Susan's Side: A Brand new year!

Today is the first day of school.....Dale was very excited and a little nervous. He said the only thing he was at all worried about was making a new friend. I know he will make tons of new friends, and I think he is a little scared that he will lose his friendship with his best little buddy, who is no longer in his class, but who lives in our neighborhood so I am sure that it will continue to flourish.

Reid & Macy start their new classes tomorrow. Reid will be in the BIG KID Treehouse building that has a gym attached. I know he will love it, but I am certain there will be a couple of tears and clinging to my leg, and hiding behind me this first week for him.

Macy .....well she too will learn to love her class. I think it might be hardest for her, she will be leaving the loving, comfortable environment of Kathy and Becky. She was so well loved in their hands, I had zero trepidation dropping her off, and her new teacher has had Dale and Reid in the past and has even had Macy too and is wonderful and great as well, but I highly doubt that she will get the same specialized treatment of strawberry milk, falling asleep in Kathy's lap...... in her new class.

So to jump trains Duke and I went to Austin and met up with Troy and Carolyn, The Joe's (Carolyn's parents), and Magnus ( what a great name!) and Stephanie, Magnus's wife (Troys college buddy) for the Texas 4000 for Cancer Tribute. It is a group of UT college kids that bicycle from Austin TX to Anchorage Alaska. A 4500 mile trip, which each rider will ride at least 4000 miles. Each rider must raise and donate $4000, to ride, and daily the riders gather up and dedicate their day of riding to a person effected by cancer. Their goals are to touch people through Charity, Knowledge and Hope. They stop at hospitals on the way to visit with local residents, give out knowledge of how to protect your self and loved ones through information from the American Cancer Society and MD Anderson. And finally to give hope for beating cancer, just as a cancer patient and family must fight all odds to beat their disease, they ride across the nation beating the elements as the elements beat on them proving that the unthinkable is attainable....not easy but can be done. Carolyn has created and donated paintings the last 2 years for auction, Troy has been a big supporter of this group and has had a hand in helping it evolve from a small, self funded, volunteer group to now a corporate funded, staffed, supported machine that is so touching and inspiring. Also, it is great to know that your entire donation go to cancer research, since Sense Corp generously funds the group this is possible. Duke and I were very inspired, and proud of Troy and Carolyn and their involvement in this group. I you want to know more check out the website http://www.blogger.com/www.texas4000.org Also on another note last month, the Texas legislature passed the companion legislation, HJR 90, which assures a public vote on November 6 and offers Texans an opportunity to approve $3 billion in general obligation bonds that would provide $300 million a year for cancer research in Texas, I think it is something we all need to vote for, Cancer costs Texans approximately $30 billion a year in direct and indirect costs. This year alone, more than 85,000 Texans will be diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 35,000 Texans will lose their lives to the disease. I personally know too many people directly affected by cancer....and I am sure you do too.

Troy and Carolyn and Duke and I at the dinner