A Full House

The 41st. running of the NYC Marathon took place yesterday.

Over 45,000 people ran this year. Forty-one years ago 127 people ran for an admission fee of $1.00.

My brother-in-law, sister-in-law and their children arrived Friday night. Mark and Dee would be running on Sunday.

My table was full for the first time in many weeks.


So were my evenings, after dinner, when we gathered to just talk and be a family.


This is Shane. What a difference a year makes! Happy, healthy and cancer free!


It was a difficult race for Mark and Dee. The conditions were cold and windy. Emotions ran high as they raced with Fred's Team, raising money for Pediatric Cancer Research. They also ran for the memory of Jim, TBHITW and marathon lover.

When they arrived back "home" from NY we popped a bottle of champagne and laughed and talked about the race. Then everyone ate one last dinner together before the runners headed off to sleep - exhausted, but happy for making the journey of 26.2 miles. It was a full day.


This morning they all packed up and headed home to Michigan.

As I was tidying up the guest room I found this Marathon shirt and note on the bed:


The note reads,

"Linda,
Thank you so much for letting us feel like we never left our home! You and the kids are always in our prayers and thoughts.
It goes without saying that a day doesn't go by that we don't think of Jimmy. We just want you to know we are always here for you and the kids.
Please take this shirt as a small 'thank you'. Jimmy's marathon shirt went to heaven with him, but I like to think another one came back to your home. It can never replace his shirt, but I hope it reminds you to keep moving forward, just like a marathon."

I read this note clutching the shirt to me and then with a full heart, I cried.