I go through every day these days looking for the topic of my evening blogging.. It’s kind of a game.. I know the topic is out there .. hiding. I just need to turn over a few rocks.. mull over  few conversations.. notice soemthing that’s dropped in my lap or tossed in my face. Sometimes it’s obvious… for example I already know what I’m goign to blog about tomorrow (spoiler alert !).. we’re going to be cleaning our attic. It will be fun, frustrating, energizing.. and in parts very sad… anything that turns up memories like that can have a big effect on me.
   More often though.. it’s a word that comes into my mind.. as in ‘clarity’… a few days ago.. Sometimes the word’s meaning is obviose.. sometimes not so.. Today I was speakign wiht my freind Julie and the word ‘satisfaction’ came to my mind.. it was in the conteect of a work discussion.. but I wasn’t .. and am still not.. sure of the meaning.. was it ‘satisfaction’…a s in ‘cant get no…. ? ‘   or was it ‘satisfaction’;.. or .. is it satisfaction.. as in that’s what I’m supposed to  be seeking. .. or as in I’m satisfied now.. ..  I gave it a bunch of thought today and I’ve concluded that ..at this moment in my life,   I’m truly satisfied.. That;’s not to say that everything has been perfect up to this point.. of course it hasn’t.. Sam’s passing has made perfection impossible.  .. And I know too much to say anything at all about the  future… Again.. Sam’s passing has taught me the hard lessons of impermanence and the unpredictable nature of life.   What I am sayign is that for right here, right now.. (9:17 PM on 10/9/2009 on my couch in Jonesville VT )  that life is good… and for that I’m truly grateful..

   On the topic of gratefulness.. We received the following  note by way of our dear friend Hannah.. This is in reference to a Friends of Sam fund raiser from about a year ago. Friends of Sam, is a group of Sam’s friends.. and their friends who have raised money in Sam’s name over the past 3 years to help other folks in need. Last year they ran a Skate Jam at Talent skate park with the help of our wonderful friends Hannah and Dave . The goal was to raise enough money to help our friend Deb’s Friend Abraham bring his wife and child over from Somalia where they are in a camp. It looks like all of their hard work is finally paying off and Abraham’s family will finally be reunited. !   I want to thank all of the Friends of Sam kids, their folks and Hannah and Dave for making this happen.. And wish Abraham and his family all the best here in the states !

Hi Hannah,
    A lot of time has passed since your group raised a great amount of money to help Abraham N get his wife and daughter here.  It has been a very long and arduous process.  His wife has had to go through all sorts of hoops to get the proper documentation, medical exams, tests, deal with immigration, etc.  The final steps in the process are completed and she has been approved to get the visas for her and the little girl.  Abe is beside himself with excitement that it is only a little while before his wife and daughter will be here with him.  She is picking up their visas on October 21st.
      We’ve run out of money and I’m working at raising enough money for the plane tickets and then they will be able to come here.  I wanted you and all your friends to know that your hard work and your generous donation are a major factor in making this happen.   After they arrive we will plan to have a celebration and I will be in touch so you and all the other kids can come and we can thank you. 
     Please let everyone know that the fundraiser you had has paid off and the most difficult part of the mission could not have been accomplished without all the money that you raised.    There is no way Abe or his wife could have ever come up with the money that was necessary to go through the bureaucratic hoops necessary to immigrate here.  YOU KIDS ARE THE BOMB!!!!   We will be in touch once Joyce and Anyier get here to let you know that his dream has come true.  Miracles do happen because of the goodness of people like you!  Thanks again and again.
 
Love, T and J

People are good..

… and I am sleepy.. so that’s it for tomorrow.. Tune in tomorrrow for our ‘cleaning the attic ‘ edition of John’s blog..

Nite folks.. Nite Sam !
-me