I think I have now digested my half marathon experience enough to tell the story. Each race has it's own set of challenges for each of us, and this was no exception. I woke up on Friday morning,  just two days before the race, with my sinus cavity aching and my throat threatening to close. I leaned over to my husband and said a simple phrase that I dreaded vocalizing: "I'm sick".

The clock was ticking...

24 hours from when I would leave home to fly from San Jose to San Diego...

43 hours from when I would be meeting my team in the hotel lobby to bus it to the start line... Not much time to get better.

I sooped up on Vitamin C, Olive Leaf Extract, Nordic Naturals' Ultimate Omega, Electrolytes, water, herbal tea and stayed in bed, working from my laptop and finishing my week restfully. That evening, I packed my bags and went to bed EARLY, sleeping soundly the whole night through and hoping my strike against the head cold was winning. I woke up feeling better enough to have hope.

SAN DIEGO was cooler than I had expected, with temperatures in the low 60's and cloudy skies - no hint of blue, no sun peeking through. We checked in, got lunch, took a cab to the expo center, picked up my race packet and came back to the hotel. After the Team in Training Pasta Party, I went to bed early to rest so my chances of being better race morning would be improved. Sunday morning, we would all meet in the lobby at the predawn hour of 4 o'clock and board a bus to the start line where we would wait more than 2 hours for the race to start.

AT THE START LINE there were few early on, but the crowd grew and grew until roughly 30,000 joined the ranks of runners, walkers, and support crews. Water, coffee, electrolytes, bananas, dry cereal and bagels were offered to all and lines at the porta potties began to grow. The trick is to get in line, go when you get a chance, and get in line all over again until your wave gets called. No one wants to stop mid race and wait in a line for a pit-stop.

Around 6 o'clock, the Marine Marching Band came through to alert us all that the race would be starting soon. We would all be lining up  in our respective corrals soon. With a number of 14,371 I would be in the 14th corral, which means I would be 14 corrals away from the start line. A corrall is comprised of 1,000 runners, with the fastest having the lowest numbers. That way they don't have to trip over the slower runners (like me) along the way.

THE RACE STARTED on the button - in true militaristic fashion - though it took me a few moments of walking with the crowd to make it to the start line and begin the run. It was still cool, in the low 60's (perfect for running) and my throat and sinuses weren't troubling me too much either, so I was feeling pretty good... except for one thing... I had to pee.

In spite of all my best efforts, running through the bathroom line 4 times, I had to go again. At least this time, I had already given myself a bit of a break - with the head cold, there was no way I was shooting for a new personal record (PR). At the first pit stop, I got in line behind 2 others and made my way. Luckily, these guys were quick, so I only lost about 2 minutes.

With all of my worry over sickness I had almost forgotten that there would be a band playing at just about every mile, and that there would be so many elvises running the marathon too. Now, white polyester alone speaks bravery to me, but running 26.2 miles in that garb has got to be a challenge.There were many entertaining sights to see as I made my way through my meager 13.1 miles, of which the first few were probably the hardest, as we weaved our way through downtown San Diego and the trapped heat that emanates from the cement and blacktop streets. Those of you who have followed my progress know I have a hard time running in the heat. I sweat heavily and if it's relatively warm AND humid, I have a really hard time cooling off. Such was the case, and I was DRENCHED by mile 5, and didn't break away from the steamy streets until we started up the steeply banked freeway which met us with a new set of challenges. Running crooked uphill from miles 8 to 10 was challenging,  but never so much as the steamy downtown district - at least not for me. So what kept me running? My inspiration. The knowledge that GREG MELENDY - in honor of whom I run - had just been sent home the previous day. He's not completely out of the woods yet with his treatment from Leukemia and Lymphoma, but AT LEAST HE IS HOME!!! 

And then there is the entertainment... The bands, the water stops, the coaches, the TNT cheerleaders and the Support of my husband, Matt Bellizzi.

