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8/22/2003 - Tulsa, OK
8/18/2003 - Kenosha, WI
8/17/2003 - Chicago, IL
8/16/2003 - Lake Forest, IL
8/12/2003 - Arlington Heights, IL
8/11/2003 - Chicago, IL
8/10/2003 - Evanston, IL
8/6/2003 - Arlington Heights, IL
8/3/2003 - Bartlett, IL
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Date: 8/3/2003
Location: Bartlett, IL
Journal Entry:
It has been a good time to reflect--collect one's thoughts,
recharge one's batteries, prioritise. 840 of 880 miles have been
completed. The days have seemed to pass so quickly, the time has
seemed to disappear so rapidly, the miles to literally
evaporate.
I have wondered just what the effects of these rear-viewed miles
have been: yes, I have felt wonderful myself to have put my left
and right feet to the pavement so many times over, but I have
wondered--aside from the funds raised (and still to be raised in
these final weeks), if I have been able to influence the
hearts of others if not literally to follow in my footsteps,
then at least that they themselves might find it a vital part
of their lives to take their time, energies, and resources to
help others.
I have seen remarkable and spontaneous generosity. This morning
I performed at a church service in the Chicago suburbs.
Afterwards someone introduced themselves to me as a three-year
cancer survivor and pressed a 50-dollar bill, for Cancer
Treatment Research Foundation, into my hand. A home-school
family insisted on paying for a car rental for me. Radio
Amateurs in Chicago (Jerry, WA9KXZ and Phil, N9PA,) after
speaking with me on the radio invited me to dinner (top photo),
and Phil and his wife shared their cancer experiences with me.
And I have seen acts of unkindness: a pianist in Decatur
jealously refused to help schedule a benefit concert at his
university; a close friend, now former, declared that what I was
doing was not "interesting," reminding me that cancer does not
only exist in the physical body.
I have been staying with Dan and Joan Hooson (middle photo)--
also members of the home-schooling network. Dan has shared
remarkable stories and remarkable insights with me, gained from
having to overcome his own overwhelming circumstances. We have
spoken many hours over truth, integrity; purpose, vision;
pureness of heart and soul.
I train daily at a local church for the coming concerts, and on
a local park path (bottom photo) to keep fit for the final
miles, which in the journey of life shall be but the beginning.
Martin
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