This year has been about paying it forward. Mike and I have been trying to do just that whenever we can. Yesterday we had the opportunity to volunteer at an event that was to raise funds for our hard working Canadian troops. Along with Auntie Yoli, Mike and I manned the kids games portion of the fundraiser.
Now before I go any further I have to say this was an impressive fundraiser. Now I have been involved in these sorts of things before in a myriad of capacities and I have yet to see anything of this size pulled together by such a small committee. Now it would be easy to say, well big deal they had Wal-Mart backing them, but the truth is they did not. This event was 100% planned, organized and executed by the associates.
They started the day with a parade. Yep, a parade, right there in the Wal-Mart parking lot. After the singing of Oh Canada there were a couple of short speeches closing out the opening ceremonies with two minutes of silence. Many of us remarked later it was a bit of an emotional moment. Made you proud to be Canadian seeing the veterans and young military men marching by.
The committee had come up with a long list of fundraising activities from selling yellow support ribbons, a wall of chance where $2 got you a prize each and every time, face painting and a barbecue. The military had set up a display of their equipment. Dentyne was there with their kissing booth (aka a photo booth) that Mike, Yoli and I crammed into with complete disregard to the maximum occupancy of 2 sign. I'd show you the pictures, but Auntie Yoli would KILL me. No joke.
Do you want to know what the best part of the day was?
That's right, my baby girl came home and couldn't stop hugging me. In fact she didn't even want to leave to go home, so for the rest of the afternoon I ran the kids games with a kid stuck to my leg. She was a great little helper, pointing out, Mom we have a customer whenever some one approached with a little kid and money in hand. It was a little bit of juggling since Auntie Yoli had been called away to cover a problem area and Mike had left to pick up a rental, but I managed, but it also meant I had to spend a lot of time out from under the protective covering of the tent.
Yeah, it's not pretty. Oh and it feels worse than it looks. In fact Saturday night found me in bed before Maya after I had sprayed myself down with Bactine and pumped myself full of Advil after which I slept for 12 hours. Today has only been marginally better. The kick in the ass is, I can blame no one but myself.
full photographic evidence is here
5 comments:
Oh, that looks really painful. Youch! At least you were doing something useful and good to earn such a bad burn. Go you!
Abby looks adorable, but that sunburn looks AWFUL. OUCH.
so glad to hear abby is home with her momma again! oh but, my, that sunburn...hope you feel better very soon
Oh Shannon, that looks awful. I have so much sympathy for you - I've done it to myself as well and it is truly excruciating. Good luck... maybe some aloe will help?
margalit - yes it is painful, but all for a good cause so I haven't been complaining too much.
Laurel - she was just about the most adorable thing I had seen in days!
bello - thanks, me too.
Karen - thanks for the sympathy I appreciate it. I don't have any aloe, but I have some Bactine spray that has been feeling pretty good.
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