Well, I think I have finally caught my breath from this past weekend! The Relay was incredible and brought about lots of emotion...as expected.

Jeremiah and I arrived at the Relay around 9:00am. The relay didn't start until 10:00 but I wanted to be early....just to have time to settle in and people watch. My team tent was in a prime spot for this...right at the base of one of two paths leading to the track. Before long, my friend Tracy showed up with her BF. She had hand painted 2 signs...one for her and one for me...they had our names on it, the word SURVIVOR and then the names of people who have helped us through. I'm happy to share that MUDCAT was painted on my sign!!!

Before the actual relay started, my mom, Tracy and I went nosing around the track to see what some of the other teams had set up. The truth is, I never did really find that out because I was too busy stopping along the way to talk to people and to share Jeremiah. When the opening ceremonies began, I was at another tent and because the first lap is really a parade of all teams, we had to jump in line when our team went by because we weren't at our tent! The morning passed quickly and before I knew it, it was time to get some lunch and get Jeremiah to his doctor appointment (which went just fine). Jeremiah and I went back to the Relay for a few hours and then left to get my husband for the survivor's lap. As it turned out, the sky was black and when it began to thunder, we were sent to the high school gym. The gym bleachers were FULL. Standing room only. A few remarks were made, a raffle ticket was drawn for a quilt and then there was the Survivor's Lap. All the survivors, many of us wearing a dark purple t-shirt given to us by the American Cancer Society, lined up facing one way. Our caregives lined up facing another way. Music played as we walked in our directions meeting halfway. At that point, people were hugging one another (even if we didn't know the people) and lots of tears were flowing. The Relay Committee Members formed two lines down the center of the gym floor making a tunnel of sorts and the survivors, paired with their caregivers walked through the tunnel to a standing ovation. I had the purple t-shirt on and I was also wearing a viking helmet complete with a teal (for ovarian cancer) boa hanging from my horns (got lots of giggles and smiles). I thought I would cry for this, but I didn't....I was so overwhelmed with the number of people and feeling very proud to be there with my husband....we linked arms and wheeled Jeremiah through the tunnel, stopping at the end to cheer others on. It was AMAZING. Afterwards, they had entertainment in the form of a dance troupe....or maybe the dance people came before the survivor's lap...I don't remember. Anyway, they were good!!! Afterwards we went home. I got back up at 3am to walk for my allotted time. It was still very dark out and I was really, REALLY tired but kept telling myself, cancer never sleeps. Cancer never sleeps. Cancer never sleeps and neither will I!!! The morning walk was actually very nice...it was cool out, the rain had stopped and Mom and I walked until dawn. At 7 or so, they announced a morning yoga class in front of the bleachers...you KNOW I went to that. Mom kept walking. I kicked off my shoes in the wet, muddy grass and stretched myself silly. Later that morning I put tickets into various raffle bags (they had a Chinese raffle and I had purchased the tickets the day before...just hadn't used them all) and relaxed a bit.
   I walked until my hips hurt. It was more activity for me than I had done in months....so yeah...it hurt but I had SUCH a good time that I didn't much care. During the 24 hours that this took place, they had all kinds of music going, lots of raffles, food and activities.....talk about a community coming together!!!
    I ended up raising very close to $1200.00. As a whole, the Wellsboro Relay for Life made over $110,000.00!!! Now THAT is something to be excited about!
    What's next? Hopefully a return to a somewhat normal life. I am looking forward to being Mommy and taking care of both of the men in my life and our home. I know the chemotherapy is over but there are still check ups every month and a half (staggered between my surgeon and my chemo doctor). I have to have my port flushed every thirty days and then in a few months, I have to have the port taken back out (not looking forward to that at all). I'm excited to tell you that my hair is coming back in (sorry Bobert!!) and if you are face to face with me, you can actually see it! I still look bald in my photos but I'm not!!!! Mostly I am looking forward to staying healthy and making the most of my life with my family.
    Tomorrow my mom will drive Jeremiah and I to the hospital where I will have my port flushed which means they will put that giant ass needle in my chest AGAIN. I have cream to help numb it (although it doesn't do the trick entirely) and it won't take long and I don't need any more meds pumped into me....trying to keep a positive eye on this. Also, I've received a letter from the woman who runs the House of Care and she misses me and has asked that I stop by. My friend Tracy is there for the week so maybe I'll get some time with her too (she's staying at the House of Care....not a patient in the hospital....just having multiple appointments). Afterwards, we are headed to a farmer's market, something I love to do!!!
    I'm sure I've left things out about the Relay but suffice it to say that it was a totally memorable event filled with friendships and love and I can't wait to do it again. Thank you to everyone for all your support!!

Love to all! Pictures to come soon!

Michelle