Something Wonderful
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David Valentino
Nicely Wicked
Join date: 1 Jan 2004
Posts: 2,941
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08-30-2005 01:46
I had a wonderful experience at the Relay for Life. Sitting in my campsite, watching the relay runners whiz past, the spectators walk by, the volunteers and organizers working crazy hard, and witnessing a special someone transform my humble efforts into something remarkable.
I IM'd this dear friend of mine early Saturday, in a panic because my campsite was tacky and unimaginative. I wanted her to come and look and offer ideas.
What she did instead was unexpected, but logical. She raised money. Alot of money. A flood of Lindens from generous folks that she contacted directly. She worked it until the morning hours of Sunday, and then came back right before closing to work it even more.
And I kept her company, bringing in a bit of L$, but mostly keeping her company and listening to her find comfort and strength in her efforts on behalf of the Relay For Life event.
You see, this special someone has a mother that is terminally ill with cancer, and this special someone takes care of her mother night and day, and applies her strength and courage and compassion to what must be a very draining and horrendous ordeal.
And as we sat at my campsite, putting up some goofy signs for the late-night lap runners to see as they passed, she confessed to me that raising money made her feel like she was actually doing something to help, something concrete, even though she had been taking care of her dying mother nonstop for so long.
So we sat in my tacky campsite, and we talked, and she went about her work of raising money, and I grew more and more amazed by her efforts, and the generosity of so many people that she contacted.
When the dust settled the next day, the total on our donation box said L$85,400, a huge majority of it coming about from her efforts.
My campsite was named the winner of the "Most Donations" catagory. But it was her work, and not mine. I was still a winner though, because I got to witness something special and wonderful, and I got to watch her shine.
Thank you darlin. *hugs*
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David Lamoreaux
Owner - Perilous Pleasures and Extreme Erotica Gallery
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Surina Skallagrimson
Queen of Amazon Nations
Join date: 19 Jun 2003
Posts: 941
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08-30-2005 01:58
That's wonderfull David, but you forgot to name her...
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-------------------------------------------------------- Surina Skallagrimson Queen of Amazon Nation Rizal Sports Mentor
-------------------------------------------------------- Philip Linden: "we are not in the game business." Adam Savage: "I reject your reality and substitue my own."
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David Valentino
Nicely Wicked
Join date: 1 Jan 2004
Posts: 2,941
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08-30-2005 02:05
From: Surina Skallagrimson That's wonderfull David, but you forgot to name her... I didn't forget, I just wasn't sure if she wished to be named. But I'll take the chance and she can beat me up if she wants. wench Pheaton, who could teach teleavengilists a thing or two about raising money.
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David Lamoreaux
Owner - Perilous Pleasures and Extreme Erotica Gallery
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Lynn Lippmann
Toe Jammer
Join date: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 793
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08-30-2005 04:20
 Thank you, wench. There's a lot of heart there.
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They give us new smilies  but what about the TOES? Toe the line Linden's! Toes for the Toeless!
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Euterpe Roo
The millionth monkey
Join date: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,395
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08-30-2005 04:22
This post was lovely to read. 
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"Of course, you'd also have to mention . . . furries, Sith Lords, cyberpunks, glowing balls of gaseous neon fumes, and walking foodstuffs" --Cory Edo “One man developed a romantic attachment to a tractor, even giving it a name and writing poetry in its honor." MSN "  next week: the .5m torus of "I ate a yummy sandwich and I'm sleepy now"  " Desmond Shang
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Pendari Lorentz
Senior Member
Join date: 5 Sep 2003
Posts: 4,372
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08-30-2005 04:53
Beautiful post David. Thank you for sharing that! And Wenchie!! *BIG HUGS* You are a wonderful person!! 
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*hugs everyone*
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Cocoanut Koala
Coco's Cottages
Join date: 7 Feb 2005
Posts: 7,903
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08-30-2005 05:10
Wow! Terrific story and experience! coco
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FlipperPA Peregrine
Magically Delicious!
Join date: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 3,703
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08-30-2005 05:31
Wenchie rocks, and I'm sorry that by the time she contacted me, I had donated all my L$! Her blatant honesty are one of the most refreshing parts of my SL. Wench was one of my first friends in SL - the first one I spoke to voice to voice - and we've always had a special "bond" which can't be discussed in public.  -Flip
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Peregrine Salon: www.PeregrineSalon.com - my consulting company Second Blogger: www.SecondBlogger.com - free, fully integrated Second Life blogging for all avatars!
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Trinity Serpentine
Schwan's Avitar Reject
Join date: 1 Oct 2003
Posts: 2,972
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08-30-2005 07:25
David, that was a wonderful thing to read this morning.
