Posts Tagged ‘Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’

Basement Songs: Death Cab for Cutie, “Grapevine Fires”

This past week, whenever I stepped out to get in my car, a thin layer of ash dusted the roof of my blue Jetta. CDDeathCabThis constant reminder of the dangerous fires burning nearby rouses images of last November when that season’s wildfires prevented the Pasadena Half Marathon from being held. I had trained all year for the race to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I was prepared to fulfill my obligation to the donors who supported me, but there would be no official race. Instead, my half marathon would take place on a 13.1 mile course I’d mapped throughout our city. Despite the health risks of airborn particles, rising temperatures and a pair of thrashed running shoes that should have been replaced a couple months earlier, I ran for my son and my family.

Two particular moments come back to me from that Sunday morning in November of 2008.

Early in the run, around the five mile mark, I began an ascent up a mile long hill that leads past a new subdivision. I came over the horizon to the sight of the sun hanging up in the air like an orange, trying to burn through the smoking plumes coming from the south. A deep blue sky filled in the background behind the sun and the haze, creating an impression of glory and dread. As I gradually worked my way to the top on tired legs, Death Cab for Cutie’s “Grapevine Fires,” from their remarkable CD, Narrow Stairs, accompanied me on my journey. This song carries the weight of Death Cab for Cutie’s typical melancholy, yet I found strange comfort in the shuffling drum beat and the haunting lyrics, words that I read as strangely devotional between the song’s characters. Of course I thought of my family and how committed we are to each other. As the day progressed, all three of them, Julie, Sophie and Jacob, would meet me at various locations to provided me with a refill of water, snacks, and the cheers I needed to complete my solo run. (more…)

Basement Songs: Bruce Springsteen, “Working on a Dream”

workingsingleEach spring when Great Strides rolls around and we begin fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Julie and I do our best to write a letter that grabs people’s attentions and hopefully inspires them to make a donation. This is actually a pretty tough task. We want to convey how devastating cystic fibrosis is, yet still rejoice in the fact that our son, Jacob, is doing well. We want to share that although Jacob’s health continues to be good, living with the disease has really taken a toll on him emotionally this year. And while we are incredibly fortunate that Jacob is doing well, lives are lost everyday. Despite the medical breakthroughs being made each day, children and adults fighting for their lives are losing their battle with cystic fibrosis.

Last week, as we toured our daughter Sophie’s classroom for open house, hanging on the bulletin board was a paper she’d written in class about her greatest wishes. Included among her noble thoughts was this one:

“I wish my brother didn’t have cystic fibrosis. He has to do breathing treatments two times a day and take many pills. Sometimes he gets so sick he has to go in the hospital.”

These succinct, simple words by our beautiful 10-year-old daughter brought tears to our eyes, summing up what our entire family, both blood and extended, are feeling.

Back in December, I purchased the title track/first single to Bruce Springsteen’s latest. As the song has received regular airplay in our house since then, the words have taken on deeper meaning.

I’m working on a dream
Though trouble can feel like it’s here to stay
I’m working on a dream
Our love will chase the trouble away

I’m working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I’m working on a dream
And our love will make it real someday
(more…)