2004-11-20 ~ 12:57 a.m.

A Thank You, A Silly, And A More Silly

You guys are my new best friends. Anyway, in a few short hours, Cami will be walking along in 30 degree weather in Chicago for the Out of the Darkness walk.

She sent me a thank you to post to all of you. (If you read SOMETHING POSITIVE, you might have already seen it. And if you don't read SOMETHING POSITIVE then you really should start. It is full of funny.

Anyway, here is her letter to all of you wonderful people that donated or thought really hard about donating...

*************
Dear Friends:

I'm leaving in a few hours to begin my cross-country adventure in Chicago on behalf of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. When I started on this project I was just one girl trying to give something back to some people who had given something wonderful to me. I was doubtful as to whether I'd even be able to raise enough money for my entry fee. Little by little, donations from close friends and family members trickled in. In today's world, where AA is chic and unplanned pregnancies hardly raise an eyebrow, depression is viewed as "weakness" and suicidal feelings mean "crazy". I was afraid of what people might think, but I took a chance and shared my story with a few colleagues. I remember how alone I felt when I made my hotline call - sad, worthless, unloved, undeserving. I was sure that nobody could understand how I was feeling. Surprisingly, what I found through this endeavor was that MOST people understood how I felt. It seemed as if every person I talked to had either considered suicide themselves or lost someone they cared about. The support I received from friends and colleagues was overwhelming. One friend in particular, an extraordinary woman named Chris, took my cause as her own and helped me in my fundraising efforts. Suddenly, donations were pouring in from all over the country - complete strangers who had made their own hotline calls or lost friends spoke up and said, "I understand", "I've been there", and "I want to help".

There simply are no words to adequately express my gratitude to all of you who have supported me in my effort. Whereas originally I feared I couldn't raise my $150 entry fee, with your help and incredible generosity I've been able to raise over $2000 for this important cause. Maybe one person can't save the world, but all of us together may be able to save a life.

From my heart, thank you.

Cami Manninen
Las Vegas, Nevada

***********

And, for being an extraordinary woman, I've been promised a snow globe from the windy city. :D

Anyway... that was a lot of fun, and, again, I can't thank you guys enough. I just don't know how. I don't know the fancy words, but thank you. You've truly amazed me.

But, that is over now, so let me enlighten you to other news... FINALLY!

I have neighbors. They are silly. Let me introduce you to them....

Obnoxiously attractive couple, no?

Anyway one day, we were talking to them, and we mentioned that we have no clue when recycle day is, and if maybe they could leave a porch light on when it's recycle day. And then it all went downhill to all of us doing really poorly made up baseball signals.

Anyway... the next night... we come home... and we see.......

THIS!! on the lightpost that is right where we both put our trash out...

HOWEVER... I will not be outdone...
So, I.....

DO THIS!!!

So, on their garage, it looked like

THIS!!!

on their garage door. Trust me, if I would have had my way, there would have been glitter involved. It might have been a little bigger too, but my killjoy husband had to look at me with those damn eyes and say, "Um... they seem real nice, and I think I would like to continue to talk to them."

So there that is...

And is THIS wrong to do to a dog?

{ previous ~ next }