Wenchie, you are one class act and a hoot to boot.
*hugs you both*
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From: someone Yeah, the toaster has great speakers, but all I want is fucking toast. - The Filthy Critic reviewing Aeon Flux
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Torley Linden
Enlightenment!
Join date: 15 Sep 2004
Posts: 16,530
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08-30-2005 07:31
I like how in SL, someone so dirty can be so clean. And that's a compliment of the highest order. Thanks for sharing what happened, David... I was wondering... wonderful wenchie! 
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Willow Zander
Having Blahgasms
Join date: 22 May 2004
Posts: 9,935
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08-30-2005 07:33
Aww touching stuff! *hugs Wench* You shoulda tapped me up for some $L 
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*I'm not ready for the world outside...I keep pretending, but I just can't hide...* <3 Giddeon's <3
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Nolan Nash
Frischer Frosch
Join date: 15 May 2003
Posts: 7,141
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09-01-2005 01:24
First I want to apoligize to wenchie for missing the announcement of this event and the event itself. No excuses. I missed it, that was selfish, and that wasn't right when I, as a friend, should have been there.
Now to everyone elde: wenchie has always been a wonderful friend to me, and I just wanted to take a moment to say that she is utterly awesome. The strength she has displayed over the last couple of years is unmatchable. Taking care of a dying loved one is one of the hardest and most selfless acts a person can perform.
I know how hard this was on her because we talked about it. Not only was she strong enough and good enough to selflessly take care of her mom while she was suffering all this time, she organized this amazing and successful event, and that takes a truly extraordinary person.
Thank you wenchie for telling me how you felt tonight about these forums and how we as a group have lost touch with the most important things - random acts of kindness, pats on the back for a job well done, building each other up instead of tearing each other down, being there for one another in times of need, or when you know a friend is down in the dumps, and so many other things that we miss sometimes because we are too busy focusing on who did what to who and who has a leg up on who. For this I thank you.
Thank you for this wonderful event, and even though I wasn't there, I know you put your all into it, and as usual, you were a smashing success.
I thank you for always listening to me when I was down, and not judging me for it when I was being cynical or negative.
Thank you for being my friend.
Most of all thank you for being you.
Love ya wench!
A friend is like a flower, a rose to be exact, Or maybe like a brand new gate that never comes unlatched. A friend is like an owl, both beautiful and wise. Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost, whose spirit never dies. A friend is like a heart that goes strong until the end. Where would we be in this world if we didn't have a friend.
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“Time's fun when you're having flies.” ~Kermit
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Nolan Nash
Frischer Frosch
Join date: 15 May 2003
Posts: 7,141
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09-01-2005 01:38
First I want to apoligize to wenchie for missing the announcement of this event and the event itself. No excuses. I missed it, that was selfish, and that wasn't right when I, as a friend, should have been there.
For everyone else: wenchie has always been a wonderful friend to me, and I just wanted to take a moment to say that she is utterly awesome. The strength she has displayed over the last couple of years is unmatchable. Taking care of a dying loved one is one of the hardest and most selfless acts a person can perform.
I know how hard this was on her because we talked about it. Not only was she strong enough and good enough to selflessly take care of her mom while she was suffering all this time, she organized this amazing and successful event, and that takes a truly extraordinary person.
Thank you wenchie for telling me how you felt tonight about these forums and how we as a group have lost touch with the most important things - random acts of kindness, pats on the back for a job well done, building each other up instead of tearing each other down, being there for one another in times of need, or when you know a friend is down in the dumps, and so many other things that we miss sometimes because we are too busy focusing on who did what to who and who has a leg up on who. For this I thank you.
Thank you for this wonderful event, and even though I wasn't there, I know you put your all into it, and as usual, you were a smashing success.
I thank you for always listening to me when I was down, and not judging me for it when I was being cynical or negative.
Thank you for being my friend.
Most of all thank you for being you.
Love ya wench!
A friend is like a flower, a rose to be exact, Or maybe like a brand new gate that never comes unlatched. A friend is like an owl, both beautiful and wise. Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost, whose spirit never dies. A friend is like a heart that goes strong until the end. Where would we be in this world if we didn't have a friend.
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“Time's fun when you're having flies.” ~Kermit
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Oz Spade
ReadsNoPostLongerThanHand
Join date: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 2,708
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09-01-2005 12:26
Great job on raising all that money! To everyone as well! Relay For Life was such a great event, even just hanging around and chatting with people made it feel more community driven than most other events. Glad to hear others had just as good experiences. 
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"Don't anticipate outcome," the man said. "Await the unfolding of events. Remain in the moment." - Konrad
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