Jim and I have known each other since I was nineteen and he was twenty-three. We came from the opposite ends of the world, and the universe brought us together. Perhaps it was fated...because we were two halves of the same whole, souls united, hearts entwined, both of us storytellers at heart. Or maybe we met and fell in love because we had the same outlook on life and community and who we were and what responsibility we had, not only to ourselves and family, but the community around us. I know I am getting philosophical here. Yes, there were physical attractions too. ;-)
Through the years, we’ve moved many times, lived many places. Each time, it didn’t take months but days before we became part of the community. This post isn’t a list of everything we did and didn’t do. It’s not about our record of volunteering. It’s about how the people we’ve met have influenced our lives. Here is a couple of them:
· A volunteer hospice visit in Goshen, Connecticut. An elderly woman, confined in a wheelchair and living alone, surrounded with piles of dirty dishes and laundry, asking me not to bother with that stuff, but “Sit with me. Hold my hand and talk to me.” She wanted me to see her and be company with her, as no one saw her anymore.
· Stonington, Connecticut. Our elderly landlord telling us (when we were two young newlyweds): “Every day, give more than you get.”
Yesterday, you our friends, saw the two of us. You gave more to us than it’s ever possible for us to give. You are lifting our spirits and warming our hearts and making us feel loved. We’re grateful. We’re humbled.
We’re also stronger and ready to fight harder because of you.
Thank you. And we love you.
A friend has been kind enough to set up a GoFundMe fundraiser.
Here is the link to that page.
Thank you!