The bands were mostly rock, with some that seemed a little irish, country, or punk. Most were probably up late the previous night playing some local bar, and had dragged themselves out of bed bright and early for a 6:30am start. Pretty phenomenal really! Every water stop had a theme, one was sponsored by the girl scouts, another by the San Diego Zoo, and even one sponsored by a gay themed Santa's Village, with many handsome young men dressed up as elves handing out water and electrolyte drinks. Candy cane cutouts and ginger bread houses really clashed with the weather - but the theme somehow, if strangely, fit. The coaches were something else. The one that impressed me the most was dressed as if from the movie "300". This picture says it all! I love that he is blazing ith purple in support of Team in Training. I saw him a few places on the course, so he must have rode the trolly with so many others, like the TNT Cheerleaders and my husband. The TNT cheerleaders (who I dreadfully DO NOT have pictures of) were very obviously men dressed in drag with balloons for breasts and cheerleading outfits, many with beards. They,  like my husband made multiple appearances on the course.

I should take a moment here to recognize my own personal cheerleader, my partner and my favorite person on the planet all-wrapped-up-in-one bundle, Matt Bellizzi. He got up with me at 3:30am, accompanied me and stayed with me at the start line to see me off, found me at mile 4, 8 - and was waiting for me at my 13.1 mile finish. He rang a cow bell with all his might as he cheered me and my fellow TNTers on, even blistering his poor knuckles in the process. I am one lucky girl.

A friend who ran the San Diego RNR Full 26.2 miles on Sunday, 5/31/09 said this "You should give him your medal". My response, if he wants it - it's his. I know he doesn't ever plan on running a half or a full marathon on his own, but every time he is out there supporting me, he is on his own version of a marathon, putting his all into it and offering whatever support he can. Carrying my extras, taking my hat from me when I'm too hot, offering me a sweatshirt at the finish, supporting me all the way. I don't know what I would do without him, and I don't ever want to find out. Thank you Matt. You make my life.

So how did I finish? Strong. I finished 3 minutes short of my personal record for a half marathon in 2:16:42. It wasn't my fastest, but it was great all the same. I was happy to push through the muggy downtown section and conquer the 2 mile grade up hill to the 10th mile, finishing strong through the 13.1 miles to greet my husband at the end. I felt so good in fact that I spent the next hour and a half cheering runners on the sidelines myself. Congratulations to all the finishers of this year's Team in Training season! We all did great!!! Raising millions of dollars for an important cause, supporting those with Leukemia & Lymphoma. I want to thank all of my sponsors for the season and all of those who have lent their moral support too. My honorees, my friends, my captains, mentors, and coaches. Without them, my life wouldn't be so full, and without them I would not have achieved so many strong finishes. As always, if you would like to donate to my cause, please visit: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf09/corinna

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Just two weeks after The Boston Marathon, here I was to run a half marathon in the midst of redwoods. The weather broke for a beautiful half marathon, with sunlight scattering itself through the redwoods.  I couldn't imagine a more different race. First off, there were less than 1,000 runners to complete the half marathon, and at Boston there were more than 26,000 to finish  26.2!

My race would have been much nicer but for one pretty considerable problem. I have a pretty intense issue with my left foot. With all the training that I completed in preparation for The Boston Marathon, which I completed on 4/20/09, my feet took a bit of a beating. My left foot in particular has a pretty incredible bunion that is developing ever so slowly and I have plantar fasciitis in the same foot. Picture this - shooting pain from your heel through your arch toward your toes with every stride.  Not fun.

I had self medicated with 2 doses of tylenol at The Boston Marathon to get me through the race, and I had been sleeping in this lovely strasburg sock which keeps your foot flexed all night to allow the plantar fascia to heal.  I decided to go without meds for The Avenue of the Giants - thinking simply this "It's only a half marathon".

Pride got in my way, and it meant I had a pretty hard race. My foot began to ache around the third mile and progressed to sharp pain by mile 8.  I pushed through, kept my pace, and thought simply this: "The faster I run, the faster I'll finish, and the pain will end". It was - shall we say - a little intense.

I reminded myself "this is nothing compared to the pain Greg is in". Greg Melendy has gone through so much these past 5 months, with complications from his bone marrow transplant, so I just gathered my strength with him in mind and I ran faster than I expected or planned. This put me in a group of runners I had never really raced alongside before. They were obviously a faster breed than I was used to... with stranger habits... One runner obsessively "lumber jacked" every 5 strides from one nostril, and then the other.  Another runner had a really funny breathing pattern that was close to lamaze. I kept wondering if he was going to hyperventilate.

