2020 brought another C-word, this time to the whole world and more challenges than anyone could have predicted. Like everyone else, Silver Lining has had its challenges trying to navigate these difficult waters. Our monthly gatherings have turned into monthly Zooming, or as we like to call it, Hollywood Squares (for those of a certain age). During the spring and summer, we took our other activities outdoors; Friday morning coffee hours, Tuesday eve hikes, bi-weekly strength training workouts and you could find us behind the Pearl Café, paddling on our dragon boat ergometers on the parking lot.Â
Epic would not describe our day in September when we took turns paddling on an outrigger canoe the length of Flathead Lake. The first ever Paddling Palooza, we launched at 7:30 a.m. from Polson and hugged the west shore, landing on the north end in Somers around 3 p.m.. We were flanked by 5 support boats that were so generously donated by members of our local community. Our goal in paddling that day was to continue to spread awareness for breast cancer survivors that EXERCISE IS TRULY MEDICINE. And along the path of training and paddling together, we continue to inspire each other, to find camaraderie, strength and joy and to empower other breast cancer survivors.
We have in our sights a lofty goal on the horizon, to travel to the Club Crew Dragon Boat National Dragon Boat Championships next summer in Sarasota, Florida. The race is tentatively scheduled for July but pending covid, will be pushed to October. There is a lot of work to be done between now and then but we are up for the task. This is a group that doesn’t shy away from a challenge and we are looking forward to taking this on.
There’s an old saying we use amongst ourselves, to circle the wagons. Back in the old days of the west when there was impending danger, the wagon train would circle up to protect the most vulnerable in the center. When one of our sisters has a recurrence or bump in the road, our Silver Lining ladies circle the wagons. In that same manner, YOU, our local community has continued to circle the wagons for us. We are humbled and grateful. For all you that have supported us along our journey, we say THANK YOU!
