What a wonderful weekend I had! Started out Friday in helping to set up our booth – Curvy Ladies & Gents – then Saturday morning when I finally arrived at about 7:15, then started helping to set up the booth while also taking pictures of what all was going on around us.
I did a lot more walking and taking pictures than I was at the booth and helping. Last year I did the same, while this year I also took some digital footage, which will be made into a documentary for sure, along with the stills. I took close to 300 stills, while roughly about an hours worth of footage. Music, Dancers, folks telling of their own Survival with Cancer, folks walking, booths … well, I took a lot of pictures and footage as the day continued.
It got hot during the day, but thankfully we had a canopy cover that a friend brought, and was ‘so easy to put up’! Last year someone brought what they call an ‘Easy-Up’ canopy, but it was a pain to get it open, let alone when it came time to wrap it up! ‘First Up’, is what the canopy was titled that we had for this event, and is was so easy to get up, which is always good when there’s folks that don’t have the strength it takes to fight with something like that Easy-Up!
And as usual for this valley, we got some wind as the afternoon rolled on. Some of the decorations had to be taken down, but luckily the tent and canopy was staked to the ground in several places.
I took as many pictures and footage as I could of the event until I noticed my battery was getting low. One ran out just as I started filming one musical piece done by some elderly ladies, but when the other got low, I stopped filming so I could film the Luminaries and folks as they continued around the football track. It ended up that with that second and backup battery, I had a fair amount of power left for my camcorder, but really didn’t want to chance it! By 10pm, I was really tired and knew that I wanted to go back this morning to help take down our booth, while also for the pancake breakfast, but by the time I got there, they were out of food, excepting for Bagels and some sweet goods.
It was an emotional experience for all while folks talked about how they got it, how long they had it, and how they are currently. Some talked about children, family members, and friends that had passed away due to Cancer, while one guy who had cancer from birth was there and told us his story while eventually showing us the leg that had to be amputated when he was still a baby.
One guy gave a talk who doesn’t even have Cancer, or any relatives or friends with Cancer, but told us that it’s important to him to be a part of it, while he encourages many others to join forces that don’t have Cancer, but care to help.
At about 9:30am, we did our very last lap as a group, but not before the flag was taken down and Doves turned loose. That was an experience in itself, while it’s so unusual anymore to see our ‘American Flag’ or to salute it, or even say the Pledge. It’s so nice to be at events like that were we can see ‘Our American Flag’ raised, while saluting it, then saying the Pledge, and even more uplifting when we sing our ‘National Anthem’. It’s so nice to know how many ‘True Americans’ there are out there when there’s a gathering like this one, while the same goes for those who aren’t really Americans or honor our flag, our country, or our national anthem!
Cancer strikes anyone at anytime, and like AIDS, doesn’t discriminate! I also invite everyone reading this who doesn’t have Cancer or friends or family members, to become a part of Relay for Life and next year, or at another gathering – there’s one coming up in Bakersfield – to become a part of it and either start a group or join a group. We all can make a difference, while anyone with any type of skills that can offer a service at a discount or for free, or is artistic like many of us and would be willing to donate their craft or crafts (depending on the size of what they can make), it would be most welcome and beneficial to everyone involved!
a lovely post; I will join in next year.
Thanks
Steve