Sorry to be doubling up on the mile posts, but we're running out of time! The race is drawing ever closer and I need to finish thanking everyone before race day! AAAGGGHHH!
Seriously, you do NOT want to see my to-do list.
Mile 7 marks the beginning of the second half of the race, and it also marks another transition in my thank-yous. Thus far, I've told you about old friends and neighbors and the fabulous people I have the privilege of working with. Starting tonight, you're going to hear about some of the smartest, funniest, kindest, most amazing people there are: DOG PEOPLE. These are people who not only have dogs, but choose to spend countless hours training and exercising them. They then spend entire weekends (and all of their discretionary income) playing with their dogs on agility courses for external rewards no greater than a brightly colored ribbon and the chance to add letters before and after their dog's name that have no meaning to 99.9% of the population. The real rewards are internal: having a great time with your dog and seeing your dog enjoying himself.
Like runners, agility people are crazy. But in a good way.
Remember when I said that all the people who contributed cash were going to get their moment?
Well, this is it. There were a few cash contributions during the season (and I have one more to mail in tomorrow), but by far the largest amount of cash came in during the big agility fundraiser back in February. In just two days, people contributed $722.19 in cash! (It's under my name on the contributions list because you can't mail cash in to the chapter to be counted, so I had to write a check for that amount and deposit the cash.)
I wish I could rattle off all of your names, but that is the nice thing about a cash contribution--it's anonymous. I do remember one woman buying $50 in raffle tickets with cash, and there were several others who paid for more raffle tickets than they actually took.
I was, and continue to be, bowled over by the agility community's generosity and kindness, and also by how many of you have battled leukemia or lymphoma personally or lost loved ones. It is my honor and my pleasure to dedicate Miles 7 and 8 to all of you who were involved in the February fundraiser. I will be singling out some people by name in Miles 9, 10, and 11, but if I happen to overlook or forget anyone due to my increasingly creaky hard drive upstairs, please consider yourself hugged and cherished right here in Miles 7 and 8.
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