Community Service Mom

All done, it's been fun!

2009-12-20T21:09:00.000-08:00

Day 100 -- Snowed in by Blizzard but organizing guitar and MoverMoms from home computer

2009-12-19T21:18:00.000-08:00

How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life lies in the art of giving rather than receiving.
James Cash Penny

Day 99 -- Organizing future MoverMoms projects

2009-12-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

"Never doubt that a group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has."
---Margaret Mead

Lots of plans for the coming year - hoping to improve the organization, so planning ahead....couldn't do it without the help of others in the group.

Day 98 -- Guitar club organizing and more community outreach for basketball

2009-12-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

I am running out of time because there are only two days left. And I have more than two quotes to share with you. So today I'm sharing three, rather than writing at length, other than to say Guitar Club is very popular and I'm thrilled to be starting at Bannockburn - there does seem to be a strong desire for it.

"When you teach your son, you teach your son's son."
---the Talmud

"One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something."
---Henry David Thoreau

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can truly help another without helping himself."
---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day 97 -- Chaperoning Field Trip and Gift Wrapping for hospice organization

2009-12-16T21:46:00.000-08:00

was taught that the world had a lot of problems; that I could struggle and change them; that intellectual and material gifts brought the privilege and responsibility of sharing with others less fortunate; and that service is the rent each of us pays for living, the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time or after you have reached your personal goals.
Marian Wright Edelman

Day 96 -- Deciding where to give end-of-year donations

2009-12-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

"To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving."
Max Beerhom

Each year near the end of the year my husband and I give small donations to certain non-profits, usually about 5. It's always so hard to decide which to give to, but then again, it's always such a pleasure to go through the deicision process, as we get to see and learn more about many great organizations.

There are so many out there that are doing good work, by helping the homeless and other underprivileged people, providing medical care to uninsured, protecting the planet, finding cures for diseases, teaching people about art, music, and history, and so very much more.

I can see how being head of a foundation that gives away money to non-profit groups could be a fun and rewarding job -- wish I got to learn about these and give every day!

Day 95 - Making Gingerbread houses with children and moms

2009-12-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

"No gift that is given in good faith to a worthy recipient can be called small; its effect is so great."
---Buddha

Tis the holiday season - and everyone I know seems to be super busy with the usual stuff but also with getting gifts for family members, friends, teachers, and others whom they like, love, or just feel deserve a present of some sort. Yet the whole process seems to be very stressful, when in truth almost any gift, no matter how small, will be appreciated and considered a kind gesture.

In part that's why today's project was so fun - it wasn't about gifts or gift-giving but just having some young children and moms over to be together in the holiday season. We made gingerbread houses that were anything but professional. Some even collapsed, but even when that happened, the kids seemed to enjoy the rebuilding process. And as it turned out, there was an educational component - terms like stuctural walls (graham crackers), mortar (frosting), house foundation (again, frosting or graham crackers) and other building or architectural words were thrown around, thereby increasing the kids' vocabulary. The whole process may have even gotten a couple of them interested in learning more about construction or interior decorating.

But most of all it was just a fun way to gather during the holiday season :-)

Day 94 -- Baking for holiday staff appreciation

2009-12-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

"The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
Mitch Albom

Day 93 -- coordinating guitar club and doing MoverMoms work

2009-12-12T21:09:00.000-08:00

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."
---Buddha

When my daughter told me she wanted to take guitar lessons I looked into private lessons and was like "yikes" when I heard the price - about $40 per half hour. I know many teachers are deserving of this but didn't feel like we have the budget to spend that. So I looked into the possibility of organizing group lessons and am now in the process of signing kids up for the class.

That's where this quote really rings true. It's taken nothing away from my daughter to take lessons in a group setting, and yet now the opportunity is available to many others.

Day 92 -- Taking friend shopping

2009-12-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
---Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote and have it framed on my desk, as to me it really says it all when it comes to living a worthy life.

Today I had the privilege of going shopping with a friend who is very wise, a woman getting up there in years but youthful in spirit who cannot drive herself to far away places. So I took her to a fancy mall and we walked around and shopped.

I was sure I'd buy nothing whereas I think she had hoped to buy shoes or perhaps a skirt. As luck would have it, I made several small purchases and she bought zilch! She has exquisite taste and mine is, well, not as exquisite. So I bought things like perfume and candy.

