Karl
Squire
Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Posts: 1103
Location: Louisville, KY |
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 Our many thanks |
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This past weekend our friends, Regan and Lance, owners of Through The Looking Glass Tea Shop in Shelbyville, KY (please, please, PLEASE go there and buy some tea or one of the many cool things she has to offer! Her place is amazing!) sponsored us in a house party organized by some other faire friends, the Panzarellas. Donations were made in our name, and this was presented to us by Lance and Regan.
They sent us an email after the event notifying us of what took place and why. Regan was actually afraid that we would be upset by the surprise. And what a surprise it was. There are few words one can use to respond to something like this, but the following letter to Lance and Regan is the best I could muster. And so I would like to share it with everyone...EVERYONE who has come to our side, to hold our hand, to let us cry on your shoulder, and to give of yourself to help us through this tough time. I thought I knew what friendship was, but it seems like each day it is being redefined in ways that I cannot comprehend. So with a little editing I humbly slide this note across the table to you all, and pray that you know that these meager words can only scratch the surface of what we truly feel for all of you. Thank you.
Dear Regan and Lance, (and EVERYONE!!!)
I don't have words to convey our feelings at this moment. Quite honestly, we are both speechless. Mia had to leave to support her team in their scrimmage, and as she left I could see the tears welling up in her eyes, leaving me with the opportunity and the tremendous chore of expressing our gratitude to you both, and to everyone.
I'm not a religious man, but quite spiritual. A humanist, you might say. I've never believed for a moment that we would ever be in a predicament that would threaten our overall health or ability to physically live and breathe. It has certainly affected my WILL to live and breathe, but not my overall capability to do so. I knew even if we were living in cardboard boxes at the very least we would be alive and that we would one day have another opportunity to try again. Our immediate struggle so far has been to keep the house. What you and all the others have done for us is to give us at least another month. And there is no way to tell you how much that means to us right now. I thought I would have a job by now. We knew that at the end of March that was it. We would probably have to accept foreclosure, and possibly bankruptcy as a reality and start from scratch. But having another month to reawaken the hope that by then I WILL be working and that we WILL be able to afford the mortgage again is more than we could have ever have possibly asked of anyone, including Mia's parents who have already done that for us once, and wouldn't be able to do it again.
There is no way to ever be able to repay something like this. I can't even begin to think of how to thank all the people you mention. A forum post or facebook post seems so inadequate, and I'm already trying to think of ways to work a thank you into our show. But it's a start. And the very fact that I have a reason to thank people is gargantuan in my mind. I'm stunned. And yet should I be? I mean, we as people always think of and turn to our friends in times of need, so why is this such a shock? I think, for me, it's because in our modern world, with ever growing technology, even the closest of friends don't "touch" the way they once did, so to imagine a group of people who only know us from the faire would ever consider doing something like this for us is absolutely mind-boggling, and extremely humbling. It is this type of humanity, this type of culture that we have been longing for, craving for years and years. A wholesome, loving environment that is not hinged on drinking or drugs, and, of course, now helps if it is extremely kid-friendly. We found it through roller derby, through friends from our pasts, and we found it through the faire. Through people like you.
I will always marvel at this feeling of being hugged by the warmth and energy of many many souls. And I will always wonder how I will ever be able to repay our debts. The only thing I can unconditionally guarantee is that we will most definitely pay it forward. In a sick sort of way, I actually look forward to someone else's crisis so that we, too, can reach out a hand and give of ourselves what we can, as so many have done for us thus far. I want so much to do that. We have made many changes in our lives in the past couple of years, and I, personally, many changes in the past few months. I thought I was experiencing a mid-life crisis before this time, but now I feel like I'm experiencing something similar to that, only it's not so tragic. It's an opportunity to learn and to change and to reeducate myself if I so desire. Well, I've had lots of reasons and motivations to desire to do so. I now only hope that I can honor those changes and continue them in my future.
But I digress. I'm making this about me when it is absolutely not about me. It is about you and Lance, and all the others at faire, and Mia's roller girl team, and Mia's parents, and my few friends I have left from Peace, and our neighbors across the street, and the countless others that have provided a word, a hand, a shoulder, a meal, their time, money, kindness, and understanding. It's so much easier to believe you can win a battle when you suddenly realize there is an army standing behind you. And even if for some reason we should never win, it humbles me simply to realize we have impacted the minds of so many that they would even consider taking time out of their own tremendously hectic lives to assist us. But damn it, we will win this battle. I have wasted enough time resting on my laurels, complaining about a world that isn't running the way it's supposed to. Now I understand I have to create my own world, join with like worlds, and defy the system that has been set forth by others who have no idea what it's like to be where we are. Where all of us are. When I was young I was told once I was pure of heart. I lost that purity somewhere along the way, but am purifying my heart again. And it is through others' purity that I am regaining that feeling once more. A second chance, if you will. It's all anyone could ask for. We have been paid handsomely for work we have not even been asked to do yet. But we have to earn this. And we will, or die trying. It's the least we can do.
Thank you so much for thinking of us. It is impossible to tell you what this means to us, and what your friendship means, that you would think of us like this. We are indebted to you.
With very much love, and smooshingly huge hugs,
Karl and Mia
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I love to cook with wine! Sometimes I even put it in the food. ~Slappy |
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