The "From Walker to Walker", edition.

iPod shuffled to "Go Your Own Way", Fleetwood Mac. So yesterday was the National Kidney Foundation's Zoo Walk. When I registered my team, I entered $100.00 as the goal for the team, Pat's Adventures. I am pleased and humbled to announce that Pat's Adventures raised $405.00, as of June 2, 2013.  :-D  Thank you, thank you, thank you. Did I say thank you?  Thank you!!  :-)

So now you're wondering how the day went, aren't you?  Even if you aren't, I'm gonna tell. Ha!  Registration for event started at 7:30. We wanted to get there when it opened to beat the crowd. We arrived early.  Lol, a lot of people arrived early and registration was open. No lines, though. It ran smoothly.  I received the tickets for my team of (3) walkers. 

As the three of us ( me, Brian and Shawn) headed toward the gate, I hear someone call my name.  It's the lead social worker from my dialysis center. You know, the one with the pep in her step, my AKA soror, the one that "guided" me toward the fistula. I told my assigned social worker I was participating, but not her, so she was delighted to see me. She gave me and Brian purple wristbands. These designated us as "champions", which meant dialysis patients, transplant donors, and caregivers. This allowed us to go to a special tent. I had no idea what that meant at the time. "For The Love of You", The Isley Brothers. This rolls me back to University of Michigan. This entire album rocked. 

The gates finally open and I'm thinking, "time to walk". Well, yeah.  We walked to a staging area with a stage, tents and booths - lol. Oh ok, I see the "Champion's" tent. We go inside. They give me a sling backpack, turkey wraps, Rice Krispie Treats, popcorn and water. Renal safe snacks. :-).  We then head to the really big tent. Fruit, fruit bowls, veggie bowls, bagels, salsa and VIPs, hummus and pita were being offered. At least that's what I saw. In addition sponsors had tables set up with what Shawn called "swag". Bags, pens, pads, key chains, pedometers, and other stuff. Swag.  And lots of water. 

"A Long Walk", Jill Scott. Ok, see my iPod shuffles these song up, honest. A friend suggested that my songs often hit the mark. This one is just too obvious. Lol. So anyway, I go and sit down. While Brian is trying to find me, he finds our friend Mike who came to walk with us. :-).  After the pre-walk show with exercise people and Huel Perkins and the ribbon cutting it's time to walk. 

We get out our phones to take pictures (20 years ago that statement would make no sense lol ). We get our stroll on. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the animals. I hadn't been to the zoo since Shawn was a little girl (I have a story about that, too. Lol). Around the tiger, who was roaring at us, probably wondering why we were there so early, I saw my Wendell! :-)  My longtime friend and partner in dialysis.  Seeing him makes a great day even better.  

We walk and took only a few breaks. The walk was advertised as about a mile, but it was over a mile. So how did I fare?  I had the stamina. I was not winded or tired. BUT...I hurt. My thighs protested mightily toward the end. I finished though. The goal was to do as much as I could. Well I could and did do the entire course. In February, I was using a walker.  By June, I AM a walker!!!!

Got a few photos. A nice couple took photos of my team.  Photo of me, Mike and Wendell, and of course some of the animals.  Again, huge thank you to my sponsors, my walking team, and those who sent moral support and well wishes. Thank you. :-)

Signing off with "You're On My Mind", Detroit's own Kem. Close my eyes, smile and get lost in the song.........