Don't Get Me Started with Linda Sharp

More Room In Santa's Sleigh!

Hi everyone - I hope this finds you slowly emerging from your Thanksgiving food coma and looking ahead to a relaxing weekend.

Just wanted to update you and let you know that we have adopted four more children who are being selflessly raised by their grandparents.  Money is beyond tight so we are helping with a giftcard for food, and will insure that Santa remembers these children come Christmas morning with something special for each one.

Your donations are being made to beg for mercy through endless searching for the best prices, coupons, free shipping, and imagination!

Do we have room for more in Santa's sleigh?  That is completely up to you!  Spread the word!

In The End

Indictment.  No indictment.

There was never going to be an answer that satisfied everyone.  There simply wasn't. 

What there was going to be is what we see happening.  Anger.  Sorrow.  Fear.  Suspicion.  Gloating.  Goading.

And at the end of it all, when the collective attention of the spectator-comment-board-Facebook-armchair-jurist rabble is turned by something newer and shinier, all that will remain is this:

Another life is gone too soon.

All evidence presented to the Grand Jury will be released.  It will be available for any interested party to wade through and decipher.  And in the end, all that will remain is this:

Another life is gone too soon.

Will this be a teachable moment?  For police?  For media?  For the general public?  Sadly, I doubt it.  The life that was lost did not belong to anyone of import.  Just another young black man easily stereotyped as a "thug," "punk," "criminal."  And just another police officer just as easily tagged as a "dirty cop."

Sadly, this country's history holds that our most important changes; most stunning civil rights victories; most eye opening lessons come only on a wave of blood.  When will we learn without bloodshed?  When will we embrace changes without first embracing carnage? 

What is the TRUTH in Ferguson?  I. Don't. Know.  Until the evidence is released and I invest the time, I don't know.  What I do know is this:  In the moments of their encounter, a life was taken, and another life was altered forever.  And the truest answers of what happened went to the grave with one, and remain in the conscience of the other. 

To everyone watching Ferguson:  If you agree with the decision, don't gloat.  If you disagree, violent words online are not going to change the answer any more than will violent action in the streets.

Tonight there will be serious unrest in Ferguson.  No, violence is not the answer.  But as I go to bed, I fear waking to find that another life, more than one, will be gone too soon.

Because tonight, so many are blatantly celebrating - that has already been documented. 

And because tonight, the community of Ferguson is angry - that has already been documented.

And in the end, all that will remain is this:

Another life is gone too soon.  And another teachable moment is passing us by on a river of someone else's blood.

Yes, Virginia Update - Hunger, No Games

Hi everyone - just a quick update.  Have spent time this weekend elfing.  While there are some sparkly things for little girls, and outdoorsy things for a young Boy Scout, etc, the majority of requests so far are for food.

That, to me, is heartbreaking.  And I am stretching our funds as much as possible to provide giftcards to local grocery stores in their respective areas.

To anyone who may immediately think, "What about area food banks?" - a friend today posted about that very thing.  Sadly, food banks are stretched to their breaking points, especially at this time of year.  She also pointed out something very true, and something I admit I am guilty of doing:  Food bank donations are often comprised of what somehow managed to crawl into our own pantries, but that we were happy to get rid of when our child was collecting cans for school or church.

Hunger is embarrassing, it just is.  It should not be, but it is.  But then, it also should not exist.  We can do better than throw cans of near-their-expiration green beans or Rotelle at nameless, faceless people we may never meet.

As the emails I have received highlight - "they" can be "you" in the blink of an eye, through no fault of your own.  Life, economics, jobs - they all turn on a dime.

Help if you can.  So far we have collected $720.  Things are tighter all around this year.  Some of you have contacted me directly about sending checks - I will email you privately when those arrive.

Linda

 

Yes, Virginia, There Is A DGMS

I was asked to bring forward the Yes, Virginia/Namaste page so that those unfamiliar with what we do each year could better find it, read it, and share it.  So please, spead the link, and spread the word!

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This holiday season, the DGMS Blogmunity is coming together once again to help those among us who need a hand keeping the magic of the holidays alive for their children in these difficult economic times.

In the past, you have helped save a kitten by paying for his surgery, raised funds to help Shawn towards her goal in the San Diego 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk, sent a young girl to college by helping to cover her tuition, made an apartment a reality for another DGMS regular, helped cover the emergency vet expenses when Monikka's dog, Bitsy, was attacked, and purchased new mattresses and bedding for another wonderful family.

