I decided to go to the driving range this afternoon.  It was sunny, but not warm...about 45.  The wind was blowing a bit, so as I reached into my bag for my Golf glove and also found some lip balm.  I picked it up and looked at the label...it read Wilmot Cancer Center.  It was a "tee prize" from a golf tournament; the Mike Fennell Memorial Golf tournament that benefited the Wilmot Cancer Center and Le Moyne College.

When I first met Erin, she spent several nights at "golf meetings."  She and a handful of the guys in the neighborhood planned the annual golf tournament.  The first year, the tournament funds went to medical bills and educational funds.  In the years after Mike's death, the tournament funds went to the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Wanting to impress Erin and win her over, I volunteered to help in the tournament planning. I loved golf and had some experience in golf tournament fundraisers through the United Way Campaign at RIT.  Through the experience, I met some great neighbors and their equally great wives.  As a planning committee, we pulled off three successful tournaments.  Each year, the cancer center supported the tournament with tee prizes including the t-shirts and lip balm.

As I looked at the label on the lip balm, the irony of what I was reading wasn't lost on me.  There was no way that I could have known that the work I did...that we did...on the tournament to support the cancer center would end up benefiting me...benefiting us.

I looked at the label for a few moments longer and smiled.  I shook my head acknowledging the irony of the situation, said a brief prayer of gratitude and headed in the door of the driving range.  The fresh air smelled a bit fresher; the sun felt somehow warmer.  My golf game still needs work, but I really couldn't care less.  It was a day to enjoy...a good day to be alive and grateful.

[Blog title from "Ironic" by ALANIS MORISSETTE]