Marathon

Welcome to the Emotional Rollercoaster. Please fasten your seatbelts.

As if it's not enough to be rushed to the emergency room for a possible stroke, diagnosed with a brain tumor, operated on in brain surgery, diagnosed with cancer, given a radiation and chemo treatment plan, married and moved to Wisconsin -- all in 3 weeks! -- Dad watched Scott run the Madison Marathon on Sunday.

It was an emotional experience for me, so I can't imagine what it meant to Dad. At mile 18, Dad was so inspired that he joined Scott to run for a couple of yards. Linda and I were nervous he'd fall, but the man couldn't help himself. We also watched two other friends -- Dennis and Christian -- as well as Scott's brother Todd, finish the race. In a fairly warm day, Dad spent about 5 hours being shuttled from mile-marker to mile-marker (we saw them at miles 11, 16, 18 and finish) and then ended the morning at Brat Fest for lunch. We asked him if he felt okay, ad nauseum. He told us there was no other place he'd rather be that day.

Scott was amazing. His first marathon and he finished right around 4 hours, ran all the way. Each time he passed us Dad smiled and laughed, nearly cried, and repeatedly commented, "Can't believe he is doing this! Can't believe I'm here!" At one point he said, "Man, this is awesome. What am I doing in this chair?." He, of course, wanted to be running. Dad and Mom ran several races back in their 30s, and Dad regaled us with some good running stories.

On our way from the finish line to Brat Fest next door, we rode on a golf cart with a gentleman in his mid-80s, dressed in teal cotton pants and a matching argyle shirt. I kiddingly asked him how the marathon went. "Well, I didn't run it, but I was on the beach at Normandy on D-Day." No way! Here we are, inspired to the hilt by Scott on Memorial Day weekend and we happen to meet a war hero. Dad's father fought in WWI and his brother in WWII, both in the Navy. The veteran told us about his visit to the American cemetery in Luxembourg and how he met a German man there who was also at Normandy. The German offered to take the American to the German cemetery 40 miles away, then they shared dinner and agreed that war is hell. This story really touched Dad -- and all of us.

After a terrific, inspirational weekend, Linda went home Monday, Scott and I are back to work and kids are back to school. Dad's poised at the starting gate of his own race. Our first appointment at UW is on Wednesday. Dad could not be in better health or spirits right now. He's ready to start.