I am constantly humbled and amazed by the generosity of spirit and true support you all extend whether to one another or to total strangers I bring into the spotlight.  Please know I do not come knocking on your hearts without thoroughly vetting a situation or person first.  That you trust me for more than just daily laughs, maybe a few tears thrown in here and there, is not something I take lightly or would ever violate.

I know, in the tens of thousands of silent visitors who come here daily, and even in the vocal crew who keep the comments section lively, we have families who are struggling.  Parents whose hearts are aching at the thought of not being able to provide their children some cheer this Christmas.

I want to hear from you.

Please share your story with me.  And in turn, I will share them with the blogmunity.  (Anonymity can obviously be honored when I write.)

And perhaps, just perhaps, through the incredible generosity of the people who make up this blog, we can raise the money to make your holiday a bit brighter. 

To those who would share your story, I ask for your honesty.  That is paramount in this endeavor.  And I would ask for your patience as I vet your situation.  Perhaps your child's biggest wish is something simple - like a Barbie or an RC car - yet it is still out of your reach.  Perhaps warm clothing would bring smiles. 

To those who would donate, I ask for your faith and trust.  Faith in the people this blog attracts.  Trust that I will see your donations turned into help for real people, with real needs and wishes, and turned into real smiles on real faces.

Donations may be made via Paypalto [email protected].  If you would prefer to write a check, as many have done with their donations in the past, please contact me directly for details.  I will keep you apprised as to how we are doing as donations begin to come in.

Our economy is depressing.  Family budgets are tighter than ever.  But I just don't believe that any child should have the magic of this season stolen from their hearts because of it.

Yes, Virginia, There IS A Santa Claus, because this year - once again, there is a DGMS Blogmunity ready to help him load his sleigh.

Want to help put presents under the tree this year? CLICK HERE! to be taken to Paypal where you can donate via [email protected].

Putting The Elf In sELFless

This past week I received an email from a young lady whose heart wants nothing more than to help her family.  Her email perfectly captures why we do this every year.  With her permission, I share with you a portion of her email.  (Personal and identifying portions redacted for her and her family's privacy.)

 

Linda,

I'm writing to you in hopes that you can help me this holiday season. Watching my family struggle as they do brings me to tears almost daily. My father is working as a night stocker at (removed) along with his other job, and my mom is working two jobs as well. I have 4 younger siblings in high school, middle, and elementary. Things have been really rough for about a year and a half now.

I didn't know how bad the money situation had gotten until the moment my mom told me she was taking some of the kids Halloween candy and putting it away to use in Christmas stockings this year... If I could give every penny I owned to my hard working parents, I would. I'm moving back in with them in 2015 to help them pay for rent and food. I never would have imagined it could get this bad for my family and it makes me sick to know that there are people out there who have it even worse. I've already been thinking this week about what I could do to help them and when I read your post I couldn't help but ask for some support. Any dollar would help.  My family is very simple and my parents would NEVER ask for anything.  I know they would be overjoyed with a giftcard to get gas or groceries. This is all I can think of at this moment.

Thank you for remembering the true meaning of Christmas and spreading joy to the hearts of others through your blog. It's good to be reminded what it's really all about. Please let me know if there's any way I can help you help others this holiday season. I would be happy to donate my time to you and your wonderful cause.

Name Withheld

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This young lady will be receiving our help for her family.  We will be providing a grocery store giftcard as well as something for each of her siblings to open Christmas morning.  She wants nothing more than to see them happy and help her family in any way she can.  I may get to be the Elf, but she is the sELFless one.

Please help spread the word about our efforts.  And if you can donate, the link is always open on the left side of this page.

Sometimes Rose Colored Glasses Are A Good Thing

In politics, as in most areas of life, "you win some, you lose some."

Whether last night had you cheering or crying in your beer, I'd like to offer up an alternative to the gloat or mope parade taking place today.

I admit, everything in me was pushing my fingers towards the keyboard this morning.  I knew what I wanted to get out, what I wanted to say.  But I made myself do other things instead.  I ran errands, and I thought.  I made flarfs, and I thought.  I packed a box for Kendall, and I thought.

And in thinking, I calmed down, and I refocused on something I firmly believe.

