I was watching Ellen the other day and she had Jane Lynch on from "Glee". Jane said how her character works at a 23 hour fitness club, Ellen said a "23" ?! hour fitness club not 24 hour?" and she said "nope it's a 23 hour fitness club"
Cassidy made for this for Alec and it was hung up with many others. We took it down for her to keep, but instead Cassidy wanted Maureen to have it and gave it to her. Maureen pinned it on her Wonder Woman cape and ran with it on Marathon Day. 
L-R Darlene, Cassidy ,Maureen, her friend Jen who also ran and Maureen's sister Karen 
Darlene and Scott 
Keith, Cassidy, Maureen and me 
Maureen and Jen
Today is the 23 rd --- we got this in our email today and I wanted to share it. It's an easy and free way to donate to The Jimmy Fund. Dr. Mark Kieran is pictured on the left, he is The most amazing Doctor and does all in his power to find cures and give the absolute best care to his patients. 
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This Earth Day, protect the planet by donating electronics such as used iPhones, smartphones, laptops, videogames, and much more to the Jimmy Fund. Upcycling is easy – visit the Jimmy Fund Upcycling page today to enter the items you want to contribute then drop them in the mail with a pre-paid shipping label. You can give individual devices or get your friends, family, or business involved in bulk upcycling. Landfills contain toxic pollutants that can cause cancer and other serious health effects. Help eliminate this cancer causing e-waste: When you contribute your used electronics they are refurbished and re-sold to create funding for research and care at Dana-Farber. It's a double dose of good and green! What is Upcycling? 1. The action of giving devices a second life. 2. The mission to keep electronics out of landfills. 3. Funding important causes without writing a check. 4. Nearly doubles environmental impact of recycling. Contact Us Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Division of Development & The Jimmy Fund 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor Brookline, MA 02445-7226 Today is Alec's 10 1/2 Birthday, Oh Al we miss you and love you so so so much. You're our beautiful boy forever and for always. We Love you Love Mama ,Dada and Taa I love you Bubbies love Mama Last night, I was talking to a sweet 90 year old woman. She was telling me how she goes to Florida every year and how she loves to go shopping in downtown Orlando because you can get really great deals. Then she points to her Vera Bradley pocketbook and says this cost $80 dollars here at the paper store, but down in Florida it's only $23 dollars.
So we decided that we were going to go to the marathon to support andcheer Maureen on. Keith asked what part we wanted to go to, it didn't really matter but I said if we go to the finish line we may be able to talk to her after, so that's what we did. Holly and Lydia came with us. We drove in and walked over to the finish line, we were tracking Maureen and knew we had a couple of hours before she finished so we walked up Boylston St. and went into Starbucks for a bit. Then we still had plenty of time so we were walking up Boylston St. looking for a place to find a place to grab a quick lunch. We couldn't find anything so we walked over to Newbury Street (the next street over). It felt like we were walking so far and then we saw a place to eat. We were sitting and eating when me, Keith and Holly heard a boom, we all looked at each other and said what was that, we looked around and outside but then dismissed it. Then as we got up to leave, Lydia was whispering something to Holly. I said what's wrong and Holly pointed to a woman who was clearly a runner, she was shaking and crying. Lydia had gone over to her and had asked her if she was ok and the woman told Lydia that there was a bomb or an explosion. We went outside not knowing what happened or what to do. We didn't tell Cassidy, we only told her that we think someone got hurt to keep her calm so we could get out of there. We walked down Newbury street toward the Common. Keith was right behind us and calling Scott and Darlene who had taken the train in and were I think at mile 21 and then were going to get back on the train and come to the finsh line to see Maureen finish. We didn't know where they were. Keith got a hold of Scott and they were sae and not near the finish line.
