3 Days of My Life

Day 3 2001

Woke up at 4 feeling pretty damn good! Got a cup of tea and found Mom having breakfast with her crew members. It’s going to be a nice day! Sunny, but hopefully not as hot as yesterday. Both mornings were warmer than last year; I didn’t have the dilemma of wondering whether I should wear a long-sleeved shirt or not. Both days was able to wear a tank top. We packed up our tent and headed for breakfast. Ugh. I suddenly felt bad, nauseous and shaky and NO appetite. Unlike yesterday’s breakfast, really had to force myself to eat. I choked down some oatmeal and dry french toast. Sat there wondering if I could make it. I didn’t feel THAT bad, just bad enough to wonder about walking even 11 miles. And then Closing Ceremonies. The thought of just going home actually sounded really good at that point, and here it was, the easiest, funnest day! Elma wisely pointed out that if I had any doubt at all, I should listen to my body, so we trudged to the medical tent (there goes our early start) and sat down with about 6 or 7 other people. Damn. I did NOT want to be there. Again, I didn’t feel all that bad, just kind of queasy, and, again, without being too graphic, let’s just say that 4 - count ’em - 4 Immodiums yesterday had no impact. I filled out the form, and thought about what the medical staff would probably do. Nothing. It was really up to me whether I felt well enough to walk, and I decided I did. It’s not like I didn’t have plenty of options along the way. So, we set off at about 6:45. And I’m SO GLAD I did, because I did end up feeling a lot better as we walked. It was a beautiful morning, and so nice to be in Evanston. Elma was on her cell phone every 4 minutes (not while walking but during stops) updating Steve on our progress so they could meet us at Dawes Park by the lake. We stretched, chatted, and ate. I filled up on bananas and bagels, and was concerned about staying hydrated. I had decided to wear my back-up pair of shoes with my orthotics, and they felt pretty good. Gorgeous day! Cooler by the lake! Everyone was in a good mood. We were at approximately 254 in line at one point!

And...we’re there! Once again, through the line of love. It felt as great as last year. WE DID IT! We quickly got our victory shirts and got back in line to cheer the incoming walkers. Mom showed up and cheered with us for a while. After standing there in the hot sun for about 45 minutes, I felt the need to get out of the sun and off my feet, so Mom and I got lunch (no line!) and headed into the dining tent. Elma joined us soon after. I started feeling kind of bad again: just that shaky, queasy, unsure feeling. Once again, no appetite and had to force down lunch: pita and hummus, chips (for salt), the cherries from my fruit cocktail, and cookies. It felt good to just sit, with my feet elevated. Just wanted to sit there forever and nap.

Mom left for her crew meeting, and Elma and I went back outside where it was sunny but pleasant. Sat in sun for a bit, then got hot, so we moved to the empty massage tent and sat in the shade, waiting for our turn to line up for the victory walk. Started feeling a bit better. I decided to make a last-minute port-o-john stop (along with everyone else!) that took FOREVER, while they were announcing that walkers should be making their way to the south end of the park to line up for the walk. Hurry! I hate this! Elma had my waist pack and was frantically looking for me. I found her just in time. Off to join the blue shirts. It was kind of strange to be alone during this part, but it was also nice. Just to think and experience. And feeling fine at this point. We didn’t have to wait too long before we started walking. It was just like last year: the silent walkers, the people lined up along the route cheering us, thanking us, crying. Thank you! The woman walking alone next to me took my hand. We saw the crew and really started bawling, tho I didn’t see Mom. All the people! We are there!!!! YAY!!!!! The music! Jeff waving flag!! Must’ve been near the front, because I was fairly close to the stage. Got close to the aisle so I could watch for Elma and Mom. And they’re still coming! Welcome to Chicago! Welcome home! Really wonderful. All the blue shirts! My water is running out!!! Then the survivors come in. I didn’t see Elma come in, but she was right across from me on the other side. Survivor Circle. Crew! Didn’t see Mom. Then came the announcements, which were very moving, including speeches from 2 survivors who raised a LOT of money, and some words from Dan about how our efforts helped a woman who doesn’t even know us get an early detection notice.

Then, the 2001 3-Day was over!

