Now that Melinda has completed the photo selections and permissions for the new edition of Grace, she is working on obtaining book endorsements. With all of the “Lance stories” in Grace, not to mention the treasured inspiration he unknowingly blessed Melinda with during her cancer battle, Melinda would love to have Lance Armstrong endorse her book. Just wondering if anyone out there in cyberspace might be, say, having dinner with Lance this evening? How about riding with him tomorrow? Okay, how about, is there anyone out there who can ask Lance if he will read an amazing book, written by Melinda Marchiano about her journey through cancer and recovery? If you read this, Lance, thank you again for signing Melinda’s port jar… it still makes her happy! Hope the story about you makes you chuckle…
www.fight2win.org… Did you look?
I am hoping you took the time to look at Alese Coco’s Web site, www.fight2win.org. It is because of people like Alese that I am able to cherish my good health today. (And also Dr. Dan, Cottage Hospital, and, and, and…!) What she has begun will help so many other children who suffer from this disease. My heart is with her parents and her family, hoping they receive enormous comfort knowing that Alese left behind something incredibly good. Now, it is up to the rest of us to carry on her vision of hope. Alese, I am sending my gratitude to you by Heaven Express Mail… and I will do all that I can to carry this onward.
Banana Man Excerpt
A feeling of pride came over me as I flowed among the slow-moving crowd of purple t-shirts. On the back of each one was written, “Survivor,” and I was one of them. Each person in the sea of hope, who walked around the school’s track, held their own story of downfall, battle, and victory. As I completed the Relay for Life’s Survivor Lap, I found my heart pouring out gratitude to God, to Dr. Dan, to anyone and anything on Earth. Seeing the other people walking beside me, I could tell they all felt the same exact way. We had all been there, and our immediate kinship created a powerful, yet silent, feeling among us. It was also amazing to witness those generous, selfless people who weren’t survivors, but who gave their time because of a family or friend’s life touched by cancer, or just a concern for the cause. Two of those caring people were my Gramma and Poppy. Honestly, I wished I could hug each and every one of them… those who donated their money, or their efforts, tucked themselves into the pockets of my heart. They were my inspirations, my heroes.
One of these people was a man named Zac, who works for Jamba Juice. A booth was set up, and he and another woman, Jamie, were selling smoothies, with all of the proceeds going straight to the American Cancer Society. My mom and I walked around the track and, suddenly, a giant, yellow… something, came up behind us. It was a banana– a man in a banana suit with a tray of smoothies in his arms. Zac smiled and waved to us, dancing to the music that blared over the PA system.
“Hey! Banana Man,” I yelled, as I too began to get jiggy.
He noticed my Survivor shirt, and we got to talking. His enthusiasm was contagious.
“Hey,” he called back to me, as our conversation ended, “come by the booth later, and I’ll get you a smoothie on me!”
Wow, what a cool guy, I thought. He was out there, giving up his day, selling his smoothies, and wearing a banana suit. But what really got me, was his joy, his spark, and his sincere smile. He danced, made people laugh, and created a fun and loving atmosphere around him– all things he really didn’t have to do.
Mom took a picture of me, Zac, and Jamie. We blew it up, framed it, and later gave it to them with cards, and of course… home baked banana bread. So now, every time I walk into Jamba Juice in Arroyo Grande, I look up at our picture on the wall and say hi to my friends, Jamie and Banana Man.
Melinda Marchiano 