Trying desperately not to get annoyed by all the strange breathing, I focused on my stride, my conditioning, my training and I kept my pace. By mile 12, I was beginning to WISH this was just OVER, so I just let myself be led by this beautifully conditioned runner who kept her pace the rest of the way. I kept thinking - "I have to thank her when the race is over" - this perfect stranger who acted as my magnet without ever knowing it. But then, in the last 200 yards, I had enough energy left to sprint to the finish super strong at top speed. Running that fast ALWAYS drives everything else out of my mind, so I forgot ALL about that good intention, got my medal and went in search of my friends Angela Brown & Lindsay Hickman - who I knew had finished.

When everything was said and done, I finished with a new personal record (PR) for a half marathon of 2:13:56. I almost ran a negative split too. My first half was only 1 minute quicker than the second half of the run. Not Bad. Jackie Medina and Meghann Finn finished shortly after, and we cheered them across the finish enjoying champagne mimosas together in celebration of our feat.

What I learned from this run is this: The mind is the strongest muscle the body has. It can help you push through the hard times, and remind you of why you're doing what you are doing. In my case, I'm running marathons and raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma society to help put a stop to blood cancers, and keep them from taking more lives. So far, I have raised close to $15K for the cause, and I'm not done yet. My one and only official event of this spring season is here. I am ready, and I will "Rock the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon" in San Diego on May 31, 2009 in honor of my friend, Greg Melendy. I am going to rock it. This time, it's not about setting a new personal record. It's all for Greg, and it's going to be great fun. Wish me luck!

If you would like to make a donation to my cause go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf09/corinna

I arrived on Saturday, 4/18/09 with my husband, Matt and was whisked away to enjoy a beer and pub grub with Michael Goolkasian and some of his friends. The next day, we went to Boston for packet pick up – where I would receive my number, and get a chance to walk the consumer show where Nordic Naturals was also exhibiting.  Michael had two of his best demonstrators working the booth, and they had already gone through most of their supplies, having worked the show already for 2 days. The place was a mad house! If you can picture it, more than 26,000 runners came to pick up their packets, and each of them is accompanied by friends and family. On top of that, the show is open to the public, so local consumers and spectators abound! They probably get roughly 75,000 people touring the show over the course of 3 days.

Yellow and Blue – the colors of the Boston Athletic Association - were everywhere! The crowds were unbelievable.  The morning of the race, Michael, Matt & I all got up super early to make our way to Boston from Michael’s home in Ipswich.  The game of hurry-up-and-wait had just begun. We would get to downtown Boston, be dropped off by Michael, and then I would get in a long line to be picked up by a bus and transported the 26.2 miles to Hopkinton and to the start line – where I would then wait in the “athletes village” for close to 2 hours before my wave would be called and I would get ready to run – and Matt would check in at our hotel in Boston, Mass so we would have somewhere to freshen up post race.

The bus line was long, and full of expectant registered racers. No friends or family of runners were allowed – you had to “have your number” on you in order to board.  The bus ride took about 45 minutes as we snaked through downtown Boston and off through small towns on the way to Hopkinton. The athletes village was a mob scene! There we were, all 26,000+ runners (and a few “bandit runners” or runners without official race numbers) and all of us had to use the port-o-potties. Each line would take 45 minutes to navigate. So, as soon as you got done, you’d get back in line all over again just to make sure you were ready for the start of the race. Announcers using a PA system to notify people of where their friends or family were waiting for them. Bananas, bagels, Gatorade, and water circulated with so many people bundled in layers and space blankets as the temperature hovered around 40 degrees with a forecast of 51 as a high, and strong headwinds especially as we would near the finish in Boston. About 30 minutes prior to my wave’s start, I placed my second layer of clothing in my numbered bag – which I would retrieve after my finish – and went in search of the bus with the appropriate number range that would accommodate my number: “24606”.

As the first wave left at 10:00am, the second wave was promptly called to their appropriate “corral”. With a race number of “24606”, I would be looking for the 24000 corral. There was even a line to enter the corral!  When 10:30am struck, the race began, and we began the slow moving plod to the start line.  Since I was starting in the 2nd wave, and the 24th corral (of a possible 26), you can bet I was right towards the back of the pack of second wave runners. It took 14 minutes for me to reach the official start line! 

Going into this thing – this “Holy Grail” of marathons I knew one thing. I was going to “run my own race”. There would be no rushing. I was going to enjoy every minute of this race, and I was going to finish it strong. My only goal was to finish it in under 6 hours. I had run Honolulu in December of 2008 in 5:50:55, so I knew I could run Boston in less since I had been training so hard. I figured that with all of the hills being primarily between miles 17 and 23 that I would finish in about 5:30:00 if I worked to keep a steady pace. Boy was I wrong.