We didn't know where was safe but we headed toward our car and hoped to get out. As we were walking , we had our arms interlocked- me to Cass, Cass to Lydia and Lydia to Holly, Keith was right behind us so he could talk to Scott without Cassidy hearing. I see an old woman coming toward us pushing her cart,and I said , Oh this poor lady, no sooner do I get those words out when the lady says, "Get out of my way, you bitches, you ugly bitches". We all looked at each other in shock but chuckled. It was perfect timing. We were so scared and this woman provided us with comic relief. We were relieved to get to our car but I don't think we felt relief til we got out of Boston. We made it home and Keith went back not through Boston but 128 to get Scott, Darlene and their friends. We wanted to go get them but didn't think we could get to them and didn't think it was safe to try to go into Boston more instead of getting out. More relief came once we were sure Maureen and her friend Jen was safe too. Al was making sure we knew he was with us all day. On the way into Boston we saw $23- parking sign, and many more signs. All day I saw triple digits like 222, 333, 444, 777 which means the angels and spiritual realm are close to you. We know Alec was protecting us as we were stumped that we couldn't find anywhere near the finish line to get lunch and had to walk over to Newbury street. We were leaving the restaurant and were going to be heading over to the finish line. Timing was everything and we know Al kept us all out of harm's way. We are saddened by those who didn't survive and those who are injured.And our thoughts are with them. On Sunday, we went in to the Dana Farber / Marathon Challenge pasta dinner. We were not sure if we were going to be able to handle it and didn't RSVP, but at the last minute we decided to go and Maureen RSVP'd for us. We hoped Scott and Darlene would go too because we knew it would be easier for us if they were there . And just as we'd hoped, Scott kept us laughing on the way in there, he's a funny guy. It so helped off set the sad feelings especially since we had to drive the same route that we took to get to the Jimmy Fund and Hospital. I was not prepared for that. Cassidy's gym teacher from the Ditson was there and came over to chat with her and us, she is also close to Maureen and her family. Her husband runs the Marathon for a boy in Billerica and we got to see this special family and chat for a bit. We also saw Al's and our sweet friend from the clinic, though we didn't get to talk to her, it was so good to see her.
It was difficult to sit there and listen to all the speeches but it was heart wrenching when they did a slide show of all of the in memory children. There was not a dry eye. After that all of the children went on stage with their partners, all I could feel and think is Alec should be there on that stage with Maureen. But I tried to focus on our friends up there and how happy they looked and how thankful I am that they are doing ok. Alec made sure to let us know he was with us all. One speaker speaking to the runners and he said "Wonder Woman", which is the running outfit Maureen was wearing to run in. Then they showed a video and in it there was a Giraffe drawn on a wipe off board. And one more thing, on the way there Scott had brought up the runner Uta Pippig (the one who ran a while back who kept running even though she went #2 ). One of the speakers got up and said , No I'm not Uta Pippig. We just looked at Scott. This always happens to us, we think or bring something up and then it is confirmed by someone else. It's Magic! In the end we were glad we went, Cassidy sat there listening attentively the whole time. It was really amazing to see. We mainly went for her, knowing how much she loves to do anything for Alec , and we wanted to honor Alec and to support Maureen. Just want to let you all know that Maureen , our dear friend running the marathon in Alec's honor is fine and safe. She was still running and was not near the finish line, thankfully.
Last weekend we took Cassidy to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the Boston Garden. We decided to take the train in. I insisted on it saying it will be fun, but really I was just trying to avoid driving in with all the emotions it would bring. So we rode the train and as it pulled into North Station, we pass "The Blue Building".
