Friday was Track and Field Day for the Rush City 4
th, 5
th and 6
th graders. I don't remember which race it was exactly, maybe the 5
th grade 800m. Either way, the thing that sticks with me is a comment I overheard from a parent as he was trying to coach the youngsters on the finer points of distance running. "It's not a race about speed," he said, "but a challenge to see who can endure the pain the longest."
Think about that for a second - "a challenge to see who can endure the pain the longest." I guess the guy was right but that is some serious philosophy for a grade schooler to swallow. Maybe it was pertinent in this 800m race or perhaps it was some pre-teaching of teenage love. It could have passed as a lesson for any tough time in life but those lessons are usually learned through experience.
Showing up in Mora on Saturday afternoon for "Get Goin' for Owen" - the streets were lined with Police Patrolmen and traffic cones. There was a need for Parking wranglers and Trailview Elementary School was packed with twice as many folks as any Craft Show ever has. With all of those bodies, it was amazing to see hundreds of smiles being given out - free of charge. Typically when humans gather in masses, poor attitudes prevail but this was far from the case as 900+ good people got together to either walk or run or jog or stroll or rollerblade or bike their way through 3.1 miles of stiff breezes and cool air. It wasn't a race this day, although some showed up to run it as such. It was a benefit walk for a 3 year old boy with Hepatoblastoma. The little fella has had his liver resected and tumors removed from his left lung and brain. I didn't know Owen before Saturday but we were lucky enough to have 30 seconds with him just before the start when he and his dad happened by us on the way to the Firetruck. Michele plays volleyball with Drew and he made it a point to come and say "Hi", after picking us out of the crowd. I asked Owen if he'd trade me hats. His stocking cap seemed more appropriate than my ball cap with the weather blowing down on us. Drew and Owen left us as Dad mentioned how excited his boy had been all day for the best seat in the house.
White shirts filed into the streets with the runners towards the front. Michele and I were somewhere in the middle of the pack, sandwiched among the baby strollers and dog walkers. I was looking forward to continuing arm in arm with my wife - conversing at a leisurely pace. Months ago we were intent on being runners but a Stress Fracture for Michele laid those hopes to rest and so I decided to stick by my wife and walk. However, let me assure everyone that I did not wuss out on anything. Michele is a competitor through and through. If it involves physical activity, she wants to be the best. We hadn't made it through the first quarter mile of stepping on and being stepped on, watching the runners move out as we trudged with the pack, before I saw the change that I knew was coming from my wife. Even though I warned her that walking a 5K at her long-legged pace would be more painful for me then running the silly thing, Michele stepped it out. She wanted to create some space from the hoards of do-gooders and that she did at my expense. Let's just leave it at that. My wife is ultra-competitive, stress fracture or not. I have short little T-Rex arms that compliment my keg legs. 42 minutes and 38 seconds later we were done.
But not before being a part of something truly amazing. From time to time I would turn around to look up a hill or catch a glimpse of the people in front of me. I was amazed at the turn out. There is no possible way that many people know Owen. But there we all were. Doing good things in the name of a good cause. 900+ people making the best out of a brisk Saturday walk in the park. 900+ people giving a part of themselves for a 3 year old boy and his family that have taught us that life isn't about enduring the pain the longest. Life is about enjoying every minute we have. Sharing Smiles with people and riding on Firetrucks.
p.s. I would like to personally thank -
The Johnson family for their encouragement and thoughtful donation.
Jeff and Vanessa Dinius for their humor, love and donation as well.
Tarina and Trent Burgess for their support and commitment to being "do-gooders" too.
We are proud to have all of you in our circle.
