Ronnie and Mandi in the Arizona Desert
March 27, 2010 — unknowncystic
I really enjoy reading about, and watching video of, Ronnie and Mandi. I like following their exploits in the Arizona desert, watching them singing rock songs while driving and eating romantic dinners at the hospital, making the best of every moment.
Interestingly, I discovered today that cystic fibrosis has very little to do with why I enjoy the adventures of Ronnie and Mandi.
Yes, cystic fibrosis is a terrible disease that I hate to my core and obviously plays a role in their lives. However, like a flower that grows alone on a rocky hillside, CF can also defy logic and conditions and blossom a courage of love unlike any other. And it is love, not cf, that makes Ronnie and his heroine such a compelling story to witness.
Their actions and joy in the face of a mighty wind exemplify what is best about youth and humanity – no matter what life throws at you, being together with the person you love, if only for a moment in time, can overcome the most insidious of enemies. These two crazy kids embrace the storm and reach out to others, telling them, together we are stronger.
So, today, I sit ignoring my work. Instead, I take a moment to admire Ronnie and Mandi and every other cf couple who has said “no” to fear and “yes” to the here and now, and who has treated life like a juicy orange and squeezed every breath and drop out of it. And, I’m grateful for 24 years with my wife.
I thank Ronnie and Mandi for sharing their story. I wish them a lifetime together and humbly pass on this Springsteen verse, as it has served me well over the years:
We made a promise we swore we’d always remember
No retreat no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter’s night with a vow to defend
No retreat no surrender
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