Charity In Motion, Unselfishly Giving

Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm,I get high with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.

McCartney

    From the time I was a child, one of my Mom's lessons was that no matter how little you have, you need to give back. " Even if you are poor, you share what you have with those less fortunate." We gave at Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and we collected for UNICEF at Halloween. It was a good lesson, because when you are closer to poverty, you understand how much more is needed by those who are truly impoverished.

    Growing up we mostly took. We were "welfare kids", and we received. I would go to the school office on Monday morning and pick up Blue lunch tickets for the week. They were for the free lunch program. We wore, for the most part, Clothes from Goodwill. Even the small amounts of cash that Mom could scrape up was by buying my grandmothers groceries with Food Stamps and Grandma would reimburse her with cash. At Christmas, they had a place called " The Santa Claus shop". If you were struggling, they would ask how many kids you had and give you "Santa Buck's" for a small shop, of donated toys.

    When I grew older, it always stuck with me, the need to give back.I wanted my children to know how well we had it. Every year, we would donate to Toys For Tots. Every Christmas we would teach the kids about giving to those who were less fortunate and I would vehemently defend single parents struggling who received charity, so quickly cast off as Welfare people. I didn't do any great acts, I was trying to raise a family myself, but I knew my personal life was much better off than my mom's and I wanted to teach what charity was with my children.

    About 8 years ago, I met through my Friend Pat Looney, a group of people who are walking the charity walk. They are a local group of guys and women called The Lake City Western Vigilantes. Originally it was a group of local businessmen, who could quickly be deputized and called into service to help the Police in Lake City Washington. Secondarily, they would dress up like cowboys at local festivals and raise money for kids in need in the area. As time went by they we were no longer needed to help the police, but the group became closer and fundraising became the main goal. 7 years ago I joined this great family to raise money for kids and share quality friendship time. They are my second family and dear friends with truly Hearts larger than most.

     One of the hardest parts of having a life altering ailment, is just that. It alters your life. The day I had my seizure, my world went a different direction. I was hospitalized, had surgery and could not see going back to work for a while. I was somewhat a captive as I recovered and went through treatment. GBM has two sides, the recovering and hoping side, and the getting worse side. Either side is tough on all. What i didn't expect was the depression side. As you wait, you think. And as you think, you miss the life that is going on around you. I have missed Summer. Weekends at the lake, time with my Grandkids, Trips on my friends boat,and raising money for kids.  I know it sounds trivial but when you are going through Chemo and Radiation, you need a lot of sleep and its the hardest thing for people to understand, because you look so normal, but you feel so lousy.

     As Summer comes to a close, a friend of ours, Kristy Hill, decides we need an end of summer party. A chance for us to get together with the Vigilante family and have a barbecue. It will be easier on me as we can have it at the lake, so I can bail back to the trailer if need be, and still hang out with everyone. I was looking forward to it.

    The day was saddened a bit as we attended a memorial service for a friend who had passed away. It was a beautiful service and well attended. After we headed up to the lake. I took a short nap as Heather and Mary made coleslaw and went down to the party about 6:15.

     I was completely surprised ! Instead of 30 or so people, this was closer to 150 people! It was a surprise benefit fundraiser for me! I have never in my life had a surprise party! There were people from work, contractors I have worked for, Friends from the brewhouse, and my dearest friends, the Freebergs and the Stewarts. There were Pirates, there were retired Vigilantes,there were Lake Connor friends and more!

    I was humbled and thrilled at the same time. Not only had so many people came out to celebrate, they had a full blown auction to raise money.Kristy had contacted the lady that owned the trailer we were planning to buy when I had the seizure, and she made a deal to help us out as well! Chuck Mellinger is a great auctioneer and with so many being so generous, not only did we raise enough to buy the trailer, we made enough to put a dent in our medical expenses at the same time!What an amazing night! People brought food, the brewhouse brought beer, everyone was so generous and we felt incredibly blessed!

     I believe in the circle of life. I have been blessed to watch it go round, to go from child to adult, from adult to parent, from parent to grandparent and now to the autumnal side. But nothing will ever warm my heart like the unselfish caring and giving of friends. Thank you seems entirely too contrite, but i will tell everyone thank you personally. Until then, let me tell you all how proud I am to be your friend. That you are the type of people I want to be, a giving loving wonderful ball of family taking care of others unselfishly. You are the glue that is holding this fight, and this lucky man together. I Love you all.

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