Walking to defeat ALS in Okeeheelee Park

My third time was truly a charm at the Walk to Defeat ALS in Palm Beach County.

Walk Committee Chairwoman Dorothy Bradshaw, whose Daddy died from ALS complications, rallied the forces and raised a boatload of money while creating a fun-filled family day on Saturday, March 21 at Okeeheelee Park.

The SpenWen team was there in memory of Susan Spencer-Wendel. She was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and courts reporter for the Palm Beach Post. Susan died on June 4, when she was just 47.

The day was full of emotional moments, with remembrances in the form of shoes and signs for those who died from this horrible disease. Inspiration was there, too. Family and friends gathered to honor the legacy of a loved one.

Before The Walk

The day began with the Maureen Corps doing an Irish Stepdancing performance to honor their dance teacher, Maureen Drake, who died 4 years ago from ALS complications. I loved their T-shirts:

Bird-watching at Wakodahatchee Wetlands

The chattering of the mating birds was overwhelming Sunday at Wakodahatchee Wetlands.

The birds drew visitors who packed the parking lots heading to the boardwalk while holding digital cameras with gigantic zoom lenses or powerful binoculars or smart phones. I had my trusty iPhone 5S with me.

A woodstork helps to build his nest while sharing the
tree with egrets, anhingas and herons.

Martial arts extravaganza in Lake Clarke Shores

Paying it forward.

That's how In-Nae TaeKwonDo studio owner, Bridget Hammond, lives her life.

In early 2014, after reading Susan Spencer-Wendel's memoir, Until I Say Goodbye, Bridget felt compelled to help Susan who was diagnosed with ALS. Bridget sent a text to Susan: "I'd like to help by walking your dog. I am not a crazy woman, I live in Lake Clarke Shores."

And then she explained how when she was immobile from breast cancer surgery, she came to depend on the kindness of friends. They drove her kids to school and one came weekday mornings to walk her six-month-old Irish setter, Murphy.

Bridget Hammond greets guests at her martial
arts studio, In-Nae TaeKwonDo.

Exploring dog area at Okeeheelee Park

This past week, I cut short my walks with Sadie because I was on deadline. I promised that on Saturday I would take her to the dog area at Okeeheelee Park.

Saturday came and it poured most of the afternoon. We had to wait one more day for her first trip to a dog park. I was glad we did. She found a playmate in 7-month-old Audrey, a mixed-breed that also is a rescue.

Audrey's owners found her on Petfinder, a Match.com for dogs, the mom said. "You put in all the characteristics you want in a pet, and it returns a list of potential pets," she said. Sunday was Audrey's first time at a dog park, too!

Sadie, my Cairn-terrier mix, did not know what to make of
 the shih tzu-mix that wanted to sniff her butt.