This summer has had an endless supply of warm, beautiful days but within the last two weeks a definite turn has occurred. Daylight hours are shortening but more noticeably it has been cooler. So it was noteworthy that bookmarked in between five or six gloomy days was this one very special, gorgeous day; Sunday, August 29th.
It could not have been planned better.
It could not have been more special.
Just like Dawn, herself.
An open water swim, starting at 9:30, was followed by Dawn’s celebration of life there at Waverly Beach Park in Kirkland. Lots of great food and stories; both for endless consumption. About a hundred people.
I’ve known the Jaeger family for at least 15 years having swum against Dawn’s husband Mark and later working out regularly with him and Dawn at the Northshore Y pool. Occasionally one of their three boys would join us. They have a daughter, too.
5AM, Monday through Friday. Very, very special people.
Dawn’s name is littered about the 50-54 & 55-59 age group female top twelve all time; breast, back and IM. Open water events also.
Then six years or so ago, Dawn got sick. Soon she found out why. Pancreatic cancer.
She went through it all fighting that heinous scourge. And through it all I can never once remember seeing her and not noticing that sparkle in her eye that she always had. Always!
I remember back in 2019, before Covid at the PNA Champs. She was there, albeit swimming only relays.
The consummate team player.
That was Dawn.
Chemo had taken her hair and sapped her strength so she kept her swim cap on and mustered what she needed to help her Lake Washington team.
And her smile never wavered.
Joan of Arc had nothing on Dawn courage-wise.
Then Covid came and I fell out of touch with the Jaegers for about 9 months.
She passed in December surrounded by her family.
I can’t write this without my eyes welling.
There are three types of people on this earth: Those that make the world noticeably a worse place by their being here, those that really have little affect and those that make it a better place. Dawn not only was in that last group, she was one of their leaders.
She will be sorely missed.
The event hopefully will become an annual competition and though there was a competition this year it was unsanctioned. I have a feeling that will change.
TWIM was well represented by our President, Dan Underbrink as well as Steve Fogg and yours truly, Scott Neuhaus. Danny, as usual, led the way on the swim.
