Head Band of Hope

I just celebrated my 38th birthday, I had a great day. Bob's trip was cancelled a day early, so he actually got to spend the day with me. It was a nice surprise. We had family in town and had friends over.I got presents and was treated like the Queen that I am.
One of the best parts of the day was ,of course, opening my presents! Although I loved everything that I received that day, my favorite gift came in a very small package from my brother in Seattle. First, the card he sent me made me cry, it was so beautiful, but inside the box was a blue, Nike head band.
At first I did not understand the significance of it, until I read the inside of my brother's card. He had sent me one of my father's head bands that he wore during one of the last marathon's he had ever run!(from some of my last posts, you may remember my father was an avid marathon runner)
Robbie wrapped it in the box from my father's favorite cologne, and he told me I was to wear it during my triathlon! I just started crying and I couldn't stop. I held the hand band up to my nose, and I could smell that familiar smell, the head band was faded , and you could tell it was well worn.
On my race day, I will have this head band on, I will wear it with pride and know that my dad is there with me, cheering me on, encouraging me to do my best, beside me all the way to the finish line! To me this is more than a head band, it is a band of hope. Hope that when you work hard for something, and with determination and perseverance, you can and will accomplish your task. My brother has told me that he is now going to start training for a marathon, so I told him on his race day, I will gladly send the head band for him to wear. What a great way to celebrate my father's life, to race for him, with him, and beside him.