Strong Arm

A few weeks ago a friend of mine at work gave me a Live Strong bracelet. These bands are sold to raise funds for cancer research and survivorship programs as part of the Lance Armstrong foundation. It was a thoughtful gift and I appreciated it quite a bit, but I've had a bit of trouble taking to it. I hadn't noticed the yellow wristbands at the Olympics, and as I started paying attention my first impressions were a bit rough. The first person I saw wearing one also had a ponytail and was driving a Mercedes convertible ahead of me in traffic, which is okay, but at the stop light he pulled out a feather duster and brushed up his dashboard. The second person I saw was a wanker type smoking a cigarette outside of a bar in the South End. The third person was a thoughtful individual that I met at a small get together. I was greatly relieved until talk of politics came up. Needless to say right wing republicans are out so I was batting 0 for 3 on this whole Live Strong campaign. I need heroes and compatriots, maybe a goofball like Tom Green is more my speed?

Turns out I just hadn't seen enough. Once I started chemo I noticed some of the patients wear them, people with courage who face odds much tougher than my own. Some nurses wear the wristbands too and they all kick serious butt. So if the bands fit on the people who keep up a smile while making the hospital run, then they work for me.