On our rides into the Clinic or the Hospital alongside 93/Storrow Drive is the Giant Building painted bright Blue for the trains. Alec noticed it one time and never forgot it. He loved it. Alec always knew when we were about to pass The Blue Building. And he would say, "Is that the Blue Building?" Sometimes he would ask a bit before we got to it and we'd say not yet. And then like clockwork as we got to it he would say, "Is that The Blue Building?" and we'd say yup that's the blue building. Sometimes If he was preoccupied with his singing snowman or bunny we'd have to tell him to look and he instantly knew where we were and he instantly said,"Is that the Blue Building". It was one of his many things that he needed and loved as his routine. I realized as we passed it on the train and Keith said to Cassidy look it's the Blue Building, and we all smile but ache inside that taking the train did not make it any easier for us. It's always hard to do things because we miss Alec with everything we do, though we want to enjoy Cassidy and we want her to have fun and we do the best we can. It's not easy and we all are lost and this day at the Globetrotters was just another one of those times. The crowds, the families just enjoying being there, the terrible overpriced food and we couldn't see anything beacause we were in the first row on the corner. But we all felt Al when we we were seated in seats # 1,2 , 3. There were a few moments that we enjoyed and we were sticking it out for Cass though I think she was sticking it out too. As we were riding the escalator down, there was a boy in front of us riding it by himself he was about 8 ish, he wore glasses (his Dad was walking down the steps beside him). This boy was loving his escalator ride he had his arms up and was in the moment and when he got to the end he just let his feet roll off the end. It was so painful and so sweet to watch at the same time, this boy reminded me of Alec and his love for escalators and how he'd just roll off the escalator at the end. .After the show we had to wait an hour for the train. oh boy, what were we going to do for an hour? I say whose idea was it to take the train (but it was mostly mine). We were all cranky, and we agree that we just want to get home to our couch where we belong. Cassidy had wanted to buy twizzlers at the Garden, umm $4.00 for a regular pack of twizzlers, I don't think so. So we walked across the street to 7-eleven. As we walk in there is a man sitting in front with his cup out for money, he says Hi and God bless you to us. We walk in to the candy aisle and I say I am going to buy that man a candy bar. Keith has been against giving money to those who beg because he figures they will just use it to buy drugs or alcohol and that is not helping them. I agree with him to an extent but I remember having the feeling that one of these people could be Jesus in disguise and did not want to pass by Jesus. So I gave. Anyway we are in the candy aisle trying to figure out what kind of candy bar to get him, Keith says get him a Snickers, I say I'll just give him a dollar. But Cass insists we get him candy, she is excited to do something nice for him. Cassidy ends up buying it with her money. I go to put the Snickers in his cup and he takes it in his hand and he is so excited and grateful He says, "You got me a candy bar? I'm going to eat it right now" and opens it and starts eating it. I then put all the change that was in my wallet in his cup. Even though I figure Keith may be upset with me. Then I see Keith put money in his cup too. I am moved by this and I know Keith is moved to be kind to this man. As we walk away the man says God Bless your family and then he says Thank you to me and gives me a thumbs up. My eyes fill and I give him a thumbs up back. All it took was a candy bar to make this guys day. Honestly he was more grateful for that than the money we gave. So it turned our day around, and we realized that had we not taken the train, then we would not have had that moment with that man. It was a special moment that has stayed with us. Today, as I left Keith's work, (I clean there). I was going through the stations on my radio, mine and Alec's song was on ,"Forever and For Always" by Shania. I have only heard this song on the radio a few times , I don't listen to country radio anymore, I just can't , but I still have it programmed in my car. I love our song because it holds so many special moments with mean and Al. But it is so hard to hear too. I was breaking down as I drove and then I passed an Altec truck (which Keith will have to share the story of the Altec truck because it is an amazing sign Al gave to his Dada when he needed it most). So I pass the Altec truck and get even more emotional. Then I look up and in front of me is a school bus and the number of it is 423. That's when I knew for sure that Alec was letting me know he was with me right then and there. Of course I cried and cried . Yet it is these amazing signs from Al all in a row that comfort me.
I feel like he got my attention with our song, to tell me that he loves me. And when he realized it was so hard for me, he gave me more signs until I could see that it wasn't a memory that I was having it was Alec. The rest of my day has continued to have so many 23 signs from Al. I love and miss my beautiful boy so much One day when me and Alec picked up Cassidy from school, as we walked to our car we saw a Mom and her son whom we had met at the Jimmy Fund. (I don't want to use names for their privacy). I heard his Mom check in and say she was from Billerica and I told her I was from Billerica. So we would see each other on occasion and chit chat. She was always loving up Alec when she saw him, it was so sweet and Alec loved it and he loved seeing her and her son. So this time we walked over to their car, it was her and her son, and we were talking. She had told me that they had gone to Mexico for vacation and that her son had gotten a fever while they were there and had to get immediate care (because when you have a port for chemo, and you get a fever, you need to get to a hospital right away for antibiotics in case of infection.) So she told us that it was awful and they didn't do things like here and that they gave her son a shot his bum. Her son was mortified that she told us. Alec took in everything she said and was upset for her son that he got a shot in his bum. Though he thought it was funny that she told us about his bum. Later Alec said to us, "Mexico is so stupid, they give you a shot in your bum". He would randomly say at times, "Mexico is so stupid!" And the other day, the women that has been working with us to plan a vacation suggested to us to go to Mexico. I said No we can't go to Mexico, and she said may I ask why you don't want to go Mexico? And I said because my son said Mexico is so stupid. |
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