Susan, aka WhyMommy, is an easy woman to love. She's smart, generous, loving and kind. She's nothing short of amazing, and it has been such a pleasure knowing her for the past two years.
The first time I met Susan, she and Jean aka Stimey, were driving me to the DC Metro Moms launch party at Le Chat Noir in Friendship Heights. She was wearing a headscarf, and I immediately wondered if she had cancer but figured it wasn't something I should ask about so soon. As it turned out, I didn't need to ask, because the topic came up in the course of the drive, and she shared about IBC, which I'm ashamed to admit I had never heard of before that evening. I was in awe of her.
More than two years later I'm still in awe of Susan. In her honor, I decided not to do an actual science experiment so much as enjoy nature remembering her own family's love of the outdoors (and her boys' penchant for climbing trees!).
During Spring Break, my friend Mica and I took our kids to Jekyll Island, Georgia, where we took every available opportunity to ride bikes, take long, winding nature walks (we saw alligators, cranes, birds of prey, and tons and tons of bugs -- including Chiggers that live in the Spanish moss). The children climbed trees, swam, learned about sea turtles at the Georgia Turtle Rescue Center, and were in touch with the outdoors every single day. That's not something I always do here in the DC suburbs, but on this trip, I wanted the kids to experience nature, to appreciate what the natural world has to offer, to ask questions big and small, even if I don't always know the answer.
Susan, you are an inspiration. Your commitment to your children, to your husband, to science, to your friends, family and fellow mothers with cancer, has helped so many. I hope you feel loved today and every day as you battle cancer. We are here for you and can't wait to take a nature walk with you and your boys some day soon.
Thank you to Jean for setting up today's Virtual Science Fair!
It sounds like you all had a great time!
I love the picture of the kids in the bicycle thingy!
Posted by: Sunday Stilwell | April 08, 2010 at 07:19 AM
That sounds like a great trip! Thank you so much for participating in the science fair!
Posted by: Stimey | April 08, 2010 at 09:54 AM