Tonight was really a special night. My daughter Abby sang in her spring music concert. It is the culmination of a whole year of voice lessons and practice. I was really blown away by Abigail and her peers tonight. What a bunch of talented young ladies and men. I am not always the type that goes in for music and theater, but when it is good I really enjoy it. Except for the sweaty five year old bouncing on my lap for an hour and a half I would have been content to listen further.
I am totally impressed by the level of awe all of these kids hold for their teacher Phoebe Madden. She really is an incredible singer and teacher. Her fantastic show tonight was proof positive. Of course I'm here mostly to brag about my own daughter! Abigail played three roles tonight. She sang her own solo, which included a small acting piece, she accompanied her friend, and it just so happens that she wrote the lyrics and the music for the song she accompanied.
Now I don't know much about music, but I know enough to know that a kid who can pull that all off is got something going for her. The thing is that Abby seems to do it all with such ease. She really enjoys every second of it, and I am so happy to see her truly in her element enjoying herself so much. God knows she doesn't get it from me. I'm afraid to even go near a stage! Here is a video of Abby performing "Wouldn't It Be Lovely". Sorry for the small aspect ratio - Abby's dad can't remember which way to hold his phone while taking video..ughh.
To my Abby, I love you, I am so proud of what you can do, and with how well you hold it all together with so much grace and poise. I am truly humbled to be your father.
I'd like to start this post by saying just how saddened I am to hear about the devastation that has been wreaked upon so many families in Oklahoma. Why does it always have to be children who are hit by this kind of disaster. My thoughts are with the many families who have instantly had there lives turned upside today. I can't begin to imagine how they must feel.
"The Crew" at the completion of the 2nd Annual Karen Petty Double Century!
As many of my readers know one of my intense passions (one of many) is fighting against Pancreatic Cancer. I got involved when I lost a very close friend to the disease 3 years ago, and then lost another 1-1/2 years ago. I am deeply committed to fighting this disease, and have made it one of my missions in life to see it destroyed. I have brought the fight to this disease on 2 fronts. The first is a 200 mile, one day bicycle ride in honor of my close friend Karen Petty who was taken by the disease in 2010. The ride brings me from her home in West Warwick to her cabin in New Hampshire. We raise funds for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network every year, and the ride has raised on the order of $35,000 or so at this point. The ride really transcends fundraising though. Quite simply it is my way of duking it out with Pancreatic Cancer. As a former Marine it is natural for me to want to fight and win. It doesn't matter how long the battle takes, but accomplishing the mission goes without question. For that one day on the bike I am somehow in the ring with Pancreatic Cancer in my own way. Each mile I tick off, each hill I climb, each cramp I push through, is one more chink in the armor of Pancreatic Cancer. It feels tremendous to find a way to actively beat the hell out of this disease. It is also extremely important that I honor Karen's family on this day as well. They are truly like brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles to me. I grew up in a small family, and Karen's family is one big extended family to me. I love being able to show them just how much they mean to me, and how much Karen meant to all of us.
The second way that I have brought the fight to this disease was to become involved in the Rhode Island affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I realized early on that if I was going to be successful in killing this disease that I needed to be on a team that was committed to it as deeply as I am. I found that team in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I got a letter from a local affiliate member in the mail inviting me to their first awareness event that they were running called Purple Light. They lit the RI Statehouse up in purple and had some speakers at the event. I met the key players that night and the rest was history. I signed on as the volunteer event coordinator less than a month later, and 5 months later we ran our first Purple Stride Rhode Island. This is our signature fundraising event. Our headquarters was actually a little nervous about letting such a young affiliate take on a Purple Stride with so little time to prepare, but the will and desire was there. They set our fundraising goal at $50,000 and 500 participants. My goal was $100,000 and 1000 walkers, go big or go home I thought. What did "Little Rhody" produce? $130,000 and 1500 participants. WOW! I knew we were really on to something. You see I believe that Rhode Island is unique. There is no other place that has the "Rhode Island effect". We are so small, and connected that we are the place to grow the perfect team to defeat this disease. In 2012 we tickled the $200,000 mark. This year headquarters set our goal at $200,000. I felt we might be able to stretch that to $220,000.
Purple Stride RI 2013
We blasted our goals out of the park and are just under $230,000 with 1800 engaged participants on event day. Rhode Island has blasted onto the scene of what I feel is a nationwide grass roots movement in the fight against this disease. I believe Rhode Island's compact nature, much like the Marine Corps makes us nimble, quick, and fierce. The perfect spearhead. When I started this fight I felt like I was alone in the battle. I was committed to winning against the odds, but I knew those odds were very long. In three short years I am on a team with my fellow Rhode Islanders that is 1800 strong and is absolutely and unequivocally out to kick Pancreatic Cancer straight in the ass. I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a part of this team. I know in my heart and bones that this nationwide movement created by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is going to sweep this disease away and make it nothing but a bad memory. I cannot wait!
It appears that my days of being the center of my two older daughters attention are quickly waning. The other night Abby went to her first movie with friends. It was actually quite a scene. We jumped in the truck and drove to the nearest Showcase Cinema which is where I thought Abby's friends were going to meet us. We were a couple of minutes late so I was surprised when Abby came back out of the theater to tell me her friends weren't there yet. No problem I figured, they must be there somewhere. She checked again, no dice. Then she says "this is the Showcase near the Warwick mall right"? My reply uhhhhh, nope.
She jumps in the truck and we drive as fast as my piece of junk 1996 Chevy truck will carry us, I think we broke the sound barrier, and I get her to the other theater in about 5 minutes. She ran into the theater and I got the obligatory text -" I found them". Phew! I returned early for the pickup two hours later and sat outside for 15 minutes before the appointed pick up time of 9:02. Not sure where that time estimate came from because the girls didn't emerge from the theater until about 9:20. Oh well, at least I was in the posh cab of my old Chevy. The FM/Cassette player really rocks. It was all worth it though because Abby thoroughly enjoyed the movie and the experience alone with her friends. I really am glad to see her growing up as a young adult, but I'm going to miss my baby! I had to include this picture from the next day of Abby wearing her 3D glasses. Little goober!
Now I don't know much about music, but I know enough to know that a kid who can pull that all off is got something going for her. The thing is that Abby seems to do it all with such ease. She really enjoys every second of it, and I am so happy to see her truly in her element enjoying herself so much. God knows she doesn't get it from me. I'm afraid to even go near a stage! Here is a video of Abby performing "Wouldn't It Be Lovely". Sorry for the small aspect ratio - Abby's dad can't remember which way to hold his phone while taking video..ughh.
