Soaring...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month-Get a Mammogram-Do Self Exams!
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Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height!

Let's go fly a kite

and send it soaring... 

That's just how I felt Saturday (October 25, 2014)soaring down the streets of Conway running in the Soaring Wings Half Marathon. 

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Blair and me after our run!

The atmosphere of a well organized running event is just fantastic. On this particular morning - the air was clear. The morning a beautiful fall temp, but instead of flying a kite, it was my heart flying to the highest height. Okay, enough of the song. By the way, I love Mary Poppins! 

A soaring day...

Blair and I ran the Soaring Wings Half Marathon in Conway as a relay team.  This means I ran 6 miles and she finished the remaining 7.1 miles to complete the 13.1 miles of a half marathon.  You've heard the saying many times -  there's no "I" in team and a team we were indeed. 

Repeating myself can't be avoided when talking about the joy and pleasure it is for me to run with my adult daughter.  Words escape me to express what a gift it is to me, to have had the opportunities I have had, to run with her.  The Soaring Wings event added another page to my memory book/heart.

Soaring Collage

One interesting tidbit...after passing the timing chip to Blair at the exchange point, I meander over to the water table.  I hear this voice yell "G A Y L A" --- my eyes, naturally, glance up and there stands one of the girls I met at Runway for a Cause a few weeks ago.  Yes, indeed, I remembered her and I even knew her name.  Wendy and I were in the same photo shoot for AY magazine as well as walking the runway on event day.  Now, how cool is that!!!

 

My husband and I made our way to the finish line to wait for Blair.  While watching runners cross the finish line and listening to their names called out, and I hear "Brooke Mc Collum" - OMgosh, that's my uncle's daughter.  

Gayla and Brooke

I  knew Brooke was a dedicated runner and we've been at the same events several times, but never saw each other.  I just had to make my way over to her and say hello. 

You may recall, I often run very early - like 5 a.m. - with Linda and Janie.  They were running the half marathon while I was running the relay portion. 

Mandy, Janie, Linda and me at the starting line.

Since I ran the first leg of our relay, I was able to start at the starting line with these ladies, as well as watching them cross the finish line.  

Camille models my medal!

When we get home, this sweet poodle doodle is, as always, so proud to see us.  Of course, she wears my medal beautifully.

My heart was soaring,
Gayla

p.s.
I ponder whether to share my true thoughts about this event.  Frankly, the event is indeed a NICE event, but it's not as great as I had been led to believe. 

First, the website is difficult to obtain current information.  Secondly, the running lane is way too narrow; and lastly, the packet pickup the day before (Friday) was a waste of my time. A critical item was missing from relay packets.  The strap to the timing device didn't get put in the packets.  A required item - it's not like I had a choice.   I was told I'd have to get it at race day registration.  Well, why did I drive to Conway and get my packet the day before if I still have to go early the following morning. 

Oh, one more thing - the relay exchange point wasn't at all as we were told it would be.  It was poorly implemented.  We were told one thing would happen - yet, arriving at the exchange point - it didn't happen.   I will have to think long and hard before I do Soaring Wings again. 

G







 



"80"

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

My Dad...

My Dad and me - his birthday celebration a couple years ago.

My Dad's actual birthday is October 31st - Halloween!   He will be 80! It fascinates me that his initials are CAT and he was born on Halloween. How ironic!!!

My Dad riding his cute little tractor.

He is a country man and proud to be identified as such! You will most likely see him out and about in the community like this - in his overalls!

My Dad and Me (2013)

We decided to celebrate his 80th birthday with a little/big party instead of a small family kind of thing.

 

The party...

The invitation plus his picture inserted for this blog!

My Mother, Sister, and I spent the last several weeks coordinating and planning my Dad's 80th birthday celebration. 

My parents

We wanted the party to reflect his masculinity more so than the femininity of us three girls/women.  Therefore, we added a rustic masculine touch - well, as rustic and masculine as we three ladies can get, anyway - we are pretty feminine. You could even say we are quite girly girls!

It's an "8"

We used round tables for the food creating the numeral "8."  Round guest tables circled the food table creating the numeral "0."  I doubt anyone noticed that little detail - I didn't expect anyone would - that's ok - but, you have to admit, it's pretty creative, clever, and cute! 

