Stanford Relay 2007
Going into it I didn't have the highest of expectations--probably because I assumed members of our dorm team would flake out (which some did) and that that would somehow confirm what I'd been hypothesizing all along: that college kids are heartless. Thankfully, I was proved wrong. I had an great time and did a lot of learning too.
I spent all afternoon doing Mission Delivery stuff with Amy---and I had such a blast. She wore a carrot suit and gave out prizes. I wore a sandwich board and handed out mardi gras beads. I love costumey obnoxiousness. It makes me so so happy. People were generally receptive to our efforts. We held a cardboard car race and an apple-bobbing competition---both went splendidly.
Then when it came time for the luminaria ceremony, we were all pretty moved. I got terribly teary and emotional because Pin-yi put together a really beautiful slideshow with names/pictures of people who had died or are still living with cancer. I'm a sucker for that.
While I was there, and especially at night, I talked to people on my team. About a lot of the things I'd been thinking about lately---about how I feel like a lot of people are starting to forget about cancer. About the indifference we have to put up with when we do things like this. About how it worries me when young people stop caring, because one day they'll have to. But talking to DLo really helped. He says a lot of profound things without realizing it. He's just the most giving, thoughtful, good-hearted person. And I can't think of enough positive adjectives to describe him. It was AWESOME having him and Jennifer on the team. They ended up staying the whole 24 hours and I admire them for so many reasons.
DLo made me see what a pessimist I've been. I spend too much timing worrying about the people not at Relay, without looking at all the people who were. People who were giving their time and money. Really genuine human beings who deserve our thanks. People who had been touched by cancer, or who hadn't, and were still out here walking.
I'm realizing now that this funk I've been in---the thinking I've been doing---it's about me focusing too much on all the things we should be doing, instead of all the things we already are. I can't keep chastising myself for not being more involved in solving the world's problems. But I'm doing the best I can with the time I have, allowing myself space for personal leisure/pleasure. So are the rest of the Planning Committee. And these Relayers. And anyone who gives even a little bit.
Tristan, Eric, Emily -- Thank you for saying the things you said. I wanted to thank you earlier because it really meant a lot to me.
I did more thinking on my own and I'm glad I arrived at something closer to what you shared with me. I love you guys.
And Now it's Picture Time.
Road to Recovery Race
Information Prize Wheel-ing and Research Sandwich Board-ing
Bobbing for Apples
My co-chair Amy being adorable
Jennifer and DLo at our campsite
Kate and Benj and Emily came for in-tent girltalk!!! ---But no Benj or Emily in this picture :(
It was LOVELY just sitting and walking and talking with my friends again. THANKS FOR VISITING ME GUYS!!! LOVELOVELOVE x infinity
And it got really super cold
Morning with the Stanford Band
Colleges Against Cancer-ers for LIFE!
End.
I spent all afternoon doing Mission Delivery stuff with Amy---and I had such a blast. She wore a carrot suit and gave out prizes. I wore a sandwich board and handed out mardi gras beads. I love costumey obnoxiousness. It makes me so so happy. People were generally receptive to our efforts. We held a cardboard car race and an apple-bobbing competition---both went splendidly.
Then when it came time for the luminaria ceremony, we were all pretty moved. I got terribly teary and emotional because Pin-yi put together a really beautiful slideshow with names/pictures of people who had died or are still living with cancer. I'm a sucker for that.
While I was there, and especially at night, I talked to people on my team. About a lot of the things I'd been thinking about lately---about how I feel like a lot of people are starting to forget about cancer. About the indifference we have to put up with when we do things like this. About how it worries me when young people stop caring, because one day they'll have to. But talking to DLo really helped. He says a lot of profound things without realizing it. He's just the most giving, thoughtful, good-hearted person. And I can't think of enough positive adjectives to describe him. It was AWESOME having him and Jennifer on the team. They ended up staying the whole 24 hours and I admire them for so many reasons.
DLo made me see what a pessimist I've been. I spend too much timing worrying about the people not at Relay, without looking at all the people who were. People who were giving their time and money. Really genuine human beings who deserve our thanks. People who had been touched by cancer, or who hadn't, and were still out here walking.
I'm realizing now that this funk I've been in---the thinking I've been doing---it's about me focusing too much on all the things we should be doing, instead of all the things we already are. I can't keep chastising myself for not being more involved in solving the world's problems. But I'm doing the best I can with the time I have, allowing myself space for personal leisure/pleasure. So are the rest of the Planning Committee. And these Relayers. And anyone who gives even a little bit.
Tristan, Eric, Emily -- Thank you for saying the things you said. I wanted to thank you earlier because it really meant a lot to me.
I did more thinking on my own and I'm glad I arrived at something closer to what you shared with me. I love you guys.
And Now it's Picture Time.
Road to Recovery Race
Information Prize Wheel-ing and Research Sandwich Board-ing
Bobbing for Apples
My co-chair Amy being adorable
Jennifer and DLo at our campsite
Kate and Benj and Emily came for in-tent girltalk!!! ---But no Benj or Emily in this picture :(
It was LOVELY just sitting and walking and talking with my friends again. THANKS FOR VISITING ME GUYS!!! LOVELOVELOVE x infinity
And it got really super cold
Morning with the Stanford Band
Colleges Against Cancer-ers for LIFE!
End.