Green with gratitude

Is that a thing? Could it be?

When I decided to send out a monthly update on the 17^th, I didn’t really look ahead to future dates to see what that might mean. And here it is March 17^th and it’s taken me all day to sit down and write this. Because St. Patrick’s Day--with all of its “luck o’the Irish” and green beer and sure it’s a fine day to celebrate! It’s not like it was a big deal in our home growing up—as a mom I probably only made sure the kids wore something green to school so they wouldn’t get pinched! But Annie as a mom would go all in and put green food coloring in the toilet bowl, scatter Lucky Charms cereal all over the kitchen table and leave a few chocolate coins to be discovered as if a mischievous leprechaun had visited the night before.

We’re also closing in on the date that will be a year since Annie died and I’m not feeling particularly celebratory or lucky. (I know…I wrote about Lucky Numbers last time. That’s different.) But, once I start thinking about how unlucky I am—and this happens all the damn time—suddenly the ways in which I am lucky show up. We are NOT lucky that cancer overtook Annie’s body and ended her life, way too soon and way too fast. I stand pretty firm on that. But when I think about how we, as a family, have been supported and loved over the last year after having such a terrible thing happen, I know that there are still ways to be grateful in this life.

And I can’t mention gratitude without calling out the friends and family who have been there for us in so many ways. Especially in helping pull this nonprofit together. I can’t believe what we’ve done in such a short amount of time. A scholarship has been established in her name for this year—isn’t that awesome? And I’ve met with the Conservation Committee in Woodbury to see about having an outdoor space dedicated in Annie’s memory. We have drawings and stories for the dolls she imagined, the ones for kids who don’t have typical heroes, but deserve them anyway.

If it sounds like I’m bragging, I’m not. I’m mostly stunned. Because none of it would be happening without other people. Not me, not her immediate family—others. Her friends, her colleagues—my colleagues. I’ve gotten the sweetest notes from people and it touches me so deeply to know they thought so much of Annie that they reached out to let me know.

It would touch Annie to know how many people have responded to our creating this nonprofit for her, too. It would embarrass her first, but then I know she would be so honored to be on the receiving end of all this kindness. That was her thing—spreading kindness. And it’s our goal and what we want to keep in mind and what we want to promote.

So, on this St. Patrick’s Day, this 17th, I’d like to thank you all for being a part of what we’re doing here. You’re our pot of gold, however you’re doing it—by subscribing to this newsletter, sharing the information with friends, making a donation, or sending a note to share with us how you knew Annie—we love all of it and all of it supports what we’re doing. Sláinte!

Thanks for keeping up with the work we’re doing. We appreciate that.

If you’re a donor, subscriber, friend or human who’s interested in what we’re doing—HUGE thanks! We literally can’t get any of this done without you, so thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts. ♥️

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