Regardless of which side of the aisle champions your causes; no matter who you cast your ballot for; whether you "won" or "lost" - you are more than a bumper sticker.  The people I may not agree with politically are more than adversaries, people who see the world differently.  Just as I am not one thing or one issue - neither are they.  We are all complex.  I may not agree with someone's views, but that's not all a person is.

They are mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, daughters, sons, grandparents, friends.

As I always told the girls when they were referees: on a soccer field (come on, you didn't think we'd get through this without a soccer analogy, did you?), regardless of the call made by the ref, 50% of the people on and around the field are immediately pissed off and feel wronged.

But life goes on after the whistle.

Just as this country will continue to churn along.  People will go to work, look for work, enlist, go to plays, concerts, soccer games.  People will cut their grass, shovel their snow, vacation, get root canals and Botox, have heart attacks and live, have strokes and die, and they will welcome their families in for the holidays.

THAT is what helped me refocus today.

I started thinking about our yearly Yes, Virginia campaign to help keep Santa alive in so many homes where Christmas spirit was a candle ready to go unlit.

And in thinking back over the time we have been doing this, it dawned on me:  Not once in seven years have you asked who your dollars have gone to help.  And not once have I ever even contemplated the voting record of the parents who reach out for our assistance.

Because it doesn't matter.

When the chips are down, we come together.  It is that simple. 

I don't care if I am elfing for someone who votes red or blue.  I care only that someone is hurting in a profound way and has asked for help. 

I care that we have kept electricity on, provided Christmas dinners, bought beds for those who had none, shoes for bare feet, winter coats to keep kids and parents warm, pet food for hungry furry family members.  I care that we rally every time this year and manage to create smiles - not just on the little children's faces, but on the faces of their parents whose hearts had been dying at the thought of trying to explain why Santa couldn't come.

I care about what happened last night, I do.  But it is done.  I am well aware of the challenges and even the dangers ahead, but my hope is that those who feel like "winners" today will eventually remember that there are just as many people who "lost" who are every bit as invested in this country as are they.  And I pray that those who find themselves involved in the governance of this country will remember that they are there to help everyone, regardless of red or blue.

Just like we here at DGMS do every year at this time.

Rose colored glasses?  Maybe.  But sometimes, that's not a bad thing at all. 

I think I'll go with candy cane colored glasses.  :)

Give if you can - the Yes, Virginia link is open - and the good feelings are free.

Revisiting The Faux Indignation Over Holiday Shopping Dates

I wrote this last year, but given the wailing and mourning being done over Thanksgiving shopping hours, it bears updating and repeating.

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I swear, not even Chicken Little lost his shit this badly when he thought the sky was falling, but with article after article appearing decrying how stores are "robbing" employees of their holidays, you would think Armageddon is upon us.

Just stop it.

Your indignation is faux at best, and seriously cherry picked at worst.

Yes, retail outlets are one by one announcing they will now be opening earlier than midnight after you have gutbombed your turkey and pumpkin pie.  Yes, that means those stores must be staffed.  Yes, that means some employees won't get to indulge in a blessed food coma or political repuke vs libtard family lovefest around the fire.

And you know what?  That's fine.  It is the nature of the beast of retail to extend hours, offer special deals, and do whatever it damned well pleases on holidays.  And if you don't like it, DON'T GO.

See how easy that is?  Say it with me:  DON'T GO.

But don't get your ass in a knot about it like these stores are doing something unprecedented, morally obscene, or repugnant.  They aren't.

I have watched my Facebook feed and comment board after comment board fill up with wrongteous indignation about stores daring to open on Thanksgiving.  "I won't shop there ever again!!!"  "How dare they rob families of their precious time together on Thanksgiving!!!!"  "Let's all boycott <insert name of store in article>!!"

And the media, dear God, the media.  Just as with ebola, they cannot just report the facts - you know, the dry, boring FACTS that serve to do one thing: accurately inform the public - no, they have to insert themselves, drama, and theme music into their pronouncements.

"Kmart will be opening at 6am on Thanksgiving."  FACT

"KMART RUINING THANKSGIVING!!" (<--- Picture that with rivulets of dripping blood.)  Hyperbolic bullshit intended to get clicks and rouse the rabble.

Well, mission accomplished.  The masses are acting like asses, right on cue.