It felt strange at this point not to have anyone to hug; everyone around me was hugging and posing for pictures. I had other things on my mind, tho. Beeline to the port-o-johns! NO! They did NOT have more port-o-johns available this year! But I didn’t have to wait long.

Went back to my greeting area and saw Dave and my brother-in-law, Char! Yay! Dave had my pink water bottle from home and I was so happy to see it, unfortunately, it was empty. Boo! We sat and talked for a bit, waiting for Mom, and Dave got me a...Gatorade. It actually tasted great, tho, cuz it was orange, one of the flavors not used on the walk. Found Mom and walked to our luggage area: found my garbage bag right away, but couldn’t find my duffel bag ANYWHERE. IT JUST WAS NOT THERE! Oh, OK, there it is. Whew! Walked about 27 miles to the car, which Dave and Char had assured us was “close.” I was hot but determined to keep on my long-sleeved victory shirt.

Mom later told me that her bus at one point ended up by the gear trucks before Closing Ceremonies. She saw, lined up behind each gear truck, about 35-40 3-Day volunteers who formed a human chain, passing walkers’ baggage from the truck to the holding area. It was something to see! Oh, man, it felt sooooooooo good to sit down and take off my shoes. As seasoned 3-Dayers will inevitably do, Mom and I could talk of nothing else but peeing: how often we had to, the port-o-john situation, waiting in line, etc. Suddenly, Dave swerved sharply into McDonald’s, announcing that he had to go to the bathroom. Heh.

We were home by about 5. I petted the cats who only cared about their supper being late. I just wanted everyone to LEAVE! I was so tired and ready to be alone. Mom and Char left, and Dave was tired from getting up early that day to come and see us, even tho, unfortunately, I didn’t see him along the path as we walked into Closing Ceremonies. But he saw Elma and Mom, and HE WAS THERE! Thank you, honey!

I unpacked while sitting down, throwing everything into a few piles. SHOWER!!!! Ahhhhh. Then, ordered a pizza, scarfed it down while half-awake, and to bed by 7:30. I am in love with my bed.

THE NEXT DAY

I woke up around 6 after a very heavy sleep, feeling tired, stiff, and sore but pretty good, better than last year. Did laundry and wrote everything down from the notes I’d taken. Went to the store and bought..Gatorade!!!

I did end up developing a cold and a pretty bad cough, probably from sleeping in the wet tent. Oh, well. I had said that if I could just stay healthy before and during the walk, then anything could happen afterward! At least I fared better than poor Echo, who developed strep throat AND contracted food poisoning—not on the walk, but afterward.

It’s always hard returning to normal life after the walk. On Monday, I had the morning to recover, but had a meeting in the afternoon that jolted me back to the world of work. I didn’t have as much time to reflect on things or feel down as I did last year.

And, no, it wasn’t the same as last year. I had been prepared for that to some degree, since last year there were 4 of us, and we all developed a closer friendship due to our shared experience. But I wasn’t prepared for how my high expectations from last year would not be met in the same way this year. It did seem at times as if people were not demonstrating the kindness I remember from last year. Elma and I commented on the fact that since Pallotta is branching out into new events, that perhaps the 3-Day will—or is already starting to—lose its specialness. I don’t know. I do know that after having some time to think it over, I still feel that this cause and this particular event are so worthwhile and meaningful. Pallotta TeamWorks has netted more than $153 million for breast cancer and AIDS charities. These new events will no doubt be successful, too. Having done a whole TWO Avon walks, I just feel like it’s a part of me now. I WILL be involved in some way next year, I just haven’t decided how. I like challenging myself and the feeling of being able to pull myself together and keep going on. I like contributing to a cause in such a BIG way, and what a great cause it is. I like the fact that this experience makes me a better person, and opens me up to others. Okay, now I’m really talking myself into it! I’ve already had several dreams about the walk, and I just can’t imagine not doing it. Like I said, it’s a part of me.

A few days after the walk, I received an e-mail from Roberta, the woman I’d met in line at the general store on Day Zero. “You probably don’t remember me...” Of course I do! I remember everybody and everything and will treasure those memories forever. And I look forward to adding new memories.

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