After Pierces my friends and I piled back into my little Honda with Ruby (my 70 lbs, 6 year old female chocolate lab) resting her head on my lap in the back. We continued down the road and arrived at our beach front cottage around 4pm. Ruby sprinted into the water and the fun never stopped. A hurricane had just blown out of town that morning and we had clear skies, 65 degrees, and rough waters. This didn't stop my idiot college friends from stripping down and darting into the crazy waves. I was nervous but they were careful and the tide was high so the water was shallow for almost 100 yards. It was a gorgeous scene. Ruby chasing the tennis ball, the birds flying over the waves, the sun setting behind us, turning the whole picture pink, and my college buddies laughing and diving in and out of huge white water. I was healing at a record breaking rate, I'm sure.
The weekend never slowed down but I felt strong and alive the whole time; going to bed by 9:30 and exhausted every night. We fished on Sunday for six hours, really casting as opposed to fishing unfortunately, but then bought fresh local sheepshead and shrimp for the grill and had a delicious dinner to cap off a near perfect day on the water.
Ruby ran in the waves retrieving the tennis ball each morning (watching the sun rise) and evening (as it set) and this too, for me, is soul food. There aren't too many activities for me better than this. Throwing the tennis ball with my college lacrosse stick, to my loyal lab (who has never left my side since my diagnosis), into the ocean, letting her retrieve the ball and smile as labs do best - wet and tired and thankful and happy and thinking of nothing else in the world. This trip started with soul food and never looked back, feeding my soul exactly what everyone's soul needs. Thank you, sincerely, to everyone that made this weekend a possibility. I love you. Now let me get back to my beautiful wife and kids, who I missed from the moment I left the house. I am a lucky man.
8 comments:
David, this entry is Soul Food for me.
Love to those friends of yours, and to Liza.
Mom
Reminds me of the time we drove out of our way to see "West Point" on our way back from Duck to B-more Fall Break freshman year. We wanted to see where our first lax game was going to be in the spring. Oops, wrong West Point but a good memory none-the-less.
I LOVE this post. My very favorite. I'm so glad you blew that hurricane out of town. :)
What a wonderful way to spend a weekend! (Now, can I please take Liza for a pedicure? :))
XO
CMF
Keep on keeping on...
Marullus
Thinking of all the fun times we had together...remember spring breaks in LI...too funny...amazing pictures of your family...great lax pictures of the kids...they have a great teacher in their Dad...stay strong!
-Danler
I am thrilled you had a wonderful weekend. Love, EAH
David,
Mike Weinfeld told me he ran into you at a party and that you seem really solid. I want to tell you about something that was cool...I went to a foundation dinner last Friday where Lance Armstrong spoke. He's a heroic figure to me on many levels so to be in a room with him was exciting. That said, seeing him took a back seat to another phenomena permeating the event. This gala was a celebration of the Ullman Cancer Foundation. This group was formed by a young Brown U. grad (now in his 30's) who battled the big "C" in his college days. He is now also president of Lance's foundation (hence, Lance's visit). The group is dedicated to young people 20-40 who battle this disease and it's a really dynamic group of young people who run the foundation.
Anyway, the cool thing was being in a room with maybe 500 other people who care about fighting for people like you and me. There was an energy in the room that was palpable and at one moment, they asked all cancer survivors to stand. I, and maybe 50 others stood. I may have never felt so proud in all my life standing there before the silent audience's
gaze with these other one's and two's standing at various tables around the room.
I realize more than ever that we genuinely are in a lot of ways the lucky ones. My illness has become a gateway for me to see the world in an entirely new way. Before being diagnosed, I never would have been so aware of the great goodness in people who care enough to spend their time and money in positive ways for others.
I am a father, a stockbroker, Ravens fan (argh), a history buff... I am a cancer survivor...and you know what, I'm really proud to be able to say that. You, I'm certain, will be too.
I'm told you have quite the entreprenurial spirit. When this over for you, you'll be in a unique position to reach out to others and no doubt, you will be a great resource for those who still suffer. Maybe even down the road we can do something together.
Brian
Brian Connor Doak
bcdoak1@aim.com
443-255-2193
BD
Dave, I feel like such a num-nut for not knowing this was up until now. I have been getting updates the old-fashioned way (word-of-mouth). Your nuckle-head friends (who are also my nuckle-head friends) never bothered to tell me about the blog until recently. Anyway, I just read the entire thing and your perspective and energy is inspiring. Stay positive and stay strong.
Smitty
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