As I kept a steady pace through the beginning, many runners passed me, and I began to feel like I was REALLY slow, so I kept reminding myself – it should feel like I’m running too slow in the beginning – and so what if I get passed, I’m running my own race!!!

Along the way, I saw many “bandit runners”. Most notable were 3 college guys from Boston University who were running in nothing but speedos and running shoes. They stopped at course front parties and did keg stands, ate their hotdogs, and continued on to the next course front party. There were a couple of live bands at various points of the course, a Harley Davidson Motorcycle Rally blasting Guns N’ Roses, a rooftop party blasting The Drop Kick Murphy’s. Hands down, it was a party! A runner clued me in early on “Don’t drink the B.U. Water”. I figured out what they meant when someone operating a makeshift water stop tried to hand me a beer. BU apparently stands for Boston University.  Just before (or just after, I’m not quite sure which) the half way point, we came up on what sounded like a thousand girls going crazy at a Beatles concert during their heyday. A pair of guys next to me said “Are we THAT close to Fenway yet?” I just shook my head... We crested a hill, and began coming down the other side and lo-and-behold, it was lined with young women wearing shirts that said “Free Kisses” or who held signs saying roughly the same.  Male and female runners alike either ran up and pecked them on the cheek or mouth, and continued on. Some were more aggressive than others, but all were having a great time! I ran past them, offering a high five, and kept my pace.  Interspersed here or there would be a young man holding a sign that said “free boy kisses” or “I’m a boy”.  At the end of the pack were two women holding a sign that said “Free Kisses for Lesbians”. I learned later that these girls all attend an all girls College called Wellesley (spelling may be WAY off).

At the halfway point, I realized I had just run 13.1 miles in 2:23, which was an improvement over my half marathon time last October by more than 16 minutes – and I felt STRONG – so I kept my pace. At mile 17 I saw my dutiful husband – who had taken a train to meet me there. Math had become hard with the miles though, and I couldn’t really calculate what time I would finish if I kept my pace. To me, it still looked like about 5:30.  So, I kept my pace. Mile 22 came and went, and so did “Heartbreak Hill” and I kept my pace. 3 potty stops aside, it seemed I was making really strong progress and keeping a fairly consistent pace “on the clock”. Somewhere between mile 25 and 26, I saw my husband once more, and I just had a little further to go, so with a kiss I ran on – and I sped up. I won’t say I sprinted the last half mile or so, but I ran it pretty quick. The announcer came on the air, “And here comes Corinna Bellizzi of Santa Cruz, California” as I ran my last 50 yards even faster, and as I crossed the finish line, raised my arms in the air, and still felt strong. My official chip time was 4:49:52 – a full 40 minutes quicker than I had expected to run Boston, and a new Personal Record (PR) that bested my first marathon by more than 1 hour and 1 minute. Not only that, I had run a really consistent race with my last half of the marathon only taking me 3 minutes longer than the first half! 2:23 for the first half, and 2:26 for the last.  After mile 17, I had begun walking through water stops, so that must have been the extra time.

Today, I am still flying high with the achievement of it all. I am excited for future races, for the opportunity to inspire other non runners to give it a try, and for the simply fact that I can run. For me, it was a friend’s battle with Leukemia & Lymphoma that brought me to running – so now I will continue to race on to save lives with Team in Training – This time as a Mentor or a Captain for the team – so I can help others achieve their athletic and fundraising goals... But that’s not all that keeps me here.

I am still in disbelief about a simple fact. I AM A BOSTON MARATHON FINISHER!!!

Here I am, a former 16 year smoker who ALWAYS suffered from bad knees, and now I’m a distance athlete, inspiring others to seek out the athlete in them – and I haven’t had a complaint about my knees since I began running further than 5 miles at a time. I’ll continue doing my best to inspire others to take charge of their own lives, to be inspired by the rough times and to seek to make a difference in the lives around them. Today, my friend Greg Melendy suffers from Leukemia & Lymphoma and continues to undergo treatment – and through his dilemma, I am empowered to continue forward, running for a cause, and finding others who will do the same, or contribute in their own way, be it through donating what they can, or simply cheering me on. Through hardship we can all derive great strength, and through running for a cause, I lend my strength to those around me too. If you are interested in learning more about my efforts with Team in Training, upcoming races I am running or to make a donation today, please go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf09/corinna.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I hope you enjoyed it.