Oak logs serve as pedestals for a variety of cakes.

Black tableclothes serve as a backdrop to the authenic oak wood logs as pedestals for the food/cake presentation. These logs were actually cut from an oak tree on my Dad's property. I like the contrast of the rustic and silver punch bowl. I call it a little bit country and little bit fancy - mix the two and it's JUST RIGHT!!! Pots of zinnia garden flowers serve as centerpieces.

A fruit tray always make the table pretty!

Mock Champagne Punch

Basket of mixed garden plants

Guest tables finish the decor with black table cloths and suede fabric scrunched around baskets of mixed garden plants --- ornamental cabbage, yellow and purple pansies, black ice, salvia and purple ornamental pepper plants.

My Dad and Me at the party.

My Dad with my sister, Vickie, at the party.

It was nice to see so many friends and family together to celebrate Charles, Daddy, and last, but not least, aka Grandad! 

Here are family photos taken at the party...

The four of us...L to R:  My Mother, Sister, Daddy, and Me.

My parents and my family

L to R:  my husband, Randy; me; Mother; Daddy; and my daughter, Blair

L to R:  Blair, Daddy, and Me

My sister, Vickie, and her family with our parents.

My parents with their grandson, Nick, and his family

L to R zigzag: Grandad, Mack, Shannon, Arden, and Nick

Nick is the only grandson.  He and his family live close to my parents.  Their only child, Arden, brings a lot of joy to my parents - she gets off the school bus at my parents house - where she waits for her parents to pick her up after they get off work.  

My parents with grandaughter, Natalie, and her family

L to R zigzag: Grandad, Mack, Wesley, Alex, Natalie, and Ethan

Natalie, and her family live in Dover.   It was wonderful seeing them.

Blair and Grandad -- The youngest grandaughter, my Blair!

Blair lives in NYC and just happened to here for the party!  Well, maybe, I did sway the date in favor of this particular weekend because my daughter was going to be in town...just maybe, I did!  Oh well, you don't blame me, do you?  You would have done the same thing, right?  

Grandad and the great grandchildren.

L to R: Alex, Grandad, Arden, and Ethan

Many close friends and relatives celebrated with us.  I regret not getting pictures of his brother and sister, etc.  But, in my defense, I was a tad busy during the party and only took photos of our immediate family before guests arrived. 

 

All in all - the day was great - about 100 friends and family members celebrated my Dad.  He definitely doesn't look 80 years old. 

 

Cheers,

Gayla

 

 

 



 

 

 

 



Runway for a Cause 2014

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~

 

It was an amazing experience walking the runway as a breast cancer survivor in the Susan G Komen Runway for a Cause held September 10th.

I was delighted and honored to be one of the runway survivor models asked to be a part of the promotional team.  This meant in addition to walking the runway as a survivor on event day, I was part of the photo shoot for the AY Magazine and KARK 4 live TV segment.

First, the AY Magazine shoot...

This is a picture of the photo spread as shown in the actual magazine.  It was a lot of fun getting my hair and makeup done professionally, chatting with other survivors about our outfits, as well as our common thread - breast cancer survivorship.  I sometimes refer to it as somewhat of a sisterhood.

I refer to the above photo as "my five" because the photographer took the photos in two groups of five ladies. We quickly became friends - we stood there for a pretty long time together - plenty of time to get to know each other on first name basis.  I can easily identify Wendy, Kathy, Jessica and Sharlene.

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Second, the KARK4 Live TV Segment...
This meant arriving at the TV station at 5:30 a.m. for a 2 1/2 minute segment at 6:15 a.m.  Jennifer, Jessica, and I represented the runway survivor models joining the Runway for a Cause Committee chair.  I must admit this was a little stressful.  We didn't have help with our makeup and hair, so it was up to me to look my best.  And,  it was "on air" "off air" in the blink of an eye. 

 It's my turn...stand there, smile, and pray the outfit looks good!

The three survivor models (center)

KARK4 Morning Anchor, Mallory (front left)

Runway for a Cause Committee chair (insert to the right)

Me with KARK4 anchor, Mallory Brooks

After it was over, I was very glad I did it.  I am of the opinion if you're going to volunteer for an organization - when they ask you to do something, don't say no.  So, that's what I did! 

