Today is Giving Tuesday; a day that began last year to overrule all the craziness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The sole purpose is to look around and see where you can help. There are countless people involved all over America today sharing from their hearts. A little, a lot, a hug, a call, money, and in my case, coffee and wine.

You can give globally or you can give locally.

Do what YOU can today.

xo

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends

http://youtu.be/jBDF04fQKtQ

Yesterday in NY, there was a devastating train derailment on our train line down in the Bronx. When I heard about it, I was concerned; when you board the train from our train station most of us tend to stay in the first four cars; they are the closest to the stairs and to the terminal at Grand Central Station so it makes sense to be in the front. The exception to this rule is if you are going uptown and want to go out the North Corridor, in which case, you want to be in the back. Seeing the first car so close to the Hudson, turned on it's side was disconcerting to say the least. Seeing more than one car turned on it's side was horrific.

I picked up some pizza at my favorite pizzeria around 4:15 this afternoon. It turns out a man I see in the restaurant all the time was in the 6th car of the train this morning. He was absolutely in a state of shock. Fine but shaken.

One of the kids who graduated from the HS last year was on the train. She has a fractured spine and assorted other injuries. The beauty of teens is that they keep their phones handy even when they are involved in an accident and as such we know she is in pain, but she has stood and taken a few steps and is alive.

As the day went on we got news that a friend, Jim Ferrari, had been one of the men who died in the derailment. He leaves behind his wife, Francie, and his daughter, Becca, who is a sophomore in college. Neither of the women in this family drive. I cannot even imagine what these next few days, let alone the next few weeks, months, or years will be like for them.

There is a hopelessness you feel. The community wants to do something, anything, to make the family feel better. Food is what we do in times of grief. It's our go-to thing. But seriously, how much food can two people realistically eat? They are going to need rides to places; taxi money, car service money - that's what they will need.

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday (#givingtuesday). You can find out more about that HERE. I had already moved Coffee/Wine For a Cause to tomorrow for just that reason. It's why I host it.

All the proceeds from Coffee/Wine For a Cause collected tomorrow will go towards helping alleviate that bill for Francie and Becca. As you know, normally the CFAC monies are sent out to Amy, Jake and for a couple of months to my friend, Jen. For obvious reasons I made the executive decision to keep it very local tomorrow.

The fundraiser for Amy is always "on" and can be reached HERE.

Because you asked - Amy & Jake Update:
Jake continues to thrive and be a twelve year old boy. He is cancer free!

Amy, on the other hand, is still a medical mess. (Sorry Amy...)

This is from a post Amy wrote on November 20:
This is what I have. (click on the word here for the article)
Had no idea that only 16,000 people have them.
I cannot imagine wearing this thing for 8 years. Remember that song, "Take This Job and Shove It?" Some days I hum that song in my head. My lyrics are a little different.....take these batteries and shove it, I ain't wearin' them no more! :) 
Seriously I am thankful every day for how well I feel with this pump

Amy has completed the necessary tests towards getting to the top of the transplant list. Now, it is a waiting game.

Jeff is sill unemployed.

Keep the prayers coming, the thoughts coming, the healing coming and if you can afford to, please consider donating.

xo

Because the waiting yesterday, for many, was a vigil...

http://youtu.be/p0tBS_IAX-M

I recently had a chat with a friend about getting all the "crap" out of their system regarding some people in their lives. I suggested writing vicious letters. Go batshit crazy in the letter. Write your heart out. Scream. Cry. Curse.

Then burn it.

It is totally cathartic to do this with a pen and paper.

You can do exactly the same thing when you type it. It doesn't have the same affect on your system as watching the pieces of paper burn though. I've done this exercise numerous times. 

In addition, I have deleted many a text. I have gone to my contacts and just looked at a number and decided to NOT hit send. I have hung up a phone just before it rings.


It's good for the soul, good for the heartache, good for the anger and good for you. Go ahead...it's your turn now.

xo

I love that this is titled "Unsent"
It was SO totally sent!

http://youtu.be/tbBjO4u3ES4