Last night I was recognized as Top Fundraiser for the Philly 3-Day. When asked why and how I do it, I said a few things and then explained it might be best explained by this poem I wrote last year. Many of you have seen this in my fundraising emails, but I thought Id try to paste below. I was shaking and I had to pause more than once to collect myself, but I made it through and I think folks liked it... Got a bunch of hugs after from my 3-day family... “Have you ever?” By Julie Copaken, Aug 2013 Have you ever received that phone call that punched you in the gut? “They say I have two to six months to live,” he said. I curled up in the little nook behind my desk, and I cried and I cried and I cried. Have you ever heard your dad, the optimist of all optimists, lose just a little bit of his will to live? “I’m in too much pain, and just want this to be over,” he said. I tried to be strong, but I curled up in my bed, where I cried and I cried and I cried. Have you ever realized that you would never have that father-daughter dance? There are no words to be said. I sit here as I write, and I cry and I cry and I cry, just like I did almost exactly 5 years ago today. Have you ever received that other phone call that instilled the fear of god? “He’s got days if not hours, you better hurry,” she said. I sped down 95 at more than 95 mph, and I cried and I cried and I cried. Have you ever begged someone who just hours earlier you willed to be at peace, literally begged him to hold on just ten more minutes until your mom and sister could get there? “Please god,” you whispered. As you rocked back and forth telling your dad you loved him, as you cried and you cried and you cried? Have you ever witnessed a miracle as he held on? Have you ever known it was a sign, with such certainty, when that light reflected off the adjacent building’s wall, in that strange way light sometimes reflects? “Goodbye,” he was saying… “I love you.” And you cried and you cried and cried As you realized he’d always be there in every unique ray of light, and in every rainbow in your heart, and in your soul If so, then maybe, just maybe, you understand…
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 09:54:55 +0000
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