four words.....

Just four words. They've come to mean a lot to me lately -'Wish you were here'. Always before I could be perfectly happy left to my own devices. Of course, there were times when I would wish for the company of a significant other. I just didn't stress over it, I just would lose myself in a book or become wrapped up in a movie and the longing would pass.

You can tell that you've met someone important in your life when the times when you wish for their company become more often than the times when you don't mind your own solitude. You find yourself wanting their presence as witness to the most mundane things. You need them there with you when you're not at your best to remind you that you're worthy of this relationship. After a rough day at work, you just want someone to commiserate with who will offer you solace and support.

Laughing at a movie is not as much fun alone, a shared guffaw holds far more joy and the sound is much sweeter. Cooking your favorite meal is great, but when you really want to nourish the person you care about with it, the charm is quickly lost and the food itself just doesn't taste the same.

I knew that being in a long distance relationship was going to be a challenge, and it has been and that's okay. I think he's worth it...and I hope he would think the same of me. I know there will come a time when we will be in the same zip code. The time that we do spend together makes it all worth it, and it's not like we live across country from each other. It's only a couple hours by car and compared to others who are in the same kind of relationship... we're very lucky. We still manage to spend a few days together every other week. Some people don't get to see the object of their affection for months on end.

yet..when I'm watching a favorite movie, reading a favorite book, needing a hug after a long day, when I'm waking up in the morning and when I'm just falling asleep.. "wish you were here".

One Night(Alton Telegraph, 7/10/11)

According to the website for the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, there were approximately 450 people that perished of non Hodgkin Lymphoma in the state of Missouri last year. On the night of July 17th, Sandra K. Garrett-Jones was one of them.



Mom had originally been diagnosed with the disease way back in 1991. After extensive chemotherapy and testing over a 2 year period, her lymph nodes were pronounced clear and her doctor told her that she was 'good to go.' During the course of treatment she lost a lot of weight, her hair, and her patience. My grandfather and aunt were also fighting cancers of their own during this time. So, not only was mom working a full time job, but she was going to treatments and trying to support them. She became a warrior. The American Cancer Society provided a lot of resources for her and the rest of the family during this time. In return, mom began participating in the RELAY FOR LIFE event every year.



This is an all night event that starts on a Friday night at 6pm on a high school football field and ends at 6am the next morning. The participants are all in teams and the team members take turns walking or running the track surrounding the field. Each team also has a fund-raising booth where they sell food, services, and trinkets. During the course of the night there are games and activities to keep everyone's spirits up and my favorite part is the luminaria ceremony.



You buy a luminaria(a paper bag that will be weighted with sand and a candle when completed) for $5.00, decorate it with the name of a family member or friend that is currently fighting cancer, or has passed on from the disease. All the luminaria are positioned on the bleachers and lining the track and then they are lit...and the lights on the football field are all turned off. The only illumination coming from all those bags as all those names are read. It's a very solemn period.



The money raised at this event is used to help fund the programs that the Cancer Society provides to cancer patients and their families. Our family usually participates in a couple of these events every year. My sister and I go to the Central St. Charles event and my mom's sister and various cousins participate in the East Prairie, Missouri event.



In June of 2008 mom's cancer returned, but this time it was a lot more aggressive, and since she was also a lot older it took much more of a toll on her. She fought it valiantly right up until the very moment of her demise. With many warriors there is such a thing as a 'good' death. To die in the midst of a battle is considered the highest honor. If you believe in that sort of thing, then mom indeed had a 'good' death.



My problem is this, with mom's death, so went my spirit. It seemed to me that the one thing that I was fighting so hard for, had already been lost. I wasn't going to be able to save her, so what was the point? So this year, when it came time to sign up for this year's event, I was a little less than invested. My sister is wholly invested. I marvel at her tirelessness. She has put on more fund-raising activities than a lot of the other teams involved. She has had rummage sales and bake sales. She has hawked ice cream and donuts. She built a gift card basket to raffle off the night of the event and so far it's worth about $200.00.

When I expressed my apathy for this year's event. Her response was simple. “If we don't do it, who will? If everyone gives up, then who will be left to fight? What if, someday, we get a form of cancer? Then what? If we give up, who's going to fight for us? It's one night, out of 365 nights. Just one night, just do it.”



The teams in this year's event have so far raised over $21,000.00 and that one night hasn't even happened yet. If you've never done this, please consider joining us July 15-16, 2011 from 6PM to 6AM at Lutheran High School, St. Peters, Missouri. This one night can give you a new perspective on the rest of your life.



If you don't choose to participate in an event, please consider donating to our team or any team. Go to this website:

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=32204&pg=entry



Our team is “take a bite out of cancer”. Come on, it's painless. Just do it.