Well, not exactly.
Our day started with a GPS that didn't know the difference between north and south. We were almost two miles up the interstate when we realized we should've been going DOWN the interstate. And, of course, the next exit was four mile away :-/ (that, btw, is my new favorite text face. Is that a word? It should be. Feel free to use it. Text face) Fortunately we left early enough that it didn't cause any problems.
Our first event of the day in St. Cloud was the previously mentioned 5k walk/run. That's where we saw the ladies above. Believe it or not they didn't even win first place in the costume portion. It was a well done event, but it was also very touching. One of the women that organized this event was diagnosed last week with breast cancer. 36 years old. Husband, four year-old daughter at home, busy career with the local Police Dept. She chose today, at this event to go public. We were going to surprise her with flowers. As we stood behind her, listening to her story, I almost lost it. I'm not sure what specifically was so touching, but I had no words when I walked up to her and gave her flowers. You know how often that happens.
At this event, I also learned how many cops it takes to move a barrel of ice and water onto a trailer...
As I watched them dumping about half of the water out, I thought to myself
"Self, you're gonna want your camera ready, cause this is gonna be good."
It was. It was also another time I wish I had listened to the captain. And that's all I'm going to say about that.
So, as I watched the coppers, struggling to move the barrel, it seemed perhaps they should have drained more water out to lighten the load and thereby make it easier to move. Of course I didn't tell them that.
Hey they'll never learn if we do everything for them.
This picture kind of captures the moment. Note the cascade of water from the back of the barrel. Also, please note the volume of water they already spilled before I took the picture. Those wacky cops, what won't they try?
It's morning now. I had to stop last night. We got to our hotel here in Port St. Lucie (French for Port St. Lucie) around 10:30 and I wanted to try and knock this out before I went to bed.
Couldn't do it. This old man's fanny was dragging
Whatevs.
Back to yesterday.
We did some visits at a cancer treatment center and also at a local grade school. While we were at the school, the Mom and little girl below came up to me. The Mom told her to tell me about her Grandmother and the little girl said she had died from cancer. But she said it very softly and shyly so I looked at the Mom for help. I could see tears welling up in the Mom's eyes as she told me her Mom had passed away three months ago. Don from Kansas and I both gave her a hug and I handed the little girl my marker and the two of them, Mom spelling and the little one writing in her best penmanship, wrote a tribute to Grandma.
Quick side note - the legs you see sticking out from the engine in the picture above belong to one of our escorts for the last two days, Anthony from SCPD's motorcycle unit. Anthony and his partner John led us through town for both days, everywhere we went and They. Were. AWESOME. Excellent at their job and even better people. When cops and firefighters get together there tends to be a little good-natured bantering back and forth
"Hey where's your donut?"
"Who got you out of the recliner?"
That sort of thing. Anthony and John took it like champs always with a smile on their face. Great dudes.
Anyway.
I think the last thing I wanted to mention was James.
St. Cloud put on a Night Out street fair last night and we were one of the attractions. Placed prominently on the street, we had a lot of people come by. Dave and Josh went on down to PSL early to do prep for today, so when the fire chief asked for one of us to say a few things, they grabbed a guy you never, ever want to hand a microphone...
Me.
I was nice, no foul language, all grownup words. Everybody said I did fine. Sigh of relief.
Later that night, with a crowd of people around Karen either looking at her or signing her or posing for pictures by her, a little red headed boy of around 8 years old came up to me and asked to sign her. That's not too unusual. Kids want to write on the trucks because they think it's cool, or they see adults do it or for any number of reasons, but generally not the right reason. I couldn't immediately identify an adult with him, so I asked him why he wanted to sign.
"Because my neighbor Betty has cancer. I want to sign it for her"
The sincerity in James' voice melted my heart instantly. I asked him if there were any grownups with him and he pointed to a woman a few feet away and said she was his sister. I told him if she helped him, I thought it would be pretty cool if he signed for Betty. As they found the right spot for Betty's name, I spoke to the sister's husband and told him I thought that was a pretty special kid. He said James goes over to Betty's house almost everyday and asks her what chores he can do to help her.
I graciously excused myself and backed away to regain my composure so I didn't lose it right there. James really got to me. A few minutes later when his parents walked over I told James' Dad what he had said to me and complimented them on how impressive their son was.
And I still felt the emotion there, right under the surface, waiting to turn me into mass of jello.
The name brand too, not the generic stuff that hardly wiggles when you shake it.
I love this job.
Pink Heals!
Peace
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