An 88-year-old woman in Colorado Springs who walks laps around a nursing home in memory of her deceased husband has hit a major milestone: 10,000 miles.

Martha Michel walks laps daily around the lake at Namaste Alzheimer Center. Michel started walking the lake with her husband, Lester, who was a patient at the center. After Lester Michel's death in 1998, Martha Michel kept up the walking in his memory.

The two were married 56 years and enjoyed hiking Colorado peaks until Lester Michel got too sick. Martha Michel keeps meticulous records of her walks around the lake, and on October 24, 2009, she hit 10,000 miles. That's about the same as walking across the United States three times.

Source: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com

How far would you go for someone you loved? I would like to think that for most people that would be pretty far, indeed. I'm sure there have been plenty of times when you may have gone without so that someone else you loved could have. I personally know several women who have put their career "on hold" to help put a spouse through school or raise a family. The obstacles people regularly overcome for their loved ones often seem unsurmountable and incredible to others. In the best of cases, we don't make sacrifices because we feel we have to, but because we want to.

Naturally, when you intend on being together with someone for the rest of your life (like a spouse), you tend to develop habits and do things together. Some habits are hard to break even when that person is suddenly taken from you.

Continuing to do the things you did together is good therapy. It not only keeps you active, but it can keep the memories fresh of the time you shared and reassure you that it was not time wasted or spent in vain.

Let Martha Michel be a perfect example of turning a fond memory into a lasting tribute.

")