" ... she lost her battle ..."

Highline sky

There will be a funeral mass for Maureen Flynn tomorrow morning.
Mrs. Flynn was 49 years young.
She leaves behind her husband, Kevin and her three children, Colleen, Brian, and Bridget.
Mrs. Flynn battled breast cancer.
I met Mrs. Flynn a number of years ago when Colleen was a 5th grade student. Although Colleen wasn't my student, I liked her very much and Mrs. Flynn appreciated that.  I met the twins, Brian and Bridget, when they participated in the recreational bowling program that I helped to coordinate.  Last year, when they were fifth grade students, Brian and Bridget joined the Continental Math League, which I co-advise.  I have known this wonderful family ... and I know that the past two years have been difficult, as Mrs. Flynn was diagnosed with cancer and underwent exhausting and grueling treatments.
In spite of this ... when I saw her ... she always had a smile.  She was always there for her children.
She was a fighter.
But she lost her battle.
Her kids deserved to have their mom ...
Her husband deserved to have his healthy wife by his side ...
Maureen Flynn deserved a lifetime.
And so ... I will walk with Maureen Flynn in my heart ... just as I will walk with my Mom and my friends who have survived breast cancer in my heart.
Everyone deserves a lifetime.
...
If you are reading this and would like to donate to my 3-day walk in memory of Mrs. Flynn, please visit my page.
All donations made until I take my first steps on November 2nd will be in Maureen Flynn's memory. 

Donate in Memory of Maureen Flynn

Personal Fundraising Goal MET!

This is my tentmate, Val, and me on our training walk last weekend.

Thanks for the picture Sandy!

...

Well ... Cousin Baz took me OVER THE TOP and I am now past my personal fundraising goal of $5000!  (He said it was from the "Boys in the back at R. Federman" but I know it was Baz... because there are no boys in the back at R. Federman anymore ... because there is NO R. Federman anymore. You can't fool me, Baz.)  So ... my fundraising is on track. I still have a lot of training to do.  I did about 12 miles last Sunday.  We walked from Penn Station to Inwood and the troops, sans yours truly, walked back to Penn Station after a lunch break at Grandpa's pizza.  I caught a subway back to Penn so I could get home, shop, and start to cook for Yom Kippur (which was Tuesday night.)  The first 12 weren't bad at all ... so I know I could have completed the training walk. 

Next order of business is team t-shirts. Grey, white, pink ... this shouldn't be taking so long!  I had to take control and I hate being the boss!

Like everything else ... it'll get done!

...

I am looking at that picture of Val and me.  She is NOT that much taller than I am.  At least I don't THINK she's that much taller!  We were on a hill!

...

One of my Zumba instructors has left the gym.  There is an aerobic dance class in place of the Zumba class.  Holy cow ... aerobic dance is a lot!!!  My friend Rosalie just looked at me at the end of the hour and we both laughed and laughed!  I call the girls in the front row the "cheerleaders" because they're so young and cute and energetic.  I want to push them out of the way thank them for giving me something to watch while I am huffing and puffing in the back.  Zumba is so much easier for me!

The end.

Crunching Numbers

Yes, my friends, summer is officially over.  

The picture is from Race Point in Provincetown.

We didn't see sharks, but we did see whales and seals.

It was great ... and now I have to wait another year to frolic in the National Seashore.

...

School starts tomorrow for teachers, and students begin school Wednesday.

I'm ready!

...

OK ... here are the numbers:

There are 60 days until event.

I have met 86% of my personal goal of $5000.00

I have raised $4338.00 ($4438.00 with the check that I am sending tomorrow.)

Burt's Babes (all 6 of us!) have raised $28,162.02 as a team.

Burt is the #4 top fundraiser in Dallas.

Liz is the #5 top fundraiser in Dallas.

Burt's Babes is the #7 top Dallas team.

I am so proud of us!
boobies.