thoughts of extra innings

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

This evening, more than 200 friends and family members attended the Oakland A's game to raise money for the memorial scholarship funds for our cousin Zoe. It was a successful and fun-filled event!

There were so many moments when I just knew that both Cindy and Zoe were smiling right back at all of us, as we were looking up into the beautiful, bright sky.

Most notably, hearing my niece Michaela cheering "Let's Go A's!" and "Let's Go Scott!" (Kazmir, tonight's starting pitcher). This was her first A's game. I'm sure Cindy was pleased that the tradition of young Rabuy girls attending A's games was being upheld.

The game went into extra innings, and unfortunately the A's lost in the 12th inning.

But there were two other moments that made it so worth the time and energy of sitting through the entire game. And that was getting to see our mom - sporting her bright gold A's jersey and matching gold A's cap - singing and dancing to the music playing in between those late, extra innings.

I know one time she was dancing to the song "Shout!" from the movie Animal House, and I think the other time it was to the song "Ladies' Night" by Kool and the Gang. Watching her dance was priceless.

Our mom was channelling Cindy's silly, playful energy. And as I turned to watch my daughter Cyn Cyn dancing along with her Lola, I realized just where that energy originated from; that we all got it from her.

Thanks for the reminder, Cindy. And thanks for giving me even more reasons to enjoy an evening at an A's game. I have a feeling that you and Zoe were dancing along with us too!

thoughts of simple green

shared by VJ Rabuy, her sister

When I was in elementary school and Cyn was in junior high, she brought home a small sample packet of the cleaner 'simple green'.

I guess it was new - or new to the Bay Area, but the thing that was amazing about it was that it was a super small sample size, like 0.5 or maybe 0.3 fl. oz. You were to put it in a 24 oz. bottle of water to dilute it!

That's how the cleaner worked! 

A couple of months ago, I noticed my Tito Pol using the same 'simple green' product to clean the headstone of our grandparents’ grave. I thought back to the ‘simple green’ that Cyn and I had used to clean the house.

It had been a while since I had thought of it, and I was pleased to recall my first experience with the brand, and Cyn's sample from way back when.

thoughts of see jane run

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

Today I participated in my first 5K event, the See Jane Run 5K and Half Marathon. My good friend, Mar, and I have been walking buddies for a few years, and somewhat randomly decided that we would give a 5K a try.

We trained a little bit, but I had never jogged the full distance prior to today. I actually woke up this morning thinking that we were going to walk the entire distance; especially since we hadn't had a chance to walk together over the past week.

But to my surprise, we were able to run (slowly jog, really) the entire length! I was very shocked, while also relatively proud.

My 5K experience made me think of Cyn. Seeing the pairs, trios and small groups of friends running together... I just knew that running a 5K - or even a marathon - would be something that Cyn would have eventually done.

I'm not a runner, and don't have "run a marathon" on my bucket list. So I realize now that my heavenly sister was running with me today. She inspires me everyday and I could feel her whispering, "Come on, you can do it... you might as well just keep running, since you already started."

So thanks Cyn, for the extra motivation and support. And the weather today was simply perfect - another way that I knew you were smiling from above.