Just a reminder, whichever way you feel, please get out and make your voice heard on Tuesday, November 4th. It is just three days away. Personally, Obama’s plans for healthcare would help me in very real ways (and probably you, too, by increasing the pool, the outlyers like me more readily get absorbed and I can get the care I need to stay out of the ER. Alternatively, if I get dropped or denied, I might end up at County more often, in which case everyone would probably pay more as I would probably not get the care I needed until I ended up in the ER.). Also, I will be voting for Debbie Cook for the 46th district congressperson. Time to vote the bums out.
Again, thank you all for making the LA Cancer Challenge such an amazing event. These shows of support really invigorate me in my fight against pancreatic cancer. Just remember how important it is to cherish those close to you, see the inexhaustible supply of beauty in the world, and truly live life.
“Live as if you will die tomorrow. Dream as if you will live forever.” –James Dean
Here is a shot of the group. What an amazing turnout. Thank you all so much for getting up early on a Sunday and coming out for a good cause. Your support means more than you know.
A little pre-race pep talk for the LB Poly XC girls from Shannon Rowbury (US Olympian for 1500m). Nate and I should probably be taking notes, too. I did not get up the courage to ask, “Do you have any tips for me to shave some seconds off of my 1 hour 15 minute and 21 second 5K time?” There is something to shake your head at. In my prime I could and did finish a 5K more than 1 hour faster. Yikes. I have a long way to go. Even without cancer, I doubt I could get back there.
Dialysis has become a big part of my life these days and these are the people who make it livable. Vicky runs the Da Vita unit at UCLA and Michelle is the Home Hemodialysis coordinator. Lets face it, dialysis sucks, but both are amazing women and really do make the treatment tolerable.
This is other wonderful person in my dialysis life, Richard. He is the Home Hemo nurse. See that smile on his face? How could you not enjoy spending a few hours a week with that guy? Though we joke a bit and each tell stories, at the critical times he is on it and his calmness and skill put me at ease and actually help me do my part better. Thanks for bringing the family out Rich. It was great to finally meet Ines and your boys (3/4 at least).
Like every little rink-a-dink 5K/10K, there is a race to win and then there are innumerable little races throughout the field, even way in the back. Here is a moment of frustration, as I got passed by a kid being pushed in a wheelchair. Luckily I did not see any little old ladies in walkers. I don’t think I could have borne that embarrassment.
Later, I had a smile on my face when the finish line was in sight. I completed the race without stopping, though I was going pretty slow on the slight uphills, and the flats, and, well, I would not exactly say that I was blazing down the downhills.
I think I was able to complete the race because of this inspirational angel. Can you believe it? Somebody I know thought she looked like a toilet brush.
Who wouldn’t want a picture with 6 high school girls and Nate’s wife, Becky. As far as a picture with Nate, I have mixed sentiments. Well, after further review, I guess he is pretty good-looking, too.
Well, it ends with two of the three people who bear the most burden (my tirades and such) and keep coming back for more. Now that is love. And Mark Carpenter, he’s a pretty nice guy, too.
And my lovely wife, Eva. Wow, am I lucky. And look! She is blowing me a kiss. What more could I ask for? Here she is cruising through the 10K. Right after, she walked the 5K with a couple friends. What a champ. Go Cutie!
Carpe Vitam and Live Strong,
Tyler
