Breast Cancer Awareness

I wrote this for The Cooley Zone back in April but never posted here at Fatpickled. Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, I felt like it would be a good time to re-post it.


I just purchased 2 tickets for the Cooley's Rally for the Cure. Unfortunately, my wife and I will not be able to attend. Truth be told, we never had any intentions of attending and I really don't have the extra $100 to spend right now. But the tickets were never intended for us...I bought the tickets for 2 other special people who also will not be able to attend, my grandmothers.

My father's mom Louise died of breast cancer at the age of 32. My father was only 10 years old. Obviously, I never had a chance to meet Louise. This much I do know, she was a beautiful woman who produced my hero, my father. If you live in a great big house in Chantilly, you may even live on Louise avenue. This street is named after my grandmother. I wish I would have gotten the chance to know her.

My mom's mom Margaret (Maggy to friends, Nanny to me) died of kidney cancer at the age of 73. She was awesome, I miss her every day. Although she lived a long and full life of fun and laughter, she left us within days of her diagnosis. Much too quick. One of my Nanny's favorite sayings was "do me this favor and I'll dance at your wedding." She did dance at my wedding, but it was only with me and no one saw it. She was a huge Redskins fan, friends with John Riggins, and once owned a bar in Herndon that the Redskins frequented. She also cut the most glorious fart I have ever heard in my life (this post can't be all sappy with no humor.) I'm not kidding, Yoder couldn't hold a candle to this fart (and if he did, it would have blown him to Arlington.) 2 bucks Nanny, 2 bucks.

My wife recently lost her grandmother Rita after a long battle with lung cancer. My father recently had skin cancer. It doesn't stop there, and my family is no different than yours. We've all been affected by this horrible disease. I'm sure each one of you reading this has a story to tell, maybe even more tragic. Cancer has no prejudices, it attacks the young and old, the rich and poor, the black and the white. This is why we all need to do something about it. I know we will find a cure for this disease in my lifetime, I know it. In the meantime, thousands of folks like Nancy Cooley are busy kicking cancer's ASS!!!

The economy sucks...you don't have to remind me, I'm in the auto business! But, maybe you can find a way to buy a ticket (either for yourself or in spirit) and hang out with the Cooleys to celebrate, remember, and fight back.

And if you attend the rally do me a favor, raise a glass to Louise and Maggy...if you do I'll dance at your wedding.

Cheers and Hail