’s been a Prima-Donna Penguin for years!!!) They were all cheering me on in their pink t-shirts. I cannot thank you all enough. I love each and every one of you so very much. More than I could ever tell you.
Then I had the opportunity to walk the caretakers lap with Greg, Steven, Katie, Lauren, my Mom, my Dad, Kerry, Jay, my family and friends.
Thank you Pam and Wendy. You made this Relay a night I will never forget. I looked up to you both as a child; I’ve admired you as an adult and have always loved you. However, you two have been so incredibly supportive and loving and since my diagnosis that my love for you has grown tenfold. I cannot imagine how difficult this whole situation would have been without you. Your phone calls, your hospital visits, your babysitting, your meals, your cards, your gifts, your ears and your shoulders have meant the world to me. You are two incredibly special, unbelievably loving, strong, compassionate women. I am so lucky to have you in my family but I’m truly blessed that you love me. Thank You.
I will write again soon.
Love,
Kim