random thoughts – Day 1,160 – (Sunday) – TeamWalk

Around the Tsongas Center.

It had been several years since I participated in the Lowell General Hospital TeamWalk for Cancer Care, but today, I dusted off my walking sneakers, laced them up, and was one of approximately 50 team members who walked for the team from the Bank. 

The morning started with heavy cloud cover and in the low 60s. It was perfect for walking. I arrived at 8:15, which was earlier than needed because I hadn’t forwarded the work email about it to my personal email and forgot the timeline. Being on site early gave me a chance to walk around with a banker and her husband and check out the festivities on the grounds of the Tsongas Center, the host site, before our team photo on the front steps. 

Dunkin Donuts provided coffee, juice, muffins, and donuts. Hundreds of tee shirts honoring cancer patients and walking teams hung on clothes lines draped through trees throughout the grounds. Sponsor tents offered free items like bandannas, hand sanitizer, stress balls, and lollipops. A balloon artist created fanciful headgear for kids and artists did face painting and temporary tattoos. A fellow banker, who is also a DJ, provided the upbeat music that set the motivational mood for the hundreds of walkers.

Along the Merrimack.

The three mile route offered lots of shade along the Merrimack River before taking a turn and winding through downtown, along some of the canals, then back to the river and finishing at the starting point. It was kind of cool walking on the path when it went under the Aiken Street Bridge, where I sometimes spend too much time sitting in traffic. 

Somewhere during the morning, the clouds had disappeared and the sun was shining brightly. There was food for hungry walkers at the end, which included hot dogs, pulled pork macaroni and cheese, homemade chips and cheese, popcorn, and fruit. A colleague and I grabbed a bite after walking and before heading our separate ways.

Back at home, there was relaxing. My skill had really improved in this arena. I used to label is as being lazy, which carried with it the baggage of guilt, but the rebrand to relaxing feels healthier. Around 5:30, when the sun was lower and felt less hot, the yard was mowed. It really needed it. The weeds and faux grass had grown quite tall. The investment in effort was worth it, it looks much better now, and there is no longer fear of Winston becoming lost in the mess.