Where are my shotgun riders?!

We all know what "riding shotgun: means.  We all have been in a position with a group of friends where we've "called shotgun" and beat someone to the passenger seat of the car so we could ride in the front. So riding shotgun pretty much refers to the practice of sitting alongside the driver in a moving vehicle. What you may not know is that the expression comes from  the days of stagecoach travel and was derived from the term "express messenger".  It seems as if "riding shotgun" wasn't coined until 1919 and was often used in print and film depiction of stagecoaches and wagons in the Old West in danger of being robbed or attacked by bandits.  The person riding shotgun would sit next to the driver with a shotgun or rifle to provide an armed response in case they were threatened.  Recently, and most importantly, the phrase "shotgun rider" has been more specifically used to refer to giving actual or figurative support to someone in a situation; watching their back.

 *****

 

When I was trying to come up with a name for my team last year, it didn't take long. I knew it had to honor my dad. I knew it had to be unique. I knew it had to have something to do with Tim McGraw. My parents and I love Tim and always see him live when he's in town. We have for many years.  In 2004, his song, "Live like you were Dying" hit Number One on the charts and that summer, the three of us saw Tim live.  When he sang that song, it was emotional right from the opening lines:

"He said: "I was in my early forties,

With a lot of life before me,

And a moment came that stopped me on a dime.

I spent most of the next days,

Looking at the x-rays,

Talkin 'bout the options and, talkin’ ‘bout sweet time."

I asked him when it sank in,

That this might really be the real end?

How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?

Man, whatcha do?

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."

And he said, "Some day, I hope you get the chance,

To live like you were dyin'."

 

So, I thought maybe I need to incorporate that song into my team name somehow. But nothing came to me. It just didn't seem to work. Then...... it hit me.

 

At the time, Tim had released a new song called "Shotgun Rider". From the minute my parents heard it, they fell in love with it. It's a perfect love story for them.  They can't imagine not being together.

"Roll, won’t you come roll with me slow, fast, full speed

Girl, wherever sweet time takes us

Hang, with me down this old road

Only God knows where we’ll go

Don’t matter long as I’ve got your love

 

I don’t ever want to wake up,

Lookin’ into someone else’s eyes

Another voice calling me "baby"

On the other end of the phone

A new girl puttin’ on her makeup

Before dinner on Friday night

No I don’t ever wanna know

No other shotgun rider, beside me, singin’ to the radio

Slide, slide over nice and close

Lay your head down on my shoulder

You can fall asleep I’ll let you

Dream, life ain't nothing but a dream, don’t wanna be

Cruisin’ through this dream without you."

  

It's also a perfect name for my team to honor my dad. From the minute he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996, my mom and I have been by his side. Every time it has recurred, we've been right there by his side. When someone I love is threatened, I delve into protecting them. I research, I go to doctor's appointments, I ask questions, I suggest options. Doctors are human beings. They are no different than the rest of us except they chose a different career path. I respect them but I also will challenge them if I don't agree with them. We are responsible for our own bodies and health and it is up to us to be informed and knowledgeable. Ultimately, we are in control. Doctors guide us and hopefully, it's in the right direction. Dad was fortunate enough to have an incredible oncologist, Dr. Katcher, who unfortunately retired December 31, 2014. When Dad's cancer returned again, it was very upsetting to not have Dr. Katcher on the case but we are so fortunate and blessed to have Dr. Moorer pick up where he left off!


I can't take my dad's cancer away. I can't take my dad's pain away. I can't take his medicine for him. I can't do his treatment for him. There are things I can do though and I will do them the best way I know how. I can love him. I can support him. I can listen to him. I can arm myself with knowledge and do my best to help him and the doctors.
But all of that didn't seem like enough. I needed to be productive. I needed to feel as if I am helping; making a difference. I needed to focus on what I could control so that I didn't downward spiral into a depth of emotional solitude. That is why I decided to participate in the ZERO walk for the first time last year.


There is no where I'd rather be than by my dad's side, riding shotgun, supporting him and battling prostate cancer with him. I've got his back now and always. No matter what happens. Each person who joins the Denny's Shotgun Riders team also makes that commitment and shows their support as one of his shotgun riders as he fights prostate cancer yet again. We've always been there but now it's about physically showing it. Being one of Denny's Shotgun Riders means that we've got his back. It means we love him and we will do everything we can to support him through this battle. I, honestly, can't imagine anywhere I'd rather be.


Thank you to Mary Anne, Jason, Maurine, Brian and Melissa for being a part of  the Denny's Shotgun Riders Team again this year. Also huge thanks to Sarah for joining the team for the first time and constantly showing her support in so many ways. 


There is still time for YOU to join the team and show your support for my father and for helping us put an end to prostate cancer! We'd love to have you!! Just click the link below and sign up today!

 http://zero.convio.net/site/TR/RunWalk/RunWalk16?team_id=1043&pg=team&fr_id=1082


No one should ever have to fight alone!