You can tell it's summer time!

Like so many of my Soroptimist sisters, I've been off on vacation!

In June I made a road trip with my husband to NC for a family reunion and a visit to his daughter in Nashville and then, last week I spent three days in Key West at a conference for my job.

Lucky me, huh?

Yesterday, Tuesday, July 17, we had our first Soroptimist meeting since our installation of new officers in June. We lunched at Marvelous Coffee and this thing happened ... actually, it began the day before, on Monday.

My co-worker, Cindy, was telling me about her daughter's friend, a single mom, whose 15-year-old daughter has been in the hospital for three weeks now because she's very, very sick. The doctors told her over the weekend that they had done all they could to help her and that now it is in God's hands. The mom has been staying at the hospital for nearly the entire time, not able to work but a few hours here and there and Cindy was saying how stressed out the mom is ... her 7-year-old boy is beginning to show signs of wear and tear and the mom is worried how she'll pay her bills.

I suggested to Cindy that she write a letter and I'd bring it to the Soroptimist meeting and ask if they could help. I knew they had helped others in the past and considering it's our mission to do what's "best for women and children," I figured it was worth a shot.

So, at the end of "new business" I asked if I could read Cindy's letter. And, I did. And, what followed was nothing short of amazing to me. My Soroptimist sisters not only passed a motion to provide financial assistance, they took up a collection of cash and a gas card, another sister provided for the 7-year-old to participate in art therapy at no cost, another sister (an elected official) jumped in and offered to facilitate some public assistance and, lo and behold, we had helped yet another mother and her children to get through a crisis without feeling totally alone.

When I returned to my office and shared the news with Cindy, her eyes welled up with tears. She is so touched by what this wonderful group of women did for someone they don't know! And, this morning, when I came to work, she shared with me how touched the mom is ... how she was so surprised to be the focus of attention and assistance.

I remember once, some 18 years ago, when a catastrophe occurred in my life and some wonderful women I knew gathered round me and provided for some basic needs with cash and food and much comforting. I have never forgotten the kindness of those women and it makes my heart swell to be able to serve as a conduit for someone else in need.

I've been a member of Soroptimist of Davie since December 2002 and it is the ONLY club I belong to! I was never much of a joiner, but these guys are so terrific! so wonderful! how could I not love being one of them?

To which I must add: I love each and every one of you for your kind hearts, your great spirits and your can-do attitude! Being with you all is just as much fun as my summer vacation and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be a part of the most wonderful club in the world!

"Luck is not chance, it's toil;
fortune's expensive smile is earned"

--- Emily Dickinson