It's never easy to visit someone you care about in the hospital. Knowing that he was the one in treatment, I felt selfish and just plain ridiculous. I had been so intimidated by the idea of visiting Greg, worrying that I would react badly, cry or simply stare, or not know what to say. I felt this inexorable need to fix the situation, and I knew I was powerless to do that. What I did know, was that I could make him smile. With a little searching, I found just what I needed. Charlie's Green Man suit from the wry sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia".

So, where does one get a full body day glo green lycra suit anyway? These days, you really can get anything online. When I got to the hospital, I didn't even know if the nurses and doctors would let me into the room wearing it. I thought security might even handcuff me or chase me from the building yelling "TERRORIST" or something ridiculous like that. Did I mention I have a wild imagination? So, I had it carefully tucked under my skirt, and the top half was tied around my waist. Vicki Melendy, Greg's mom met me in the outer area where we would have to scrub up for our visit in the oncology bone marrow transplant unit, and she couldn't stop laughing! It was something else. We put the standard gown on over my green suit, and she guided me to Greg's room. I could hardly see through the blasted green suit, so I had no idea what I really looked like.  I giggled with Vicki as I shuffled down the hallway, and nurses stopped to stare. It was all too much.

Greg's first words to me when I came in the door were "Um, I'm a little freaked out now" which just broke all the tension I had been feeling and made me laugh. We posed for this picture, and upon seeing it on my camera, I knew for the first time just how revealing the green man suit was, and how unlike a man I really looked.  All in all, it was probably one of the more entertaining days of my life, and I am sure, of Greg's. We talked, listened to music, and were interrupted several times by the constant care his nurses and doctors provide. When I visited again on 2/27/09 it was more of the same, though this time, without the Green (wo)Man suit.

At the age of 9, I found out that my grandmother (then 63) had been diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. I knew it was killing her - and I needed to understand it - so I began reading medical journals at that young age. I needed to make sense of what was happening to my dear "Nita Mae" from whom I take my middle name. I remember still how she used to call me "Corinna Mae" in that sweet drawl of hers any time she wanted to get my attention. She was a wonderful woman - a strong woman - an athletic woman - who just spent too much time enjoying the sun for her pale Dutch skin to handle. She was gone within the year.

Cancer has always been a four letter word for me, ever since I understood what it meant. But that didn't stop me from becoming a smoker when I was only 13. I knew it was bad for my health, that it could even give me cancer if I kept at it long enough, but I always thought "I'll quit before it has a chance to sink it's teeth in". The trouble is that having smoked from that young age, I had associated it with my identity as an "adult" so much that I just couldn't picture myself without a cigarette. The addiction was beyond physical.

Then, in 2004 my aunt was diagnosed with uterine cancer - and I had my wakeup call. I was 27 and so began a 2 year struggle to quit smoking while my aunt Billie struggled to endure cancer. I kicked my bad habit, but cancer doesn't always provide an out, and Billie passed.

In October of 2007 Sean Keily was diagnosed with stage 4 Leukemia & Lymphoma, and he passed in June of 2008. His story is best told at www.savegobo.com

though you can also find information about him on this site in my inspiration section

Last week, I received an e-mail. The subject line read: RIP Andrea Cox. All I could do was read the subject line over and over for 5 or 10 minutes until I finally opened it. No scam, just a link to a site where I could read about her treatment, her life, and her passing: http://home.comcast.net/~andrea_allen/site/?/page/Medical_Updates/

In high school she was one of my closest friends at a time when nothing made sense but the company we kept. A time when figuring out our station in life was the only quest we knew. The first time I saw her in 15 years was last Saturday, beautifully made up in a casket with friends and family near. We each talked about "our Andrea" her verve, her zest, ultimately - her life. At the end of the service, I got up and read a poem she wrote for me when we were 15 or 16. I have included it here so you can read it too. I am rocked to the core by her passing and still don't know what more to say, except that I wish cancer would just take a hike! Until it does, neither will I.

Andrea Rebecca Allen née Cox died of angiosarcoma, a rare type of breast cancer that attacks the blood vessels and then took residence in her spine. She was only 32.

Below is her obituary with a picture of her the way I remember her.

