Saying Goodbye

3/24/2015


As previously mentioned....

Back in 2009 I was in terrible shape. I was horribly overweight and making awful life style choices. There was one person who had the courage to be honest with me and challenge me to better myself. I am so glad that I listened to her.

Ida was born on March 23 1925 at the start of the great depression. She saw more in her 90 years of life then I could even imagine. She started in a world that had little to offer anyone and made sacrifices everyday just to survive. She also lived through World War 2 and again made sacrifices for the good of her country.

Her whole life she made sacrifices and was committed to her family. She worked hard to keep lots of great Italian family traditions alive and to keep Kim's family so close.

I first meet Ida in the fall of 1998. I was always so impressed by her kindness and her matriarchal role in her family. My own grandparents lived out of state when I was a child so I saw them only a few times a year. Kim had an amazingly close relationship with her Grandmother. Ida almost immediately insisted I call her Gram (almost as quick as my now mother-in-law forbade me to ever call her Mrs. Cohen again!).

It was clear that Gram had seen a lot in her life and had an awesome honesty in her words. She was never afraid to tell you what she thought (I am so jealous). I watched her battle arthritis and shingles and never complain about things that had to be very painful for her. Like many people in her generation she was tough. Even in her last days she would hold on and fight to the last second.

Kim and I shared a wedding anniversary with Ida and her late husband Bernie (May 15th). This was the benchmark that we had when starting our life together. Pretty awesome role models!!!!

At Christmas 2009 Ida challenged several of us to make better choices and take better care of herself. She was always concerned about these things (and was until the time of her death). I believe she wanted me to take care of myself not only for me but to make sure that Kim never had to go through what she did when she lost her husband at a young age.

Shortly after this conversation I made a commitment to her and my journey began. In 2011 I ran the New York City marathon. The next day I was up early, grabbed my finishers medal and went to see her. I was so proud to show her the medal and thank her for the chance that she gave me. When I got to her room she told me that she watched the race on TV and couldn't find me. She aid it was very confusing because all of the runners looked alike but none looked like me (this is of course because the TV coverage of the marathon shows only the race leaders, all of whom come from Kenya and Ethiopia).

Last Friday Ida was called home to be with the lord. We will miss her greatly. She will continue to keep me moving and inspire me. Next weekend when I run my first race of the year I know she will be right behind me, The way she always has been!

Update on fundraising....

in the first five weeks I've had the first giving page up I have raised over $1,000! That is 20% of my goal. I appreciate everyone's support of my efforts.