Epilogue

More than a month has passed since the 2009 Twin Cities Breast Cancer 3-Day took place. While there are still several 3-Day events yet to occur in other cities, most of us have all returned to our normal lives. (Obviously, the word "normal" is a relative term for 3-Dayers.) For some, those lives consist of continued efforts to fight breast cancer, perhaps their own cancer or that of a friend of family member. For others, like me, life returns to the basics of family, home, work, and maybe a little recreation that doesn't involve walking for six or seven hours on a perfectly good Saturday or Sunday.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's an opportunity to not just make people aware that breast cancer exists - after all, I find it hard to believe that anyone in the United States hasn't heard of breast cancer - but to remind people that one in eight women are still being diagnosed with breast cancer. That woman could be your wife, your mother, your sister, your daughter, your aunt, your cousin, or your best friend in the world.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about more than just buying things with pink labels, so that the manufacturer can make a donation to a particular organization that uses the money for research, treatment, and education programs. And the 3-Day is about more than just raising money by walking sixty miles in three days.

I'm talking about remembering to pay attention to your health - and that of those close to you. I'm talking about remembering to tell the important people in your life how important they really are. And I'm talking about finding the joy in each new day and appreciating all that it has to offer.

Over the next several months, I'll be taking a break from these posts - a hiatus, of sorts. Once again, I thank you all for joining me on the road to the 3-Day this past year. I hope to see you all again in 2010.

Keep walking...