My friend Irene will run her first half-marathon on April 7: the Santa Cruz half-marathon.
She will run in memory of our mutual friend Cindy Bolbach.
In Cindy’s memory, Irene will raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
I have contributed to the cause. You can too.
After she learned of my contribution, Irene sent me a message of thanks.
“What more can I do to support you,” I asked.
Irene was online at the time as well. She replied, “As part of my training, I will not eat sweets or dessert until I run. You could do that, too.”
I stared at the screen a long, long time before responding. The folly of asking questions when he answers might be acceptable occurred to me.
But I have a deep admiration for Cindy. And cancer has claimed too many friends and people I do not know through the years.
After what must have seemed like an eternity to Irene, I responded. It took about three or four days of sporadic electronic conversation before I agreed.
On January 1, I started. No sweets. No desserts. And I have done it. I wish I could say I cut out those categories all together. But I have not. I simply have replaced them with nuts and crackers and chips.
A chocolate Guinness Jameson shake identified by my friends Bruce and Nancy has tempted. Sorely tempted me. But I have resisted.
Several late nights I have wanted to head to the local convenience store and exchange a fistful of dollars for a sackful of chocolate. But I have prevailed. Sometimes I go and get more nuts. But I have prevailed.
For almost a month I have resisted and prevailed. It has been a challenge. But not as difficult a challenge as I thought at the beginning.
I do really miss Ben and Jerry’s though.
However, the point of this is not about me, remember. I told you at the beginning:
My friend Irene will run her first half-marathon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory Cindy Bolbach.
I have contributed to the cause. You can too.
See you along the Trail.
