Hi I am back from it all. The title of the entry was either this one or " he has the constant look as if he wanted to put his head through a stonewall." Why? Well, they are both US Civil War quotes about key Generals on both sides of the War. The latter is about Ulysses S. Grant and the one used is about Stonewall Jackson. The title phrase was a description to his line of troops in the First Battle of Manasses. It stuck with him as a nickname for the rest of War, or until he died in it. I think I could very easily use it to describe my sister Cathy.
She has shown great strength and courage. She has been battling Cancer for I think 2 years straight now. It has moved all over her body it seems since it was first diagnosed in one of her lungs. Even before this bout with it she has had it twice previous. First in her Thyroid 17-18 years ago. Then Breast Cancer four years later. All that was considered in remission or cured. I guess they never quite use that last word to describe someone who beats Cancer. I know why now. Not sure why out the Six kids in my family she is the one to get it? She is the second oldest. My oldest and beloved sister Carol past away first around 11 years ago of Pnemonia of all things (like Stonewall Jackson). My Mom two years after that. My Father died when I was barely 15, 37 years ago. Each one is still thought about daily and very missed. This thing called death is something I am used to. I treat it like a celebration of ones life and a passing into something bigger, better and greater - however I still don't like it much. I have learned to have a great accomadation for this great expectation in life. You learn to tolerate certain realities.
However, for Cathy, she has shown little tolerance for Cancer. Oh, it is very much a reality and she knows it. However, no matter how tough and beyond hope the pain and sickness of the chemo and radiation treatments have been. She refuses to tolerate it in her life. Standing very much like a "stonewall" against it. Not ready to give up the ghost so to speak? Maybe? Feeling she has more to prove or do as Mother, Wife and Elem. Ed. Teacher? Maybe? Whatever, the reason her battle rages on - she is her own General.
The whole event has been an inspiration of course for me. However, not in the obvious way and also in a very unlikely way. Personal, so I will keep that too myself. However, it does make anything physically I strive to do, not only small, but quite ironic and dumb. I mean my sister certainly did not choose Cancer. However, a numb nut like me acutally chooses to wake up at 4:30 AM to stand in one place, pretend I am going somewhere; and do it sweating, punishing my legs 5 miles or more at a time on Precor Buddy. Certainly not anything I would compare to stonewalls. Or, even my sisters fight with Cancer. However, it does tell ya our bodies, mind and spirit can make things happen. No matter how trivial or life impacting.
Anyway, last week about 19 miles. A little more than that in fact. This week? Thus far I have gone in three days in a row. The first two runs were less than 8 hours apart. Monday night run followed by an early Tues AM run. Today, early AM. I am up to about 14.7 miles. I have gone this far - might as well push for an every day week event. Not sure how many miles I will end up with, but it should be at least 24-25 miles and most likely more.
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