Today's blog post is a little story and
a massive shout out to some people who are entirely over qualified to
be my friends. I will use initials or nicknames in case you don't
want the general public to know that you know me.
About a week ago, my mom called me.
(Shout out number 1)! She was at the home of some people she knew
that used to be neighbors of hers. They had moved and the place they
had moved to was burning to the ground. I do not know how she stood
there and comforted those people and had the presence of mind to
start making calls to have their things replaced, but she did. I
could hear the house growling and blazing in the background and I
could hear the woman shakily answering questions and the children
crying in the background. One of the worst noises were the clipped
quiet one-word answers that the dad was giving. But mom was able to
get clothing size information and the ages of the children out so
that collections could start coming in.
The post went up on Facebook and my
friends immediately responded. None of my friends have ever met
these people, but they stepped up and helped out. My other “Lady
T” (Shout out number 2)! started a cash collection at work and went
through her basement to see if she might have any clothes left over
from when her son was the age of the little boy. Before she gave me
the donation envelope, she opened up her own wallet and put her own
money into the envelope too. She took the time to send out a
work-wide e-mail to gather donations! I don't know the people she
works with but they all donated and I am so grateful for their
thoughtfulness. She also contacted her sister in Oklahoma and I
understand she is also sending out a box! (Shout out number 3)!
Then I went to PeeWee's house (Shout out number 4)! this past week
because she was having surgery. However before she had her procedure
done, she took the time to go through her closet and get out things
that she had bought and never worn. She is the same size as the
mother from the house fire and she collected everything she had that
still had a tag on it. That was a big help. I was given this lady's
measurements, and not many people I know are that small, but Ms.
PeeWee answered perfectly to the size!
I called my cute Sexy Face friend in
town (Shout out number 5)! and she went through boxes of things that
her daughters had worn. She has an older daughter and two very young
ones who's sizes are almost perfect for the little girl who lost her
home. She even offered to bring them to me, but she was already
doing plenty. I know she dug through several boxes to find clothes
to fit this little girl and she also found a coat for her and some
other things that I just take for granted, but Sexy Face knew they
would be needed. Then my friend from Tennessee who has put up with
me for 20 years called me, (Shout out number 6)! This woman didn't
stop with clothes, she has collected small appliances and house wares
for these people! I couldn't believe it when she said she had a
microwave, coffee maker and toaster oven for them. (I believe they
are moving back into my mother's neighborhood, so yes, they will have
a place to keep this stuff). She has clothes for both of the
children and toys! I was so relieved over the toys, because kids
don't understand why they don't have their toys anymore and why toys
aren't up on mom and dad's top priority list. She has basically gone
through and found just about everything she could think of that this
family might need. If she had a double of it, it was given away to
this family!
I have rarely run across this kind of
widespread generosity. To think that I know these wonderful, giving
people is truly a humbling experience. Some of us have plenty, some
of us have very little, but everyone gave what they could and that
is huge. To know that my friends took the time and initiative to go
through boxes and basements, to collect donations, to comfort people
when that had to be the one time I
would want to run away... to know this about the people I love is
life altering. I knew I had a habit of making friends with good
people, but I never imagined such wonderful people would allow me to
be a part of their lives. I am truly grateful to all of you and I am
proud to know every single one of you.
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