Almost exactly this time last year, I came to Disney World with my close friend, Brenda Brown, to watch her run the half marathon. She was representing LLS to help battle cancer and she ran with my name on her back. It was my 5 year anniversary and a special time for us as she crossed the finish line. It not only celebrated her victory, but also, my victory that she walked with me every step of the way over the past 5 years.
It was last year when Brenda decided that she wanted to go for it all. By "all" I mean she wanted to do the Dopey Run which included a 5K, 10K, half marathon and a whole marathon. I joked with her that she was "dopey" to do this but if you know Brenda Brown, you know she is driven and cannot be stopped when her mind is made up.
So we traveled back to Disney again and she is running the full marathon as I type. In a few hours I will be there to meet her at the finish line. Yes, she has already successfully run the other three races!
The nights before each race she has been in bed by 8 o'clock and up at 3 a.m. I have waken up long enough to take her picture as she went out the door. I have been attempting to "photo journal" our way through this week and have been able to keep up thus far.
Since the race today will be taking her a little longer, I decided to stay here in the room for awhile to take this opportunity to process and write down my thoughts. This trip has been lots of fun and believe me, full of emotions. I stood there and shed tears as I waited for her after the half marthon. I do not know how I will feel today. These were tears of joy for my good health, our incredible friendship, and God's amazing grace toward me all of my life. This year was not as highly emotional at the Celebration Dinner given by LLS because I truly felt like a survivor; someone who will not be sick with cancer again. It was an incredible feeling.
Brenda and I found spaces of time to visit the parks and will have tomorrow to "park hop" all day before returning home on Tuesday. The best part will be no more 3 a.m. wake up calls!
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| All Star Music was where we stayed. |
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| I thought I should take a "before" picture of Brenda the first night we were there! |
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| Mighty Epcot |
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| Life sized Spode teapot. |
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| France |
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| France after a long day. |
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| Brenda signing up for the Dopey Race! |
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| Got her numbers! |
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| Next stop after registering was Fantasy Land! |
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| I am such a sucker for trombone players! |
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| Our feet were in Fantasy Land...officially! |
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| First race. Video op at 3:15 a.m. |
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| 5K Pluto medal |
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| Hollywood studios |
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| I had to stop at the "Writer's Stop!" |
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| Beauty and the Beast |
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| Morning 2, race 2, medal 2! |
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| Morning 3 at 3! |
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| Half Marathon! |
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| We are a team! |
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| Adventure Land |
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| This was an incredible performance. I loved Nemo! |
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| Lion King performers |
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| Lion King |
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| Lion King |
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| Adventure Land |
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| Morning of Full Marathon - Going for #4 |
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| Another feature at our hotel |
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| Reuniting with Sue Labrie! Pure joy for me. |
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| This girlie just ran the FULL Marathon! |
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| Victories for us both! |
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| Minnie is going to Texas |
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| More fun on our last day at "It's Tough To Be a Bug!" |
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| I took the picture while Brenda rode the roller coaster. Yes, I am a chicken. |
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| Very cool sax player |
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| Our last night's dinner at Epcot (France) |
