Silent Angel Project

“I just want to say, good night, sweet prince, may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”~ Harry Dean Stanton

I have not been asked to do this. I am not being forced to write about this either. I do this because I still have love in my heart.

But I wish to take this time to share with you something that was close enough to become personal.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for the last year or so will probably remember the blog post that I wrote when I had reunited with my beautiful friend that I had not seen since I was a child over breakfast.

She was the one that I called the Bear Queen. She still is, to me. I still respond to her with “yes your highness” and she could be rolling her eyes at me. But that’s who I am and that’s what it is.

She’s still around. I talk with her every once in a while…

For those of you who are unfamiliar, here’s that post:

https://dambreaker.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/reuniting-with-the-bear-queen/

This weekend will come again the annual breakfast but this time I will not be graced with wonderful presence of the Bear Queen. How her absence will be felt and missed.

But fate has other things in mind. Her best friend in the world just recently lost her 16 year old child. And so the Bear Queen has been that pillar of strength and love and compassion for her best friend.

The Bear Queen even has set up her best friend to give her a little help with everything that has been going on. A little help to relieve some of the burden put upon her by this tragic loss. I tend to agree whole-heartedly when I hear people say that parents should not have to bury their children.

And I wanted to share this opportunity to help her friend in her greatest time of need. She is so close to reaching the goal. I would love to see her get there and go beyond. So many people already have contributed their love but this truly is a project that I believe in because it IS so personal to me.

Take the time to look around. To read everything there is to know. And do what you feel is best.

So please consider. I’d much prefer someone helping in this time of need more than anything. Now would be that time, and this would be that way of helping.

And to those who do decide, Dambreaker PERSONALLY gives you thanks in advance.

http://www.gofundme.com/6qrihc

 

Kindness

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”~ Princess Diana

Kindness. It seems like such a simple thing. It seems like one of the easiest things to manage. One of the most simplest of things to accept.

And yet I saw the struggles within a grown man as he attempted to give a little cheer to someone who was hurting. Someone who honestly wasn’t in dire “need” of anything, but the man wanted to give to that person some compassion, some love, and something to smile about.

Instead, I overheard a length combative conversation that even made me cringe to the very core of my soul.

Kindness and compassion. Love and generosity. These things shouldn’t be as hard as this. I realize that everyone is different and they react to things differently.

Some don’t know love and kindness and compassion. You just never know whom you may stumble across that you are being kind to, and they honestly react in a way that you were not expecting. Simply because they do not know honestly HOW to react. Others are experiencing what you and I might call pride.

But no matter what it is, it is hard to understand how or why people are not willing to open up to kindness. People don’t accept compassion and love and generosity. Because mainly, they always think in the back of their minds that you are wanting something from them in return.

Your intentions are clear. And so is your motive. But their brain fog is unfortunately not.

In this new year of 2014, I solely intend on showing more love and compassion. No, this isn’t a resolution. This is not some lofty goal where I expect a wheel of cheese at the end of each day if I am successful, and then I can have two desserts.

Hopefully nothing will kill the kindness. And that people will open their minds and hearts.

Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!

There Still Are Nice People In The World

Money definitely doesn’t grow on trees. At least not how we all would like to believe.

This morning, I had a visit with the RN.

She said that I was doing very well and improving at a spectacular rate. Something that they always like to report and that we like to hear.

Then she asked me if I had remembered the conversation that she and I had about my goals to get to sledge hockey tournament in Boston in 2014.

The Austin Blades program isn’t going to help if any of us players want to go to this tournament. So we have to do this on our own and raise enough money to go.

This RN apparently discussed it at some capacity with another patient of hers earlier in the week. And when she came by for a visit this morning, she reminded me that I was needing all the help I could get.

This patient, or whomever she told about my story…. proved to me that there are still nice people out there in this world.

This person (unknown to me because of laws) gave a cash donation of $10.

I was so excited and surprised that I couldn’t even think straight!!! 

A total stranger. I do not know exactly what was said. And I do not know who this person is. And I will never know, but they felt interested enough in helping me reach the goal.

A teammate of mine (the other assistant captain) vowed this season that when we heard where the next year’s tournament was going to be, that he and I would work together in trying to get the money together to go. We both would go, even if nobody else from the Austin Blades went.

