Today I did something that I hadn’t done in well over two years and even though I know some of you will think it’s stupid, I felt myself getting emotional about it.

I took off my Alzheimer’s Awareness and Livestrong bracelets.

I was in a photo shoot at work and I needed to take them off for the shot. I stood there for a second thinking about how long it’s been since those purple and yellow bracelets have been on my arm, about what they represented to me and could feel myself getting a little anxious inside.

See, those bracelets mean something personal to me so taking them off has never been an option. Even though I knew everything would be fine without them on my wrist, I still was hesitant to remove them.

I’ve had the same Alzheimer’s Awareness bracelet on since Sept./Nov. of 2010. I wear it to remember the Man Who Helped Mold My Life, my Pappaw. I got it (and the shirt below) to wear in a race along Lake Michigan back in 2010 and I haven’t taken it off since. Even though I’ve got newer ones I could wear, I’m kinda attached to this one.

The Alzheimer’s bracelet I’ve worn for over 4 years helps me remember Pappaw.

I also wear my Livestrong bracelet to remember my stepDad, James, who bravely fought cancer before losing the battle in the summer of 2012. I know some people took off and threw away their Livestrong bracelets after the Lance Armstrong debacle, but that didn’t bother me. That’s because my bracelet had zero to do with Armstrong and everything to do with James.

This picture of Mom, me and James was taken on July 9, 2011 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

So yeah, today I was flooded with emotions about two GREAT men who are no longer in my life. But it was OK because even though they are always with me, today I’ve thought about them more than usual and that makes me smile.

I’ve thought about getting tattoos of a purple and yellow ribbon as a permanent reminder of those two, but I’m not sure where I should get them.

I know there will come a time when I’ll take off the bracelets for good, but until then I’m going to do my best to not remove them again for a very long time.