You will discover that you have two hands. One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.

I am overwhelmed.  In fact, if I stop and think about all the generosity of people over the last month and a half, I will break down and cry.  People have come out of the woodworks to help me reach my fundraising goal and I'm talking people I haven't talked to in YEARS.  I sent out over a hundred letters to family, friends, old high school buddies, on and on, thinking, "I'll be lucky if I see $50 out of all these letters, but ya never know."  It's true.  You just never know who is going to step up and say, "I want to help."

A high school friend of mine, Brook Brewer Sloan, e-mailed me and said she thought it was great what I was doing and she really wanted to help.  She makes beautiful crocheted hats and she offered to make one for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, donating $10 from each hat to me, while selling the hats for only $15!  Also, my wedding photographer, Joncee May McFarland, donated two photo sessions worth a total of $400!  ALSO, my hairdresser (who actually got me into this whole thing) donated a cut/color.  My mom's neighbor, whom I'd never met until last weekend, gave me $120.  My dad's friend, Mike Runnion, who again I've never met, donated $20 plus a bunch of items for my yard sale.  My friend, Jill Heinz Fitzer donated a HUGE box of gorgeous baby clothes that I sold at my yard sale for a TON of money.  My mom's co-workers have donated money, my co-workers have donated money.  My family and friends have all donated money.  The list goes on and on. 

It just makes me want to do Team in Training forever, so I can continue to see this wonderful, amazing side of people that I don't normally get to see.  Normally, I get people giving me the finger as they're cutting me off in a hurry to get to work.  Or the dirty looks when they think I've cut in front of them at the grocery line.  Or I get to hear how bad everyone's life is and how much everything sucks.  You know what?  You're right.  Some things do suck.  BUT...have you ever had cancer?  It sucks a lot worse than getting cut off in traffic or having a bad hair day.  At least you have hair to complain about.  I have an idea for you...the next time you're having a bad hair day, CUT IT OFF AND DONATE IT TO CANCER PATIENTS.  JUST A THOUGHT.

I'm getting off track here.  This blog is about people's generosity and how grateful I am to be able to see people in this light, even if only for awhile.  I'll end with this thought.....

"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

                                     -Etienne de Grellet