 Collage of KARK4 off camera moments

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RUNWAY...

What an awesome experience walking the runway!  Forty ladies - all breast cancer survivors - walking the runway to raise money for Susan G Komen-Arkansas.  Hair and makeup assistance was provided, fabulous clothes outfitted by various retailers - mimosas while getting our hair and makeup done - lunch afterwards!  It was a great day!  I am very glad I did it.

The Runway awaits... 

Volunteers decorating the venue...

It's TIME...

get this show on the road - MUSIC please!

Master of Ceremony, Craig O'Neil

My first outfit from Barbara/Jean  

I felt like a million bucks in this gorgeous outfit.  It is soooo me!  I loved wearing it.  The stylists, Tiffany and Angela, were so sweet.  These two young girls said "now, you strut that sheer cape."  Yes, indeed!  I certainly felt like strutting.  An outfit I absolutely loved, heels I adore wearing, and "the makeup" - a lot of makeup - and you can't overlook the red lips - the really really red lips!  

Snapshot of ladies representing Barbara Jean...

My outfit by Feinsteins...

My second outfit was from Feinsteins.  The stylist, Jill, was fantastic.   I adore her.  She also outfitted me for the AY magazine as well as the KARK4 segment.  By runway day, I felt like I had known Jill for years. 

This is a snapshot of the finale walk...

 

Besides having a wonderful experience with a fabulous group of ladies, this was a day of celebrating survivorship, while remembering those who have lost their battle with breast cancer, but more importantly, money raised helps those going through breast cancer treatment who do not have the support system and resources I was fortunate to have.  

 

Thank you to all who purchased tables, tickets, and sponsorships.  My gratitude to Susan G Komen-Arkansas for bringing back the Runway for a Cause event  It was awesome!

 

Gayla

p.s.  I wrote this blog post two days after the event.  Apparently there was a computer glitch and the post didn't publish, therefore, this is a re-post.

~G

 



 

 



 

 

2014 Race for the Cure in Downtown Little Rock

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

 

A wonderful Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Little Rock yesterday! And, a fantastic day it was, indeed! 

I had a great personal run - a fantastic feeling for this ole (and old) gal.   Love admiring the sea of pink - thousands of people supporting each other, walking hand-in-hand; heart-to-heart; celebrating survivorship; and in memory of loved ones who lost their battle with breast cancer. 

Here are a few photos...

It's always nice to chat with people at the starting line. This year a young lady and I exchange pleasantries. She asked me how many years for me as a survivor - she shares that she runs for her grandmother who lost her battle with breast cancer years ago. We both allow tears to surface in our eyes. I comment, in laughter and tears, that it's a very emotional day. "I cry as I run," I tell her. She says, "Me too."  

She takes my picture - I take her picture!  You can see her in the photo above - that's her close to my waiving arm.   She has the cute high pony tail and sunglasses.   She's a veterinarian in Rogers.  Oh! how wonderful - now I must show her a picture of my Camille.  Yes, I did!  I show her my sweet Camille dressed in her pink for breast cancer. 

My precious Camille in her pink!

Ok, back to race day...It's about one minute til start time. We hug and embrace to support one another and we're off!  

L to R:  Linda, Me, Janie



After my run, I met up with Linda and Janie to celebrate!  Off to breakfast with these two sweet ladies.  I often run with them on early mornings runs - early early mornings - 5am!  I mean these two get up early!  

"Cheers"

These two special ladies treated me to breakfast and mimosas at ONE ELEVEN in the Capital Hotel, downtown Little Rock.  My oh my, it was delicious.

Irish Breakfast!  And, that mimosa is almost finished!

I'll even tell you that I had the Irish Breakfast of two poached eggs, on bacon grits, with a roasted tomato.  Yes, that's a biscuit on my plate.  Hey, I just ran a hard run, pushing my leg muscles way beyond their normal working capacity.  I want a biscuit!  :-)

A collage of my morning!

 

Move, be moved!  It definitely was a day that moves you - emotionally, physically, spiritually!  Hugs and kisses - Laughter and tears!

 

Gayla

p.s.

After I get home, Camille and I go for our walk in the park.  She wore her pink again...well, you probably want to see a couple more pictures of her, right? 

 

~G