3-day

I Have

Posted on October 26, 2011 Written by Tonya

I am 39 years old and I have:

1. Jumped out of an airplane (tandem).

2. Been on a safari in Kenya.

3. Climbed a pyramid in Egypt.

4. Gone to the airport to meet friends and family when they’ve had layovers.

5. Lent money to someone and never expected it back.

6. Drank milk out of the carton.

7. Taken Lucas to Disneyland by myself. TWICE!

8. Lived in a perpetual state of missing someone.

9. Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.

3-Day Walk, San Francisco - October, 2010

10. Fell in love with the Eiffel Tower the very first time I saw it. I was 10 and have been blessed to have seen five more times.

11. Been voted “Best Groomed” in high school. What am I a dog?

12. Earned an Outstanding Customer Service award.

13. Delivered a child with no drugs. By choice.

14. Cried myself to sleep.

15. Seen the Dave Matthews Band in concert two dozen times.

I heart DMB!

16. Been to a movie by myself.

18. Thrown a surprise party.

19. Been in three car accidents. All my fault.

Accident #3, 2008

20. Gotten ooey gooey weak in the knees when my husband smiles at me.

21. Stayed up WAY past my bedtime. Nightly.

22. Three tattoos.

This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, Prompt 1.) Last week we wrote about what we have never done… (Check out my I Never list here.) this week write a list of 22 things you HAVE done. (inspired by Sellabit Mom)

Reflections On 39 Years

Posted on June 26, 2011 Written by Tonya

It’s my birthday and in my 39 short years on this planet, I have…

1. moved 27 times.
2. owned five cars.
3. ran a 1/2 marathon.
4. sky dived in Tucson, Arizona and scuba dived in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
5. learned that money can’t buy happiness, but it can make things a little easier.
6. graduated from college.
7. been fired from, laid off and quit three different jobs.
8. learned that everything in moderation is the best way to live.
9. been a bridesmaid four times and a bride twice.
10. attended approximately 39 concerts (15 of which were Dave Matthews shows).
11. learned that change is unavoidable.
12. been on a road trip (15+ hours round trip) by myself.
13. broken my collar bone.
14. been in five car accidents (three of which were my fault).
15. gotten three tattoos (and want at least one more).
16. walked 180 miles in three 3-Day Walks for breast cancer research.
17. thrown a surprise party.
18. climbed the pyramids, hiked into the Grand Canyon, kissed at the top of the Eiffel Tower and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.
19. realized that family, no matter how often you see one another is important.
20. learned that you can get grey hair and acne at the same time. Unfair and annoying, but true.
21. won a sewing contest in the third grade, the leading role in a school play when I was a Senior in high school, a customer service award once I started working and two giveaways from blogs I read.
22. never had to be bailed out of jail.
23. learned that home is where the heart is.
24. swam with dolphins in Mexico and zip-lined in Costa Rica.
25. been the first one to apologize and the first one to walk away.
26. learned that music really can save your mortal soul.
27. discovered that asking for help is not a weakness, but a strength.
28. called 911 twice (not for Lucas, thank goodness!)
29. collected more books than I’ll ever be able to read.
30. watched every single episode of Sex & the City, Alias and Grey’s Anatomy.
31. attended the Grammy’s and Emmy’s.
32. learned that a vast majority of people can be worn over with a smile and a little kindness.
33. been blessed with the best friends a girl could ask for.
34. only wanted the very best for my sister, Leah.
35. never missed my parents more than I do today, except maybe tomorrow.
36. had more perfect moments than one person should be allowed.
37. made a baby with a man I admire, love and respect.
38. never tired of hearing “Mommy”.
39. a lot more living to do and tons more to learn.

Here’s looking forward to the next 39 years!
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Not Just Another Three Days

Posted on October 5, 2010 Written by Tonya

The 2010 Susan G. Komen San Francisco Bay Area 3-Day for the Cure began with an emotional Opening Ceremony on a foggy, windy morning at Cow Palace. From there we headed north into San Francisco and walked along the Great Highway with gorgeous ocean views. Some notable memories along the way included the “Manbulance” sweep van dancers, firemen out with their truck and the San Jose Bike Police supporting us along the route. The stairs on the steep coastal trail came up behind the Golden Gate Bridge as we walked through the Presidio to complete Day 1. After a long day of walking, we gathered at camp, our home away from home for the weekend.
We arose early on Saturday morning to another foggy day, ready to hit the trail. We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge (although we could barely see it through the fog). The Coast Guard came out at Fort Baker, with music, pink shirts, balloons and their dog. The sun came out for us in Sausalito as we headed up the coast for lunch. That evening, we gathered back at camp for a Candy Coburn concert.
We began our final day of walking in the rain, but the sun began to shine once we left the peaceful trails of the Presidio. We walked through Arguello Gate, into Golden Gate Park, passing the Conservatory of Flowers, the de Young Museum and the Japanese Tea Garden. Then we headed into downtown San Francisco to lunch at Mission Dolores Park with sweeping views of the city. Then it was into the Civic Center where the Oakland Fire Department had an impromptu dance party, and up into North Beach along Columbus Avenue. Our incredible journey ended with a celebratory Closing Ceremony at Marina Green.