So the fundraising is a little different, since everything is going to be split between the two of us. The goal is definitely not as high as my personal fundraising site that I put together on my own last year… which is still available to receive donations. That one is up to help me upgrade my equipment and be able to return what was loaned to me back to the team so we have that equipment for new players in the future.  IF you are interested in that one, please let me know.

This campaign though is for two people. Two players strongly passionate about the game of sledge hockey that its all we ever talk about when we get together. Eventually at some point in the conversation between he and I, the topic of sledge hockey or the team will dominate our conversation.

We’ve both gone as far as to say that sledge hockey is in our veins.

My partner in this adventure has already stated that he doesn’t want any presents given to him for any holiday, whether it be Father’s Day, a birthday, or even Christmas. Instead he wants people to donate to help him get to Boston.

I have jumped on that as well. I would request that anyone thinking about a Christmas gift or birthday to go ahead and just make a donation to help me out as well.  

Let’s face it though: fund raising is very difficult. Especially for things like this. I hate to sound like I am begging as well. But nobody can get anywhere if they do not ask.

And even though it is really early before the start of the tournament…. I believe an early start is a great head start!!!!

I already have received a donation from the kindness of a complete and total stranger. And I am very thankful for that person. So whoever you are– THANK YOU!!!

And if you are reading this and feel that you are interested in helping, or inspired by the story of the anonymous donation, the link to the site is in the Blogroll. Or you can click on the link provided below.

Even if you are not willing or ready to make a donation, by sharing the story of the stranger and the link would be very, very, very helpful.

We are not looking for or anticipating donations of large amounts. Anything obviously will help. And the more of those kinds of contributions that are put together then the goal can be met and our dream of once again going out, doing something that we love to do and are very passionate about, and having that personal independence to actually have the ability to play the sport, would make every cent and dollar that much more special.

So please help if you can. And spread the word. Think of the kind stranger who doesn’t even know me but still had enough in their heart to believe in me.

Thank you.

http://www.gofundme.com/2t2pvs

 

 

Compassion Award For April 2013

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”~ Dalai Lama

Its been a very difficult week for the United States of America. So many tragedies happening. Not too long after the Boston Marathon bombing came the news of a fertilizer plant that exploded in a small town called West, Texas.

West, Texas is just a few miles north of Waco, Texas.

It is a very sad story to hear and there is going to be a very difficult uphill battle for the town and its citizens.

Many people in Texas were horrified upon hearing the news. And even a full day later after the explosion, officials are not given any information on casualties and/or deaths.

This story broke nationwide for sure.

And throughout the pandemonium  hearing different stories that were actually never official that maybe up to 60 people had died in this explosion. Even early this morning there was a possible death toll of 5-15 people. But again, nobody is talking about those kinds of numbers. There are however, first responders and firefighters who missing at this hour.

After reading countless posts on Facebook about this tragedy closer to home, we enter the people whom I have given this month’s Compassion Award.

Brenda Flores, Auggie Del Ray

The band that I have recently been writing about, BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE, who comes originally from Waco, Texas had many compassionate posts by its members. Auggie Del Ray and Brenda Flores.

Just hours after the news had broke about this story, Auggie Del Ray was so moved that he decided that he wanted to do something for the people of West, Texas who were suffering.

The story last night was that many of the citizens were being evacuated and more or less left homeless until fires at the plant could be contained and the threat was diminished.

Auggie Del Ray in an act of selflessness, posted on his personal Facebook profile that HIS home would be open to those who were being displaced and evacuated.

He also was encouraging for those who could help to do so. No matter if it meant donating money or blood.

Then this afternoon, BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE came together as the family that they are, and now are going to give 100% of the proceeds of the band’s merchandise sold on the 18th and 19th of April to the victims of West, Texas.

Any kind of merchandise that you can find on their website, ALL the money will be donated!!!

It was very awesome gesture on behalf of Auggie, Brenda, and the rest of the band. And it floored me that they were so very willing to do this.

These kinds of tragedies will only be overcome by people willing to donate. Usually this means a lot of money for the restoration and rebuilding of what was lost, which was a lot!!!

So go ahead and buy yourself a t-shirt, some posters, a wristband, whatever you like. And do so knowing that your purchases will go towards the hurting victims of this disaster.

http://www.beautifuldisturbancemusic.com