Holiday Spirit

Tis the season for sharing and caring. This was more than evident last night...

Around 4:00pm, Marcus and I started our trek in Boogie (his sprinter van) up to Aspen, CO to Lance Armstrong's book signing. We were both pretty stoked all through the 1.5 hour drive to get the chance to meet Lance. Yes, it goes without saying that he is a phenomenal endurance athlete...but we were amped to meet a man who has changed so many lives, who has helped so many people. Marcus and I have both been effected by family and friends who've had to fight cancer, so this night was touching close to our hearts.

We drove past the book store in search of a parking spot when I saw a line out the door I said, "Oh great, a long line". But I had no idea. We parked Boogie by a snow bank and headed toward the line...it just kept wrapping all around the building. Close to the rear of the line, we had a friend call our names. Laura Patterson was there, waiting patiently like everyone else, clutching to her chest a book to be signed. As we were chatting with her I realized that almost everyone had his new book. Marcus mentioned to Laura that we were going to just buy one inside. With a look of sadness on her face she said they were all sold out and there were no other book stores in town. So, we just stayed in line with Laura chatting and hoping to just get to see Lance and maybe shake his hand. Throughout our conversation, Laura mentioned she has a friend who care takes for Lance and would probably be able to get us a signed copy at some point.

The line moved fairly quickly. As we got in the door, Laura waved at a friend across the counter, who just happened to be Lance's caretaker. She was holding two copies of the book. Marcus explained our dilemma (not asking for a book at all, just telling her the story that we were bummed and that we wanted to get this book signed for a friend). Marcus kept moving with the line but as we passed the woman, she said to me "I'm supposed to give this to you, aren't I." I said, "Oh, no don't feel like you have to do that". She apparently had one of the books she was getting signed for her brother. Long story short...she said, "No take this. Hurry get up there, or you'll miss him". So...I ran up and handed the book to Marcus just in time for Lance to sign it and for Marcus to explain how honored he was to meet him and thank him for all he does with LiveStrong.

Before we left, we went back into the bookstore to thank Rene, the care taker, for giving up her book and asked if we could pay her. Her response, "No, just donate to LiveStrong". We left last night humbled, gracious, and speechless. What an amazing thing she did for us. Thank you Rene!

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