2 months before OGW Kick-off

The past 5 weeks I have described the  WHO, WHAT, and  HOW's behind the scenes of what makes up OldGuyWalk (OGW) and I have attempted to sprinkle in the WHY's through-out.  Sharing my thoughts and feelings along the way. This posting I just want to jump on my soapbox and talk a little (or a lot) about my efforts and seeing this thing take on a life of its own, most of it positive, some not so, but all of it real. 

If you have been reading I hope you can tell that first off I am doing this for a cause that is driven by the loss of one of my loved family members, my mother. Feeling her love flow thru me has been the catalyst to give me the strength to overcome any obstacles in front of me.

That being said let me point out that without my wife's support in the endeavor none of my goals would be attainable. She has given me the courage to continue thru anything that has gotten in my way along this path. She, my children, and  the rest of my family are the most important things in my life. To Maddie, Nic and especially Jen - Thank-you for putting up with this crazy OldGuy!

The theme of this OGW is to raise money and give. Sounds simple doesn't it? Well I have discovered that one of the hardest things for me to do is hold out my hand.  During my lifetime I 've strived never to ask for charity, always considered it a sign of weakness. I have always believed you need to be strong enough to learn to take care of yourself.  In today's world asking anyone to donate (whether it be their valuable time or opening their wallet) has been in the past my humble opinion - over the top!

You don't need to open your ears or eyes very wide to see all the unemployment numbers, higher energy costs and increased taxes, along with all basic living expenses escalate almost everyday.  Yet here I am asking people - some I just met - to give, and to my astonishment they do! This whole experience shows me just how great the human spirit is. This has taught me that there exists a type of kindness and generosity in all of us and that finding our untapped potential is a goal we all seem to share. When I feel like taking a week off and relaxing or get the urge to quit during a especially hard spin class, long walk or water aerobic workout I think about all the people who have touched my heart, who have given to my effort and it pushes me to go on. I have come to the conclusion that I am indeed a bit crazy to do this OGW but it is a good thing and hopefully will mean something to those who support it.

Hopefully anybody who visits their Doctor next time will recall this white goatee'd oldguy's trip and work up the nerve to put their doctor on the spot by asking why they don't have a test for cancer as routine as the way they do a blood test for high cholesterol?  I sincerely believe that if enough doctors hear this question then maybe one or more of them will ask their colleagues and then these medical people might ask why to those large drug corporations and somewhere a light bulb will go off in some group with power to say "Hey we can make a buck" just by providing a cancer test to anyone getting a regular check-up.  I really believe that's what it will take.

I am but a whisper in a loud sound filled vacuum tube. But if enough voices join together that whisper will become a roar, breaking that glass and spilling over. So speak up and pass on the word to others to speak up too.  It can happen! Just imagine the world where instead of just treating disease we actually find it before it can take hold of us. I think this will happen someday but I want that someday to be in our lifetimes or at the very least our children's lifetime. The science is there we just need to make the powers to be to see that it is worthwhile.

I'm now just eight short weeks away from putting to test all the spin, swim strength, and walk training I have put my body  thru these past 58 weeks.  I pledge to everyone that I will complete this OGW  but not just for my mom's memory but also for all the family, friends and people I have been privileged to meet along the way.

This has not been easy and I have faced several ups and downs but that's life isn't it?  So what are the biggest lessons I have learned from this experience so far?  First - It would have to be how rewarding it is to feel this great connection to everyone who has supported me. And second, and most importantly that my Mother,  has been, will be and still is with me every step of the way!!! 

I am not smart enough to know very much about everlasting life - Have never been all that spiritual,  but I do feel I have finally come to understand that no one really ever dies. The ones you don't see anymore will always live on in your memories, your mannerisms and your heart.   Everytime when you look in a mirror
- look closely,  and you might see them in the color of you hair, or the shape of your face or even the glint in your eye.  I see my mom everyday now and when my time comes to move on I only hope my kids will be able to look in the mirror and see me, still part of their lives every step of the way.

OldGuy