July 19 – Thinking about others and paying it forward ….

I have figured out that writing every few days is better than trying to write every day due to time constraints, lack of sleep, busy schedules, etc.  Also I am finding it takes time to gather inspiration and also stories.  But for tonight, here goes a story or two or even three.

Part One – I had another of Amanda’s friends over for dinner tonight.  She had some funny stories to tell me about Amanda.  I also found out that Amanda confided in her and when Amanda was sad, J would console her.  Those are the friends that Amanda needed in her life.  Not the ones that told her to ‘drink bleach and die’.  J told me a story about passing gas and a penny.  It was very funny but I am not sure she would want me to repeat the whole story.  After dinner, J and I took the dogs for a walk (Mandy went for a walk, Charlie took J for a walk) to the pond.  We walked around and stopped at the bench.  The snowflakes are still there but the balloons are now gone.  When we got home, J went up to Amanda’s room for a quiet moment.  She had brought a sucker for Amanda.  Red ones were her favourite.  Quiet time was needed for thinking and reflection.  Things sure have changed.

Part Two – When we were at the park, there was a woman going for a walk.  She stopped to look at the bench.  I was there but standing a bit away from it.  After a moment, she turned to me and asked if I was Amanda’s mom.  I of course said yes.  She had seen the article in the paper of the bench and walked to the park to see it.  Then I received the biggest hug and we chatted.  It is so inspiring to be able to talk to the people who live in my community and to also see them come to the bench.  I hope that many will sit and watch the ducks in the pond swim around, the children playing, the teens swinging on the swings, etc.     It turned out that this woman was the aunt of someone else I knew.  The 6 degrees of separation thing is never that far away.

Part Three – Time never stops.  There is always someone who needs someone else.  The world is made this way.  What goes around, comes around.  If we take the time to help others, it will come back to us in a good way.  I posted a story about Mady and her websites.  I have texted with the mom.  There was a picture posted of ‘Princesss Mady’ today.  She was wearing her Amanda Todd bracelets.  She is the happiest and sweetest little girl.  You would not know by looking that she has to endure 3 heart surgeries.  The giving around the world has started for Mady, all the way from  New Jersey to Australia.  People reaching out to help a family in need.  We all have minor blips in our lives.  After Amanda passed away, my friends planned meals (on a calendar) for weeks. There was enough pasta, casseroles, bread, desserts, ice cream, etc. in my freezer to last for a very long time.  That was the generosity of my community.  So from a little conversation that occurred between two moms – one in Surrey BC and one in Toronto, the need for some support funnelled back to me in BC and we got something happening.  It is still in small scale but it is something.  Remembering that something is better than nothing.  I hope to visit Mady at the hospital sometime in the next few days.  I guess the bright side is that she is indeed in a hospital with good staff.

Tomorrow is Friday.  One dog to get a haircut.  One vehicle to pick up.  Hopefully a hospital to visit.  And one wedding to go to.   To all those who read this blog, here is a challenge.  For an entire week, doing a RAK (a random act of kindness) each day.   It can be a small thing.  It could be a big thing.  Make sure to write it down somewhere.

Off to bed to count sheep.  xoxo

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