Farewell to Andrea Rebecca Allen née Cox 

Andrea Rebecca Allen, age 32, died at St. Agnes Medical Center on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, after a three and a half year battle with angiosarcoma - a rare but deadly form of cancer. She was born Andrea Rebecca Cox on May 2, 1976, in Minneapolis. She graduated in 1994 from Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, Ca. Andrea attended Foothill College, Colorado State University in Ft. Collins and Montana State University in Billings. She married David Allen on August 11, 2007, in Santa Cruz. They have made their home in Madera. Andrea worked for State Farm Insurance, Mesa Airlines and Big Sky Airlines. Over the years, she wrote a wealth of poetry and her family plans to build a book around it. She is remembered by friends and family for her courage, perseverance, smile and kindness. She lived for today and treated tomorrow as a gift. A Memorial Service will be held at Farewell Funeral Home on Saturday, February 2009, at 10:45am with Rev. Bob Pollard officiating. Cremation will follow the service. 

Farewell Funeral Home: 660 W. Locust Avenue Fresno, Ca (559) 440-0484

 http://home.comcast.net/~andrea_allen/site/?/page/Medical_Updates/

Sundance 2009: January 19, 2009

350 Main (restaurant), 350 Main St, Park City, UT

Sarah Syed (my sales coordinator at Nordic Naturals) and I had dinner plans with Scott of GBK productions at "350 Main" set for 9pm. 350 Main is a hot dining spot on the main drag where Sundance and Slamdance film festivals have a stronghold. Since the gifting suites we were working with GBK productions at 354 Main Street had shut down at 6pm and the last of the celebs who came through were already long gone we had some time to kill. Sarah and I decided to stay in town so as not to incur another $20 parking fee – they are stringent on their “no-in-and-out” policy during Sundance. A drummer (also named Scott) who used to play with the Gin Blossoms had come through our gifting suite earlier that day told us about an acoustic set he was playing at around 6pm, so we went down the street to the Wahsatch Inn for a beer and a little music. Around 8:30 I received a text from the other Scott (GBK) asking us to come to 350 Main a little early if we could.  Sarah and I finished our conversation and our beer and walked down to 350 Main.

As soon as we got there, I went looking in the bar area for Scott, who I did not see.  Who I DID SEE almost knocked me over.  There, by the very crowded bar, standing in a tripod stance and facing one another were 3 of the primary stars of my newly found and favorite TV show - "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia": Charlie Day (himself), "Sweet Dee" Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson), and Mac (Rob McElhenney). What was most surprising was how they LOOKED EXACTLY THE SAME - well, except Charlie had a bit more beard than on the show.  I calmed myself down - quickly texted Scott that we were there, and walked up to Charlie.

In that moment, so many words swam around in my head.  I had been anticipating meeting them and "The Waitress" played by Mary Elizabeth Ellis - because they were on the RSVP list for our gifting suite - but they had not come through - and we were already approaching our last day of the event with GBK. This could be my one chance to meet them - so I just calmly told Charlie, Kaitlin, and Rob that I was a huge fan of their show, and that I had been eagerly anticipating meeting them at the gifting suite with GBK.  Kaitlin chimed in that they had been meaning to come by and just hadn't had the time, with the premiere of the movie she was in and a slew of films they had wanted to see at the SLAMDANCE film festival.  I informed them that the suites were still gifting the next day, but since they were flying out - they doubted they could make it by.  I gave them each my card and let them know I'd be happy to send them some fish oils if they'd just shoot me an e-mail with their preference. Then, I asked if we could get a picture with them, and they obliged.  

In the very next moment, Scott found us in the bar and told us our table was ready. I thanked Charlie, Kaitlin and Rob again, and we turned for our table. As we began to walk through the bar area towards the table, I stopped dead in my tracks.  It very suddenly dawned on me that I had one more thing I had to do - and I wanted to slap myself for not thinking of this one thing first.  It overshadowed any other reason I might ever want to meet the cast of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia".

Greg Melendy and I had been trading movies and tv shows back and forth for some time.  He had turned me (and by proxy, my husband) on to this show, and I knew it was one of his absolute favorites. Greg is undergoing treatment for a kind of Leukemia that is of a type further complicated by a Philadelphia chromosome (I know, ironic huh?). He just had a bone marrow transplant on 1/13/09 and will be in relative isolation for quite some time as he undergoes treatment and rebuilds his immune system.  I believe the initial projections  leave him within a few moments of the hospital for the next 90 days or so. In short I am absolutely positive that it would make Greg's day to have something gifted to him by these fabulous celebs. Anything. A signed photo? That was all I could think of.  I had to get something for Greg.

