"Remember no man is a failure who has friends."
-- Clarence Oddbody's inscription in Tom Sawyer given to George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" 1946
I've put off posting this until Christmas, for reasons that should be obvious momentarily ...
This is an email I wrote to group of self described "assholes talking shit." They are complete strangers to me, people I've only communicated with via email, albeit for many year, introduced to me by another internet acquaintance, who I met though another person I've never actually had any non-computer contact with.
Total strangers, who I made no effort to get along with, who I often annoyed, who I wouldn't know if I saw them on the street.
I received the check from your collection yesterday. I'm really struggling to put into words my gratitude. I know at a few points in time I was less than everyone's favorite person on this list and I'm humbled and grateful and embarrassed to be on the receiving end of such generosity. I can't express how much it means to me to receive such a large amount from a group of 20 or so people with whom I've never met in person and had a grand total of one phone conversation with. My ego, my self esteem, my marriage has taken quite a beating the past few months. But my faith in humanity and human kindness is stronger now than ever.
I don't know if the total number was ever shared, but when it was first shared that there had been a collection taken up for me the amount was $700, a few hours later when was ready to be sent it the check was for $1075. That number absolutely blew me away.
I can't seem to put into words how much that means to be but I can tell you how far it will go. It's more than my monthly house payment. It's almost as much money than my wife makes in a month with her crappy minimum wage job she wouldn't have to have if I still were employed.
As far as how I'm going to spend the money, I don't know. I have decided that I'm going to cash the check and hold the money to give to my wife as her Christmas present. I haven't told her about your kindness yet, but I will. I always thought that the magic of Christmas died when you stopped believing in Santa Claus. I think this year you've proved that wrong.
Thank you, from the very bottom of my heart. Thank you.
This is my life now.
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