Folks, this is a good thing. This is all about carrying on and moving forward.

On the top of the list of life-consuming things are the daily schedule and after-school activities of the boys. Both Jamie and Joey are fully entrenched in life at their new schools. I have the great pleasure to announce to the world that at the interim mark of this first semester Joey is nurturing 4 As and 3 Bs and Jamie is sporting 6 As and 1 B+.

Not only are the kids busting their tails in school, but each is carrying a load of athletic activities that have consumed much of their non-scholastic time. Jamie is wrapping up a stellar season of football (where he has made 32 out of 32 extra point kicks - colleges, are you paying attention?) and now both boys are playing hockey for my Bantam Reston Raider house team (I can’t wait until the Select teams are chosen...I’m considering coaching the Bantam Select team – what’s one more obligation?). And now Joey is making noises about joining the wrestling team at Oakton High School.

With all of the things that these kids have been doing with themselves, I couldn’t legitimately ask for anything more – especially with regard to their scholastic performance. I know that Monica is looking down on them and smiling ear-to-ear.

As for me, I’m consumed with work and in keeping our "master schedule" of activities managed, published, and executed. Throw in housework, paying the bills, coaching a hockey team, visiting Dad when I get the chance, and trying to cut out a little time for me, and one can easily see that I don’t have time to wallow in sadness.

Life does move on folks. I miss my girl dearly and I know just how much she would have been willing to help me make our family tick, but I also know that all of the preparation that she did for us in the final months of her life has paid (and will continue to pay) dividends in the here and now. While my last comment about wallowing in sadness isn’t entirely true, I do save a special part of each and every day thinking about Monica and about all of the good things that have happened to us as a family and occasionally yes, I still shed a tear of sorrow for the incredible woman that I lost.

People come up to me nearly every day and ask, “How are you guys doing?” With a smile and a beam of confidence, I tell them “We’re doing OK.” Now you all know why.

In addition to our crazy schedule, we have an incredible network of family and friends who are supporting us at every turn. Yes, we are making it. It is what she wanted us all to do.

Every night I reflect on Monica’s plans for us and it is my job to execute them as she wished. She is still with us…in victory over death.

Pink Magnolias

L to R: Tania Lester (EDS), Jamie, Me, Joey, Vicki Adamson (EDS)

It was a truly incredible gesture of remembrance. The tree can be found as you drive up to the upper parking level at the church. As mentioned by Reverend Tom during the ceremony, the tree is in the perfect spot. It is at the center of activity on the church grounds and it overlooks the children's playground below.

The location of the tree could not have been any more perfect as it fits Monica to a "T." She was always the center of attention when it came to how she graced the room with her aura of life and she will always be remembered as the loving caretaker of every child who came into her world.

Monica's remembrance marker.

Thank you EDS. And thank you Floris United Methodist Church.

Good Things Come to Those Who Walk

Mohawkman (my Avon alter ego) at the end of day one (26 miles completed)

On the weekend of October 20-21, I flew down to Charlotte, NC to participate in the Charlotte Avon 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer.

I made the decision to participate in this walk just a few days after Monica passed. It was my way to honor her and it was a fulfillment of another promise to Monica that I would continue to be a force is putting this bastard demon (breast cancer) to rest forever.

Walk Buddies Jean, Moocow Guy, and me.
(note Monica's walking shoes dangling from my pack).

Avon’s slogan (the title to this section) is as accurate as any slogan could read. Good things really do come to those who walk. The Charlotte Avon Walk drew about 900 walkers from 38 states. It was both the 8th city and the final walk of the 2007 season for the AWBC.

A remembrance poster hung in our honor.

The photos here give a very small glimpse into what the Walk is all about. I have decided that I am going to opt out of providing a drawn-out written story about this walk as it will be impossible for me to describe the deep emotional rollercoaster ride that I took for the entire weekend. I will though share with you one single story and it happened to me at closing ceremonies.

For this walk, I thought of a fabulous way to expand upon Monica’s Pennies from Heaven theme. I took the two days prior to leaving for NC to hand paint 500+ Lincoln pennies with pink ribbons on the face of the coin. I posted directions on the Avon Discussion Board that I would be placing these painted pennies all along the course of the walk. I told anyone who found one during the event that that penny was a thank-you from Monica for participating in the walk.

The participant could either keep the penny or return it to me, accept a hug of thanks from me, and I would store it for deposit back into Monica’s Penny from Heaven account.

Have you seen a prettier young smile? Jessica and her penny.

At about 4PM on Friday (at registration), I received my first penny back. It was given to me by a sweet young lady (Jessica - pictured above), probably one of the youngest walkers on the Walk. I had never seen a prettier smile attached to such a bubbly young lady full of life. She was simply beside herself that she had found a pink ribbon penny. I accepted the penny, gave her a hug and placed it in my wallet where I keep Monica’s EDS Employee badge.

I received a couple of other pennies back that day from other walkers and issued my heart-felt hug and thanks for returning the pennies back to me.

What I am about to describe to you here will probably become the most memorable moment in my walking career, second only to having Monica walk with me the first three miles of the Washington DC walk back in May (two months before she died).

Just after I finished the walk, people started coming up to me with pennies. I believe that I got back close to 25 pennies in all, but one little person stood out from the rest. As I was chatting with one of my fellow walking buddies, a little girl, no older than two or three years old, held her hand out to me with a single penny clutched in her fingers. Without speaking, she handed me the penny as if to say, "Please Mohawkman, take this back." I took the penny from her tiny little hand and dropped to my knees. I then hugged her for what was only a few seconds, but to me it was for eternity. I immediately broke down in tears. I could not believe what I held in my arms. She didn’t pull back, nor did she speak. According to one of my walker buddies, this little angel rested her head upon my shoulder as I wept. After our embrace I stood up, put my hand on her head and told her that she made my day. After reflecting on that single moment in time, that little angel didn’t just make my day, she changed my life forever. For it is now she, the living spirit of Monica, who I will walk for next year.

I have put out a plea on the Avon website to find out who that little one was. God, please help me find her.

My walk buddies. Too many to name...

Pennies from Heaven Update

I will update this section in the next day or so...hang tight!

If you’re up for this project, send me your penny and your note to:

PFH (Pennies from Heaven)
c/o Monica Cooper
3009 Cross Creek Ct.
Oak Hill, VA 20171

What's New?

From the Dad front, his body continues to weaken. He is still lucid and continues to see visitors. His spirits are good, but he has his ups and downs...like every other person in his circumstance. We are keeping a watchful eye on his progression. Your prayers are accepted at any major prayer outlet.