2. Vera Katz Esplanade, 5/22/10

My 50 for 50 (the shorter version of fiftyforfiftyfortfoster) adventure began today. I know, I know, I said it would begin on my 50th birthday and end on my 51st; however, the best thing about making up the rules of the game is that you get to change them if you so chose.

Today, I did my first 5K of the year - the American Heart Association HeartWalk. Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer of all Americans? In fact, someone dies from CVD every 38 seconds. Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, and cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects.

Last year I did a local 5K, and it does not even begin to compare with the 5K today...this was SO impressive. There were people (as well as dogs) of all shapes and sizes, young and old, men and women. Heart disease knows no boundaries; it forever changes the lives of those it touches, as well as their friends and families. There were people there walking for loved ones...ones that have survived heart disease and for those who have not. I saw people there with purple caps on (they were the survivors); I saw people there with posters on their backs (they represented their loved ones who had lost their battle with heart disease); I even saw Jerome Kersey there (an ex-Trailblazer who was representing his friend and fellow Blazer, Kevin Duckworth, who lost his life to heart disease).

Our individual team may have been small (there were only 6 of us), but we were part of a bigger team. My employer, Kaiser Permanente, had 445 registered walkers and raised close to $15,000. I believe that as a whole this event today raised over $380,000, and there were probably a few thousand walkers there. I cannot explain what it feels like when you get to be part of something big, something bigger than yourself, but today I was able to do just that - I had the honor of being there today supporting a coworker, a survivor of a stroke.

1. The Beginning...My Blog!

A personal blog, an ongoing diary or commentary by an individual, is the traditional, most common type of blog. Personal bloggers usually take pride in their blog posts, even if their blog is never read. Blogs often become more than a way to just communicate; they become a way to reflect on life. Blogging can have a sentimental quality. Few personal blogs rise to fame in the mainstream, but some personal blogs quickly garner an extensive following. One type of personal blog, referred to as a microblog, is extremely detailed and seeks to capture a moment in time. This is what I am trying to do, capture a moment in time.

I am not an author, not even a wannabe author. Like most teenage girls, I kept a diary but that was the extent of my writing. In case you have not figured it out I DO NOT like writing; however, I was encouraged to start and keep a blog (thanks Jess). I thought this would be a good way to document my adventures as well as keep my friends and family up to date on my adventures.

Birthday - Merriam-Webster defines this word as the anniversary of the day we were born. I would define this day as...depressing. I have NEVER enjoyed my birthday, so as my 50th approached I found myself getting more and more depressed. A coworker/friend told me that for her 50th she decided to do/try 50 things she had never done/tried before, and she scrapbooked her adventures. Since I am an avid scrapbooker, I thought this was a wonderful idea (thanks Karla) and what a wonderful way to hopefully embrace such a milestone in my life.

This has become quite a quest. It has taken some real planning. More than a year before my 50th birthday, I began my "50" list. I had to search within myself to figure out what 50 new things I wanted to include on my list. After I started working on my list, I realized that this was going to be no easy feat, harder than I anticipated, so I recruited the help of my friends and family. After many months of compiling my list - adding, subtracting, refining - I am ready to begin my journey and I want to invite you, my friends and family, to come along for the ride with me. It is my plan to update this blog regularly throughout the next year so please check back frequently -- you do not want to miss a moment.

365 days, 50 new experiences/adventures, 1 girl, and many friends, that is where it all begins, and this is my story...