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October 5, 2009

I’m at the hospital today, sitting with my mom while her husband has surgery. I’ve never been a fan of hospitals, but I’ve seen far too many of them lately, and it’s really creeping me out. The lighting, the air exchanges, the so-bad-it’s-almost-funny customer service, the human drama all around … and, oh, yeah … the germs. It’s also quite the human psychology lab on nervous ticks among family members. Seriously. So, all I have to share today are a few photos from yesterday’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The event in Denver is one of the biggest in the country. A bunch of third graders — friends of my nieces and kids from my sister’s class — put together a team and raised money for breast cancer research, etc.

And, it wasn’t just a bunch of girls. A few boys took part with pink mohawks made from colored hairspray. You could tell they felt uncomfortable (much like the husbands did) in a sea of women and all the talk about boobs. At one point, a couple of the 8-year-old boys started an arm-punching contest as we walked … just to break the tension. Tom and I were cracking up.

After just one chemo session, my sis is already losing her hair, so she cut it really really short on Saturday. The chill in the air required a hat. One of her friends knitted this one, which has a certain Grover glam to it. And, I mean that. I LOVE Grover. “The Monster at the End of This Book” is one my all-time favs. In fact, there are times it feels like the story of my life.

yarn head

To help gather our 30+ team members, some my sister’s students made this sign. A bunch of us took turns holding it up, including Tom.

tom with sign

Later, some of our cousins who walked the 5K event, rather than the 1-mile family event we chose, hunted us down in the crowd for a little girls-in-the-family bonding. There is something really funny about a couple of women trying to describe their location via cell phone. Questions like, “Do you see the big, inflated lips?” populate the conversation, and actually make sense.

Personally, I never see any family resemblance (other than a preponderance of shortness). Still, there is something comforting about being around people you’ve known forever.

rox family

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. What a great event to have your family be part of! I’m really impressed that your sis was out there with all that she’s been through recently. And, you… back in a hospital waiting room. It must be getting old and familiar.

    I’ve had something like 9 major surgeries in my life so my husband has the whole hospital routine down pat. If at all possible, he brings the dogs, leaves them in the car while he’s with me, and takes them for long walks while I’m in surgery or sleeping. He gives the waiting room people his cell # so that they can contact him when needed. I don’t know if there’s any nugget of advice in this – except that he spends as little time as possible in the anxiety soaked waiting room.

    During one particularly long hospital stay (5 days), he’d bring the dogs outside my window so I could wave to them!

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