How conveniently chosen is their target.  How dramatic the rending of their garments for retails workers across the land.  And as I said, how cherry picked is their indignation.

Think I'm wrong?  Process these words and then try to defend your position again:  Airports, Airlines, Fast Food, gas stations, grocery stores, 911 operators, nursing homes, home alarm monitoring services, ticket takers, concession workers and camera operators at your sacred football games, HOSPITALS, police, fire, EMS, HOTELS.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg of convenience you take for granted.

Don't these poor, beleaguered workers deserve the day completely off, too? 

How about we just shutter the fire department and when your cousin Jethro burns your house down by drunkenly frying the turkey on the back porch, you can warm yourself by the flames and by the happiness you get from knowing the firefighters were all home watching the game and eating crescent rolls.

And I am sure you won't mind bleeding out when the hospital doors are locked and you accidentally cut a wrist vein instead of the onions for the stuffing.  Rub some dirt in it.  They'll be back open on Friday.  And don't forget to pick up Grandma from the nursing home because no one will be there to change her bag or give her meds on Thanksgiving.  Doors will reopen at 8am on Friday to redeposit her.

And if Granny falls down the steps and breaks a hip when you ring the dinner bell?  Tell her not to bother pressing her Life Alert bracelet - she'll only get a recording.  Toss her some Motrin and a blanket, 911 will answer your calls for an ambulance the next day.

Traveling over the river and through the woods for the holidays?  Take some extra gas cans if you're driving because those Valero, Shell, and 7-11 employees should not have to work just so you can conveniently stop and fill up on gas and beef jerky along the way.

Flying?  Forget those much cheaper flights ON the holiday.  Pilots, mechanics, flight attendants, airlines workers, airport janitors, etc deserve better than missing their families just so you can save a buck and a vacation day by not traveling the day before.

Am I making my point?

People light this rage fire once a year the same way they do the whole War On Christmas nonsense and neither is anything but ridiculous.  (If you are too obstinate to process that not everyone worships like you do, then you deserve coal in your originally-a-pagan-holiday-called-Saturnalia stocking.)

If Best Buy being open on Thanksgiving offends you, don't go shop there on Thanksgiving.  But don't fool yourself - thousands of other people WILL, and that is why they will be open.

Just as hospitals and airports and hotels are open 24/7 (hell, prior to ramped up security concerns, most did not have locks on their doors - no need) because that is the nature of their business and what their clientele demand, retail outlets are simply responding to their customers.

I worked in hotels for years and always worked holidays.  Hell, I volunteered.  It was no big deal.  I didn't whine about it, I still managed to see my family for a portion of the day, and I got time and a half for my effort.  With Rudy's hospitality career, this family has consistently shifted holidays, anniversaries, birthddays to accomodate the needs of the industry.  NO BIG DEAL.  In fact, he will not be coming home this Thanksgiving.  A holiday is when and what you make it.  Just because everyone else is eating turkey on Thanksgiving does not mean we can't make it the day before or after - or in this case when he finally comes home at Christmas.  No one in this family is emotionally scarred over it.

I feel sorry for retail employees during these massive holiday shopping days for one reason:  THE CONSUMER.  I don't feel sorry for them because they have to work a shift, I feel sorry because they have to put up with US, and WE, collectively, act like asses in the face of a cheap electronic.

Want to really help them?  If you are a part of the crowds, ACT LIKE A HUMAN BEING, not some slovenly pig at a trough.  Treat them with respect.  Thank them for their assistance.

Because bitching about their stores being open is so much faux bah humbug.

Yes, or No, Virginia, 2014?

As we are in the first full week of November and I have again begun to receive inquiries, I wanted to open up the idea of Yes, Virginia / Namaste for 2014. 

Like last year at this time, I go back and forth with opening it up again to ask for funds. 

And just as I wrote last year:  I know times are tighter than ever for people, so if it is simply not possible that we do it this year, I understand.  We have done great work for many years keeping Santa alive.  And we have used the fund this past year to help several fellow DGMS family members in need.

If you can donate, I promise, as always, to pinch every penny till it begs for mercy, to find every discount and coupon code possible.

If you are new to DGMS and are unsure about what the fund is, what it does, or how to donate, you can read all about it HERE.  And you can see some of the little faces we have brigtened through the years.

 Families need our help.  Let me know what you think and we can move forward from there.

Linda