I turned on my heels, saying over my shoulder to Sarah and Scott that I had something I just had to do, and walked through the bar to Charlie, Kaitlin, and Rob who still stood where we had left them at the bar, though now they had been joined by Mary Elizabeth Ellis (The Waitress). I started by saying that this was not something I would do under any other circumstance, but the same very dear friend, Greg Melendy, who had introduced me to their show is in the hospital undergoing treatment for Leukemia, including a bone marrow transplant. I explained that he was currently in relative isolation for close to 90 more days and that it would mean the world to him if they might send a signed photo or something of that effect to him. Kaitlin said they would gladly send something and asked "Does he have the 3rd season on DVD". When I replied that he didn't, only season's 1 & 2 - she said "I'll send it to you, signed by all of us for Greg - to the address on your card if that's okay". Of course I agreed - then Charlie tapped me and said - "why don't we call him?"  I don't know why I hadn't thought of that.  I pulled out my phone, and suddenly, shaking, and forgetting how my stupid iPhone worked - had some trouble pulling up his number - but it came to me, and I dialed.

It rang a few times. Looking at them, I heard myself say "If he's not feeling well, he won't answer."

It went to voicemail... and I began to leave a message, saying I was at Sundance and had a surprise for him... and... (Kaitlin - or should I say "Dee" was motioning to me for the phone).  "Well, here..." I handed Kaitlin the phone.

She covered her mouth as she said a few words that I couldn't hear and then uncovered her mouth - launching straight into character and leaving a message for Greg - then the phone went to Mac (Rob McElhenney) who left his message in character too. It was like they had planned the whole thing without ever saying anything about it to one another... then to The Waitress - who said she didn't know why all these people were bugging her in the bar (also in character) and then to Charlie - who studdered in just the way of his character.  Charlie gave the phone to me and I said my goodbyes to Greg.  I thanked them all profusely and said how much I knew Greg would appreciate the message. That it would surely bring up his spirits.

Feeling satisfied and beaming with glee I went to sit down at our table.  A few moments later, Charlie, Kaitlin, Rob, and Mary Elizabeth were seated at the table right next to me, directly in my line of sight.  I would be sitting next to them beaming about it through the whole of dinner!!!

Then I looked at my phone. Through the loudness of the bar and restaurant, I had not heard either of my two phones ringing and ringing and ringing.  Greg had been calling me back.

Greg meets the gang

I never use my cell phone in restaurants - but today had to be an exception.  I asked Scott & Sarah if they minded and both of them shook their heads vigorously.  I picked up my personal cell and called Greg.  He answered on the 3rd ring.

"Did you get my message Greg?"

"I didn't even finish listening to it, I just called back right away!"

"You'll never believe this Greg, but they just got seated at the table right next to me. Hold on a sec. I'll wait for the waiter to leave their table and ask them to talk to you - Hold on Okay?".

"You got it."

And I walked over to them.  I told Charlie that Greg had been blowing up both my cell phones trying to call back, and that I had him on the phone now if he would be so kind as to talk to him.  He picked up the phone and started to chat. I walked back to my table. A few seconds went by and they motioned me back over. Charlie was having a hard time hearing and they wanted to see if I could turn the phone up.  It was at it's loudest so I told Greg that they were having a hard time hearing him and he would have to speak up if he could. He said he would. I gave the phone back to Charlie and returned to my table.

A few moments passed - and Charlie got up - and took the phone outside. He didn't return for something like 30 minutes. When he came back, he walked straight over to Kaitlin & Rob at their side of the table, and they got up to talk to him too - leaving the table for 20 minutes. They came back, gave the phone to Mary who spoke with him for a bit at the table, and then the phone was back to Charlie. Charlie walked over to our table as he said goodbye to Greg and traded phone numbers.  He gave the phone back to me saying "I gave him my number, and I'm going to call him too - A LOT!".  I beamed a smile and said thank you again, and got my turn with Greg.

"Merry Christmas Greg! How's that for a gift?!"

"Christmas? You don't have to get me anything for any Christmas or Birthday ever again!"

