I Am Feeling .....

.... a little bit like Oprah.  Just a wee bit, because really .... how many billions would it take to REALLY feel like Oprah?!

I've been away from the computer most of the day and enjoying time with Melodie .... yes, THIS Melodie.
I received a message from Michele that I seemed to have created a "fire storm" ..... which was a very good storm to have started.  Especially because it wasn't in Yosemite, or Yellowstone or any place like that.  I guess if you're going to be responsible for a fire storm the best place to ignite it is on the web.

So anyway..... cough, cough ...... I'm trying to wave some of the smoke away ..... now that I am in my pj's and able to check my email and FB .... what a great day.
What a truly, truly great day.  :)

I do not feel worthy in the least of all the wonderful things people are writing about me.  I'm just thankful that I can do this .... and help you guys connect with us .... and with each other.
As I have said before, it is my passion.  Who would've thunk?
Not me.
I didn't even think I'd be alive this long after Jim died.

And I know that some widowed people start out on this road .... and then feel the need to move off of it when they feel stronger.
And that's how it should be.  For them.
But I feel that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.  For now.
I have no idea how long I'll feel this way, but I don't see it changing any time soon.

My passion is to let you know that you are not alone.
My passion is to let you know that you are not crazy.
My passion is to let you know that your timing in doing things .... is the perfect timing for you.  No matter what anyone else thinks, or tells you.

When I started this contest I had no intention of ending it the way that I did.  I was going to choose one person.  Which was going to be quite easy because for about 3 or 4 days only one person commented!  And then suddenly there were 7 comments.  And then 20.  And then 27 .... plus the comments from people who weren't entering, but just cheering everyone on.

And as I read your comments ..... every day, I started to think that there was no way I could pick just one of you.
And I think I told Michele that.
So I thought that maybe I'd pick two.

And then last night I read through each and every comment.  And my heart broke for each of you who needs desperately to be at Camp.  And then I knew.  I knew that I couldn't choose just two.  I couldn't let even one of you stay home if all that stood between you and Camp was a few hundred dollars.
Not if I could help.

A few hundred dollars is a lot of money.  I know that.  It can mean the difference between groceries or AC.
But I couldn't stand by and know you wouldn't be at Camp because of that.

So I did what I tend to do more often than not ...... I acted quickly and without a lot of thinking.  Jim was the thinker.  I was the doer.  We had a good balance.  Now I'm just the doer.  Which has made me regret some things that I've done on the spur of the moment .... but not this.
This did not require a lot of thinking.
And I don't regret it.
At all.

In fact, I left this part out last night when I posted the names ..... but I'm going to sign all 27 of you up as volunteers!!
What?!  Did you think you were going to get this without any strings attached?!
Because .... really???!  I AM the National Volunteer Coordinator for Soaring Spirits.
And .... more importantly ..... I am the mother of six (yes, 6) children.  Who all know that nobody gets anything for free.  And that with privileges come responsibility.

You will all be my slaves for the weekend.
OK, that's not exactly politically correct (I ABHOR political correctness) ..... or true.
I will not automatically sign you all up on my volunteer list.  I will wait for you to tell me that you'd like nothing better than to volunteer for the weekend (and really, it doesn't take up that much of your time and each volunteer area is easier than easy).

I still need to hear from some of you so that I know you are aware that you won .... and to make sure we get you registered.
And so you can tell me that you'd love to be a volunteer.  Or not.
It's not a requirement.  You're still a winner.  In every sense of the word.

So happy Thursday/Friday, Peeps.
It's been a great day.  Has it not?
:)

You'll have to excuse me now.  I need to go call my best friend, Gail, and give her the latest about me and Stedman.