A BIG HUGE GIGANTIC thank you to all my family and friends who donated to this amazing cause. Along with 1399 other walkers, you helped raise $3.7 million and I surpassed my personal goal by raising almost $2500! I also got to spend three memorable days doing something monumental to kick cancer’s ass in the process, along side my sister.

To read more about why I walk, please read my post Save The Ta-Tas.

While there are all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels on the course, walking 60 miles over the course of three days is not for the weak, in fact 50% of all participants don’t complete the full three days, so I am very proud of my sister and myself. We pushed ourselves to the limit and there were definitely many moments that I thought I couldn’t take one more step, but something…my inner stubbornness, my sister’s encouragement, an enthusiastic cheering station, or the cause itself kept me going and going and going.

Please visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure to find out more about this powerful event.

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Save The Ta-Tas

Posted on September 16, 2010 Written by Tonya

Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. – Steven Wright

I am putting all my walking to good use and have signed up for the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.

This will be my third time participating in this event and second time with my sister, Leah.

I walked in LA in 2001, San Diego in 2008 (while 12 weeks pregnant) and this time, I’m tackling San Francisco.

If you’re not familiar with the 3-Day for the Cure, it is an amazing walking event that covers three days and 60 miles. Yes, you read that right, I will be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, sleeping in tents, meeting some incredible people and hearing stories of survival and bravery along the way.

Fortunately my life has not been directly effected by breast cancer, but this is a cause that is very important to me.

In 1990, I found a small lump on my right breast and had it checked out immediately. It was only a cyst. I had it completely removed in 1997 and have been getting yearly mammograms ever since.

I was lucky.

Many are not.

Unbelievably, there is still not a cure for breast cancer and one person is diagnosed with it every three minutes in the United States. That’s why I’m walking, to help do my little part in finding a cure and I don’t believe mailing a check is enough.

Lucas, I hope you find a cause someday that is important to you, and that you do whatever you can in your power to defend and fight for in a bold way.

More Breast Cancer Facts (courtesy of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a Cure Web site):

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of death among women worldwide.

More than 1.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year.

More than 465,000 die from the disease each year.

A woman dies from breast cancer every 68 seconds.

Incidence rates are increasing five percent annually in low-resource countries.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure partners or funds programs in 50 countries to end suffering from breast cancer.

Komen Founder and CEO Nancy G. Brinker, a Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the U.N.’s World Health Organization, is urging global health officials to include cancer in global health agendas.

Each walker is asked to raise at least $2300 and so far I am half way there. This is not a fundraising plea, but if you are feeling generous, please let me know and I can tell you how to donate.
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Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk

Posted on November 14, 2009 Written by Tonya

A year ago next weekend, your aunt Leah and I participated in the San Diego Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I was 12 weeks pregnant with you and had to get special permission from my doctor to participate.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is an amazing 60-mile journey that helps mothers, sisters, spouses and friends get one step closer to a world without breast cancer. It is three very inspirational, very grueling, very powerful days and it was my pleasure to be a part of it.

Together, Leah and I raised over $5000 and were two among almost 4000 walkers (597 were men!). The money we raised helped to save lives.

I had walked in the event previously in 2001, so I had a a pretty good idea of what to expect…muscle aches and pains, blisters between your toes, long lines for the showers that were in trucks?!, cold nights on the hard ground in bright pink tents as far as your eye could see, entire neighborhoods urging you to take one more step by clapping and providing entertainment and snacks as you walked by and lots of heartfelt emotion.

Nothing could compare though to walking with my sister. She had every ailment in the book; from blisters and sore muscles to a strange rash all over her feet and ankles and the wrong size sports bra, but she never let any of it get her down and all the while making me laugh mile after mile after mile. It was one of the best weekends we have spent together.

This weekend, Leah is serving as a volunteer crew member in the Phoenix 3-Day Walk and I am very proud of her. We were both so motivated by the cheering and enthusiastic staff along the route as walkers, that I know having gone through it, she’ll be great being on the other side. I can’t wait to hear about her experience. Way to go, Leah!

The best is yet to be and I’m thankful that I still don’t know anyone that has had breast cancer!

Reflections On 39 Years

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