The Lowell PInk Arrows

To your right you will see a photo of Jason wearing his 2009 Pink Arrows Jersey. On September 11, 2009 the Lowell "Pink" Arrows played in honor of cancer victims and survivors. Jason played in honor of Scott's mom, Janis Watkins, who died of lung cancer 3 years ago. Scott walked across the field with Jason and Janis' name was announced. It makes me cry when I watch the video because I am so proud of Jason and Scott. You'll see the name Watkins on the back of Jason's jersey. It was so special to us that he played in this Pink Arrow game, even having his name announced several times for tackling players from the Grand Rapids Union High School.

The September 11, 2009 game was so incredibly amazing. It was a sea of pink in the stands. The pink parade of band members, cheerleaders, and players was led down the path from the highschool by two police cruisers and a firetruck! It was an amazing sight. I cannot describe the pride that I felt that my son was part of this event.

Jason had the opportunity to choose who he wanted to play for, and he chose Grandma Jan. It's my hope that she was watching over Scott and Jason that night and saw that we remembered her in this way and that we think about her every day. We really miss her.

Jan was so young when she died. 64 years old, and Scott's dad John (who we named our John after) died of cancer at the age of 59. To me, I have this fear that if Scott and I don't do something to make our health better, we won't live a long life and see our grandchildren grow up. John and Sam are very young and I want to see their children grow up. I want to see Jason and Jourdan's children and grandchildren. Having high blood pressure and high cholesterol is not the answer to that goal. So here we are, working to get healthy.

I was sitting in the stands and happened to look over to where the band was playing before the parade started and I saw Scott Story. Actually, I saw him from the back and on the back of his t-shirt it simply said "Story". I hoped to go over and say hi to him, but there were about 3000 people between the two of us. It made me think of Dee and how Scott is way to young to have lost his young wife. I think about him alot, even though we don't know each other well. But his loss of Dee has touched my heart and makes me think of my own health and my dear husbands health. Losing two parents at such a young age, scares the hell out of me.

So, now you know my thought process and my motivation. To get healthy. I don't need to be a size 4. I just want to be healthy. I want to see my children grow up and I want to see my grandkids and my greatgrandkids. It's that simple.