Seeing D.C. : The JDRF Walk on the National Mall
Our t-shirts, silently shouting "Bailey's Buddies!", were courtesy of the artistry of Jake's six year old hand. A bright electric green, we stood out among the thousands of walkers on the National Mall.
Just before the start of the walk, a voice asks from behind me, "Excuse me, are you Kerri?"
I turned around and had the pleasure of meeting Kevin (you know him from the comments sections of the blogs!), his beautiful wife and their little dog.
"Hi! I'm Kevin! I recognized you and Chris from the blog."
It startles me every time how strong this community is, even when we mostly haven't met one another in person. Someone I've never met before comes up to me, recognizes me from the blog, and I'm so happy to see them because I know them from their comments. Meeting Kevin - who is very cool, with a fantastic beard and an easy smile - reinforced why I blog in the first place: to make sure that we're not alone with this disease. Not for a second.
About 30 people strong, the Bailey's Buddy Team walked proudly away from the Capitol Building, towards the Washington Monument. Jake spent the first few minutes of the walk giving Chris and I a version of a tour. The dialog went as follows:
"Kerri, I want to introduce you."
Me, wondering who a six year old wants me to meet, replied, "Sure thing, Jake."
"I'd like you to meet (with a flourish of his little hands) The Capitol!"
A bit later, as the Washington Monument came into view, Jake tugged my sleeve again.
"Kerri, I have something else I want you to meet! Meet ... the Washington Monument!"
I tried not to giggle out loud, so instead I grabbed Chris's arm and said, "Hey Chris! Have you met the Washington Monument! Jake would be more than happy to introduce you."
Jake trotted off to show the status of his pedometer progress to his mother, as she pushed a sleepy Bailey along in the stroller.
Chris and I walked on with pride, stopping to talk to Kevin, having the pleasure of meeting 
Megan (who worked for the D.C. JDRF) and her husband, and the countless other walkers who were there to support Bailey and her family. Such a caring, enthusiastic group, coming together to support the search for a cure for Bailey. For me.
For all of us.
And I look forward to the day when I can tug at someone's sleeve and introduce them to a building.
"I'd like you to meet ... the Joslin Diabetes Clinic! I used to have to go there.
But I don't have to anymore."
Comments
Isn't Kevin just an awesome guy?!
I've never met him, but he sure has dropped some very useful comments over at my place. Always gets me thinking (and thanking!).
One day we will have a national OC Bloggers convention. How cool would that be?
I really have fun at walks like this - talk about bringing people together! Isn't it neat?!
Jake sounds like a hoot!
Posted by: Scott K. Johnson | May 9, 2006 05:57 PM
Kerri, here's to hope! Go Bailey's Team!
Posted by: Nicole | May 9, 2006 06:51 PM
I always cry like a baby when I do the walk. I don't know if I believe there will be a cure most days, but when I see all those people, all there for one reason, it makes my throat tighten and my heart grow three sizes and I can't help it, I cry.
Posted by: julia | May 9, 2006 08:15 PM
We had such a great time with ya'll! Thanks for being one of Bailey's "Best" Buddies, not to mention FOD (Friend of Dee!) If I ever get to leave this desk, I'll recount my own Six Until Dee with Kerri and Chris...
Posted by: dee | May 9, 2006 09:01 PM
I like your new site.
And finally I understand its name.
Posted by: Kieran | May 10, 2006 06:26 AM
Thanks for the complement on the beard, but honestly... I'm not that cool.
It was great to meet you, Chris, and Dee at the walk as well. I knew that you all were going to be down at the walk and while I thought there was a slim chance of actually finding and recognizing you -- the neon green "Baily's Buddies" shirts certainly helped! And even though I felt like a celebrity stalker in the beginning, that uneasiness quickly went away when I realized you’re just as friendly, genuine, and straightforward in person as you are in your writing.
And meeting you in person continues to affirm why I read these blogs: the sense of community here is just priceless (Perhaps Chris could whip up a MasterCard commercial on this…An Insulin Pump: $6,000; A vial of Humalog: $54; Box of 100 Test Strips: $115; The Diabetes OC: Priceless). And I really do appreciate the repeated kicks in the pants to get my own blog up and running. One day, one day.
Posted by: Kevin | May 10, 2006 08:30 AM
Hi Kerri,
I hope you don't find me rude but I have to ask. I am from the UK but that's no excuse for being stupid but what is the Joslin diabetes center? Is Joslin to do with some guy who first used insulin?
Also, who is baily?
How far was the walk, looks like you had good weather!
:0)
Posted by: vicki | May 10, 2006 12:27 PM
Vicki - The Joslin Diabetes Center is one of the leading diabetes research hospitals in the world. They are located in Boston, MA and my endocrinologist's office is there. I've updated the post to reflect a link.
And Bailey is the three year old daughter of a friend (who happens to be a fellow blogger). She has a cute little face, a six year old older brother, and she also has type 1 diabetes. Chris and I went to D.C. to support her walk team. And the walk was just over 4 miles, complete with massive national monuments and warm sunshine!
Kevin - It was so cool meeting you. *gently twisting your arm* Boy, I bet your blog would be good. :)
Nicole and Julia - Those walks really make me feel inspired. And small. And so big, all at the same time.
Kieran - I'm glad you like the site. And hopefully the name makes sense. I've made sure I brought your link over here with me.
Dee - Next time, we're getting good and trashed. :)
Posted by: Kerri. | May 10, 2006 01:26 PM
How cool to do a diabetes walk in DC! Ours here, in Cleveland goes through some very unsecenic areas.
I was wondering if you could fix the link for my blog, sweetblood - the correct address is sweetbloodmks.blogspot.com, right now it links to sweetbloggmks... no big deal, whenever you get a chance
Melissa
Posted by: melissa | May 11, 2006 09:51 AM
Melissa,
I fixed the link! Sorry about that.
- Kerri.
Posted by: Kerri. | May 11, 2006 10:05 AM
Kerri,
How great that you and Chris were able to walk with Dee, Bailey, Jake and all the other Bailey Buddies! These blogs sure are useful... :)
tek
Posted by: tekakwitha | May 11, 2006 10:34 AM
Thanks for the super -quick fix Kerri! I felt like an a$% asking for it to be corrected but since your site gets so much traffic...
Thanks for all the amazing writing you put out there & all your support for us bloggers!
Posted by: melissa | May 11, 2006 11:28 AM
Hey Kerri... I was at the DC walk too and I def. saw your group geering up for the photo in front of the monument. That would be the exact time I ran ahead of my group to the bathroom and came out and they were gone :( (miscommunication, they thought I said I'd catch up). Anyway I had a feeling that Baily's team was a fellow blogger. I was going to say something, but my blood sugar was low and I was dropping glucose tablets all over the ground... I was looking for the group at the end of the walk, but didn't see any bright green t'shirts.
Posted by: mytime79 | May 12, 2006 01:41 PM
MyTime, I wish you had found us! Our green shirts made us pretty visible.
And I was low pretty much the entire walk, too. Good thing I grabbed a few juices at the start, because there wasn't anything along the walk path! Four miles? No juice? Not good.
Posted by: Kerri. | May 12, 2006 01:51 PM
Good site. Thanks.
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