"Was that unbelievable or what?! I can't believe how great they all were.  It was hard to go over to them once, and now 3 times! I can't believe I interrupted their dinner!"

"Your shamelessness just made my life!"

"I'm going to have to quote you on that Greg"

"That's - just fine."

and so it went...

When I was done with dinner, and they with theirs, I walked over to their table one last time, and said, "Before you leave, or we do, I just wanted to say once more how great it was of all of you to allow your dinner to be interrupted like this and to do something so selfless for Greg. When I got a chance to speak to him after all of you he said to me 'Your shamelessness just made my life!' - and you did that - all of you. Thank you!"

They all said how glad they were to have the chance to talk to him. I smiled and exited, back to my table.

They left first, and as they left, Charlie came back over to me.  "How do you know this kid?" he asked.

"I lost a friend last year to Leukemia AND Lymphoma, so I made the decision to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with Team in Training - and train to run marathons.  He is one of our honorees, and we became fast friends as soon as we met."

"Well, I've got his number, and I'm going to call him - A LOT."

"Thank you Charlie! You've been amazing - all of you!"

And then they left...

I have had quite some time now to think over it all. So often, people are too skeptical of one another - not taking people for face value - not trusting them.  None of that happened here.  What is so surprising to me is that these four celebrities - all 4 of them - treated this situation as I would. They willingly went out of their way to help bring some joy to another person's life that they don't even know - because they could. They valued the impact they would have on the life of a fan. Now, having spoken to Greg and having given of themselves - they too feel great about having been there. I could tell that they enjoyed the opportunity, that they were genuinely pleased to get Greg on the phone, and that they did not feel put out in the least by me - even though I interrupted their lives, their cocktails, and their dinner 4 times. Why? Because I was trying to do something for someone else, someone special - for Greg.

Greg tells me they want him to come down and see the show filmed in LA when he's out of the hospital. I think I might just be his ride down there. Now THAT would make MY life!!!

I hope reading this provides each of you with a little inspiration and motivation. 

Please consider making a donation to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through this convenient and secure website. Every little bit helps, no matter how small the contribution: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/rnr09/corinna

My activism runs deep as the sea, and starts with the desire to protect those that cannot protect themselves.  The sea turtle is the closest to a spirit animal I have ever come, and I continue to do my best every day to ensure the future health of our oceans so their home is safe, and pure for generations to come. Sustainable fishing is key, so paying attention to the fish I eat, and the oceans from which they come is paramount. 

In January of 2005 I saw my first sea turtle when shore diving "five caves five graves" in Wailua-Maui, Hawaii. 

A dive master took these photos as this sea turtle literally tapped me on the shoulder, surprising me. This turtle stayed with me, swimming by my side for more than 10 minutes. It is an experience I will never forget. 

Ocean conservancy is near and dear to my heart, in my personal life, professional life (www.nordicnaturals.com) and in my spiritual life. I encourage you to learn more about the mystery of the deep, and to donate to any cause that helps to preserve this precious resource.  My favorite charity for oceanic preservation is: www.oceanconservancy.org

A simple way to get involved with ocean conservancy is to start with beach cleanups. Organized, or on your own, picking up trash strewn along beaches or river fronts makes a considerable difference in maintaining the ocean's health. If the ocean is healthy, so too are the species within it.  

On my honeymoon in July 2006, my husband Matt & I came upon a vacant strip of beach ocean side of the Lihue airport on Kauai. Because this beach was just a small strip of sand littered with lava rock, and because it lay below inter-island flight paths, it was not frequented or maintained by the tourism industry.  This strip of sand and rock was littered with large balls of net that washed ashore from fishing boats, buoys made of plastic and styrofoam, and dozens of foam flip-flops and plastic containers. All of this detritous lay in the midst of tide pools where the ocean's various juvenile fish populations mature, and where - on the sandy beaches - sea turtles lay eggs.

Between the sea turtle nests and the ocean, the beach was so strewn with litter that it was difficult to imagine the treacherous path the newly hatched sea turtles must traverse on their first terrestrial forray. We did our best to clear a path for the unhatched nest, though we quickly ran out of water and had to return to our hotel, hiking through golf courses and across unincorporated land. The dent we left may have been small, but no doubt was significant just the same.  

If each person would make this same level of effort, mountains would become mole hills, and each challenge would seem ever smaller.  Together we can change the world, and the great deep for the better.