Insanity Recap

So, let's do a little recap here.  Obviously, I've already blogged about the page on facebook.  Unless you live in a hole, you've probably heard about it somewhere.  I'm not being cocky, I'm stating a fact.  I started a little itty bitty page for a young lady.  I expected to get a few hundred "likes" and ended up with - the last time I checked - 95,000.

Wait, what?  Yup, that's right, 95,000.  Whoa.  Over the past week and a half(ish) I have received phone calls from Ryan Seacrest, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Mojo in the Morning, Mlive, and Dateline among others.  I've gotten emails from The View, and a couple news and radio stations in Canada.  Now, none of these people want to talk to me - which is A-OK, but I gotta tell ya, it's cool as hell that I have been getting those calls.

That aside, here are some things I've learned. 
1. The media is relentless and overwhelming but can be incredibly kind and helpful.  Without the media, this would not have gotten so big. 
2. Social media, when used properly, can reach thousands of people.
3. People are still douchebags.  Yep, I said it - maybe that makes me a bully which goes against everything I've been preaching, but I prefer to see it as brutal honesty.  With any "cause" there will be haters.  I've gotten to see them, delete them, and ban them...first hand.
4. Things like this - finding something you can grab onto and do something about - or at least try to - these things....they change you.  Meg told me the other day that she was going to miss me being mean...I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing...*insert awkward laugh here*

One of the most amazing things for me?  Facebook shows you how many people have "seen" your posts on a page. One of my posts reached 95000 people....

I realize not all of those people read what I wrote, but I gotta tell you....never in a BAZILLION TRILLION years did I think that anything I wrote would get past maybe 20 people.

Wow. 

Happy/Sad

So, I'm pretty sure it's relatively common knowledge that I don't really like people.  If you didn't already know that, you obviously don't know me.  I think it is also relatively common knowledge that I am not a huge fan of people spending an extended period of time in my house.  Partially, of course, because I don't like people and partially because of all it requires of me.  I'm not talking about cooking/cleaning.  No, I'm referring to the having to shower regularly on the weekends and putting a bra on on Sunday.  Shut up - don't judge me. 

For the past three weeks, our daughter-in-law has been staying with us.  Let me give you a little back story first.  I suppose technically she is my step-dil, however, I don't think of Eric as my step-son; therefore, Angelina is not my step-dil.  Anyhoo, she and I didn't exactly hit it off when we first met 6 years ago (my gawd, was it really that long ago?!?).  As a matter of fact, I'm not sure who disliked who more (who or whom?).  

However, since then, we learned that we actually like each other (if you don't like me, Angelina - here is the part where you lie to make me feel good...).  Eric and Angelina have been planning moving here for the past year.  They use to live in Dallas.  For a reason that at the time seemed logical, Angelina came up here 3 weeks before Eric.  She has been staying with us.  Eric got here today.  

He arrived pretty early and we got them all moved into their temporary home. Well, we got the moving truck unloaded and the window coverings hung.  They have a bunch of unpacking to do.  

I have to admit, as glad that I am that Eric is here now and my little family is truly complete, I'm also sad.  Over the past 3 weeks, my fondness for Angelina changed or morphed or something.  I absolutely love this young lady with all of my heart.  I loved having her stay with us.  I loved talking to her and spending time with her.  I loved playing silly card games and shopping and just generally being in the same room with her.  

For me - that's something.  So, I guess the point of this blog is basically to say, thank you to Angelina.  Thank you for spending time with me - even though we're obviously polar opposites.  Thank you for running around with us to all the crazy sporting events at god awful times - (6:00 a.m. on a Saturday is a sin).  Thank you for just being you.

I am so thankful that you both are here and I love you both with all of my heart!

Who can make a difference?

Have you ever wondered if you can make a difference?  Have you ever snorted at the saying "one person can make a difference?  My answer is yes to both of those questions.  It's not that I don't want to make a difference, it's that I didn't think I could.  That's not to say that I haven't had moments where I have felt accomplished.  Good grief, I coached (and still coach) gymnastics and there is something so personally satisfying to have the girls get all excited when they get a new skill - it's an amazing feeling.

However, the other day, I read of an injustice done to a young lady.  To some it may seem a minor annoying injustice, but I felt strongly about it.  In the town where I graduated from high school, some young people decided to play what they considered a "joke" on a classmate.  They chose to nominate her for their homecoming court - even though they didn't really like her.  The point was to publicly humiliate her. Well, initially they thought they succeeded.  She won the nomination.  Then the little bastards shared with her that they only did it as a joke and they didn't really want her to win.

Seriously?  Yep, so this is where I stepped in. I've kept relatively quiet about this personally.  What I mean is, I have attempted to keep my name out of it.  Not because I'm not proud of it, but because I don't want this to be about me. This ISN'T about me.  This is about the huge issue we have in this country in bullying.  I've done a TON of research on bullying lately and to be honest, it's frightening.

Anyhoo, I took it upon myself to create a facebook page.  You should go there now and "like" it.  I did it because I felt that the community needed to be aware of the situation and come together to support this beautiful young woman.

WELL, that sure did work.  We currently have 3025 "likes."  SERIOUSLY?!!??  Whit's story has been broadcast by multiple television stations across the country.  ACROSS THE COUNTRY.  I was checking the page earlier and crying my eyes out.  The community sure did come together - her dress, shoes, hair, dinner, etc. have all been paid for.  The number of people posting kind words and thoughts is surreal. 

I am floored.  I am so floored, that I am now considering starting a foundation to bring awareness to and fight against bullying.  Not kidding.

Moral of the story - ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  If you believe in it - stand up for it.  If YOU think it's worth it - support it.