What to do with the time we get
No amount of regret changes the past, no amount of anxiety changes the future, any amount of gratitude changes the present. – Ann Voskamp
The Braestone Winter Classic 3-on-3 Charity Pond Hockey Tournament is back for a second year.
And I’m determined to achieve a better outcome.
Truth be told, our team didn’t fare so well the first time around. Three games… three losses.
Three games… three losses
So, I’m playing old-timer’s hockey three times a week in the hope of being a little less winded after every 15-second shift.
These days when I bend over to tie my skates – and I mean every time I do so – I’m just a little nauseous, but I’m entirely present. For once, my mind doesn’t wander. Even with laughter and banter tossed around the dressing room, in my mind, I’m able to step back and take it in. In this moment, I’m flooded with a sense of gratitude and I think about three specific people.
I think of Sue – the rock of my life. We couldn’t be much more different in our makeups – but that’s why it works. Before I ever loved her, I admired her. And still do. On our shared journey, I’m blessed to be riding shotgun beside her.
I think of my brother, Jeff. When he received his cancer diagnosis a year and a half ago, there was discussed, however briefly, the possibility that with treatment he may have another 12 months. So, we spoke of a short list of things he hoped to do with the time he had.
The 12 months were not to be but, thanks to his drive and his loved ones, he did get around to a few items on the list. Some he did not.
Jeff’s memory is the inspiration behind the Braestone Winter Classic. He would have loved it and been the life of the party. Jeff was a good hockey player – honestly much better than me. But it’s his sense of humour and camaraderie that would shine. Jeff made people feel good. Be it through laughter (hilarious, salty jokes), the effortless way he made sure everyone felt welcome, or his child-like joy at life’s simple pleasures – you knew it was sure to be a good time if Jeff was there.
Jeff would have loved the Braestone Winter Classic
And I have a confession: The third person I think of while tying my skates is the other woman in my life.
But I think it’s okay… because Sue knows all about her. In fact, Sue just might have a crush on her, too.
Every three months I make the pilgrimage (actually, it’s a short 15-minute drive on country roads). And upon my arrival, she smiles and we get right to business. A review of my blood test – check for lumps – and she asks me a few pointed questions.
Dr. Lauren Gerard
Dr. Lauren Gerard is my haematologist/oncologist and I struggle to express how good it feels to know she’s in my corner.
In fact, the entire crew at The Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre at RVH is a remarkable model of compassion and professionalism.
From reception to chemo nurses to radiation tech’s to credentialed staff, we’re fortunate to have such an organization right here where we live – serving cancer patients and their loved ones from across the Simcoe Muskoka district.
In the fight against my blood cancer, we talk about the bullets Dr. Gerard has in her pistol... She's used some of them – and she's got a couple left in the chamber. She’s a reason I'm able to play in The Braestone Winter Classic.
And that’s half of what the Braestone Winter Classic is all about: professionals like Dr. Gerard. The monies we raise keep Simcoe Muskoka cancer patients closer to home, expand the types of cancers that can be treated, and attract world-class talent.
The other half is community: The spirit of smalltown Canada.
There is a unique energy when people come together and roll up their sleeves to achieve a common good. The Braestone Winter Classic is a microcosm of Canada at its best. Family, neighbours, new friends, all collaborating for a meaningful cause.
The event wouldn’t be possible without dozens of volunteers from the Braestone community and the generous support of Jamie & Wendy Massie, Georgian International, and our many business sponsors. While my team may have struggled on the pond, overall, the inaugural event raised more than $75K. We’d like to do even better this time around.
It’s an awareness of life’s limits – of our inevitable, eventual destiny – that illuminates a sense of gratitude. If inventory is seen as limitless – there’s little appreciation - and a lot of waste. An understanding of their scarcity is what makes one truly appreciate life’s magical moments.
May the Braestone Winter Classic 2023 be one of those magical moments for you and your family.
Click here to Register for the 2023 Braestone Winter Classic
