reality check - relay for life

Each year, Paul takes care of the logistics for the East Grand Rapids Relay for Life.  It's a tough job - setting up, tearing down, saying no when he wants to say yes, hauling trash, setting up power - everything that makes the event run.  Along with the hot-dirty-man work, he also raises money.  This year, from generous family and friends, over $3500.  And it's still coming in. 

It is overwhelming to see the number of people who come out to support this event.  To see the number of kids running around, taking part.  The names on the huge electronic board.  The white sashes.  The white sashes on young people.

Whew.

I went and took some pictures.























If you are well, be thankful.  And donate if you can.  If you are battling, helping someone battle, or have lost someone to cancer, these events are for you.  And for the world.  So we can all have more birthdays. 

Art Prize Love

We had to fit a visit in to our favorite store, Art of the Table.   Since we were in the vicinity, we hit a couple of Art Prize venues this morning.   It was a bittersweet visit,  an intersection of two people and two venues that we didn't see coming.

I have written about Bob Self, Paul's friend who lost his battle with cancer last February;  and I have written about our friend, Sue, Bob's wife.   Sue came to hang East of the Equator this summer and we had a glorious time.   We also learned that she loves birdhouses.

Our first stop:

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

then we wandered over to the Hope Lodge, stopping first to admire corner art. 

From 2010-09-25

How fitting that the American Cancer Society has this beautiful art:

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

We love you, Sue.  And we miss Bob.  A special @ArtPrize day for sure.  

Weekend wonder

Work is busy.  Home is busy.  Life is busy.  Despite all the chaos that is swirling around, my dear husband took the weekend to volunteer his time, energy and strong back for a really, truly wonderful cause.  The Relay for Life.  He did it last year too and came home exhausted.  Dirty.  Very sore.  And with all the different ways he is being pulled right now, he wasn't going to do it this year.  We have busy jobs.  And lives.  And are juggling the move to the cottage. And some family issues. He was going to take the year off.  But then we lost a friend to cancer.  Bob was an amazing man.  Naval officer. World traveler. Cool husband to Sue. Toronto Maple Leaf fanatic. Dear friend to Paul and many others.  So with everything else that is swirling around our lives, Paul took the weekend to handle all the logistics for the East Grand Rapids Relay for Life.  It is the epitome of hot, dirty man-work.  He did it because we still can't find a cure.  We want more birthdays in the world.  

Thank you to all our friends and colleagues who donated to this cause.  You are wonderful. My contribution?  I bid on the silent auction and took pictures.  Lots of pictures. 

From Bob

We will both do this again next year.  We love you Bob.  We miss you.