Usually shopping is low on my list of preferred activities. But to go with such a classy person who also happens to be super nice - well that's not a chore but rather a treat!

Day 91 -- Helping at Media Center/Library at Elementary School

2009-12-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

“You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.”
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I substituted for my friend who is a regular volunteer at the Elementary School Media Center, which of course used to be called the library but now has enough technology in it in addition to books that I guess this name is somewhat accurate.

Still, to me the books are by far the attraction. I love being surrounded by books, whether they are children's books or adult books. I love browsing especially at the non-fiction and biographies, and even the reference books. Fiction is a little less appealing to me at my current stage of life - not sure why, just maybe because I haven't found the right fictional books to read lately, except for Ulysses, which was a huge challenge but interesting to take a stab at!

It was wonderful to see the children so enthusiastic about reading and so excited to be allowed to pick out their two books of the week. Some of them are exceptional readers - way better than I recall myself being at age 7 or 8! But it was fun to see that some of the authors, like Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary, are still popular - and good to know that high quality writing for children doesn't go out of style!

Oh, and the reason I chose this quote is that I saw a biography for children of Eleanor Roosevelt on one of the shelves. I admire her so much - she's definitely one of my heroes (heroines?).

Day 90 -- Helping at the high school writing center

2009-12-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

"Imagine."
---John Lennon

Today I returned to the writing center and got lucky because there were several kids there needing help with papers and college essays. I say lucky because sometimes there aren't enough kids needing help and I really enjoy reviewing the papers and trying to offer helpful suggestions (though when it comes to critiquing fiction, I'm not sure my 17 years as a professional non-fiction writer are of much help!).

I reviewed one student's analysis of a controversial film and another student's essay about leadership for a Christian college. Both students had clearly worked hard on their papers and it was inspiring to see them doing their best to have a good final product. One is not a native English speaker so writing in the English language is especially challenging for him. I had the dilemma of telling him each mistake that he made or letting some go by the wayside when I thought the overall concept was clear (I tended to opt toward the latter, though I was picky about spelling!).

The Writing Center is a very impressive place - and I really enjoy going there. You can often get to know a teen via his/her writing, see creativity right before your eyes, and in an hour feel like you are really helping out.

Day 89 -- Medley

2009-12-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

“When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.”

---Jacob Riis

My daughter was home sick today, which of course is never fun. So hard to watch a little kid be uncomfortable, as she was. Seems like probably it's a stomach bug but hard to know yet....

So today I did a medley of things --organized a small holiday party for some moms and young kids, took initial steps to coordinating basketball team outreach to community elementary schools, worked on a MoverMoms upcoming event and on getting coordinators of different projects.

None of these things really add up to too much individually but all are part of my general goal to be a participating member of the larger community. That's what I love about this quote, given to me by a friend who is also the girls basketball coach. In the context of volunteering, it means that we take on the big projects and do them successfully because of all the little projects and details that we focus on much of the time. We make a big difference over time by making a smaller difference on a day to day basis.

Day 88 - Volunteering at Elementary School

2009-12-07T22:18:00.000-08:00

"It is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. The future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task. "

---Robert Kennedy

Today I volunteered at the local elementary school and once again was so impressed with my daughter's teacher and with the school itself. Having seen the movie Precious last night, I appreciate all the more being in a school with such wonderful and supportive teachers and staff, and with families and students who are so devoted to education and learning. There seem to be no shortage of volunteers at this school, and I know that strengthens the school and helps build a community of caring and involved parents. A few might say overinvolved, but to me it's so worthy of people to give their time to helping the kids succeed. It truly does take a village to raise a child, as the saying goes (did Hilary make that up or did she just make it famous - I think the latter), and exhibit A of that concept is right here at Bannockburn Elementary!

Day 87 -- Making list of shelters for neighbor

2009-12-06T21:30:00.001-08:00

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I made a list of organizations that my neighbor could contact for her bat-mitzvah project. She is collecting blankets to donate to people who may not have enough of those to be warm this winter. I just love that idea and so admire the way she and other kids make community service an important part of this religious milestone.

Teens in general, and even younger kids, are so much more aware of community service and volunteerism than I and other people my age were as kids. It's become cool to help others, and while volunteering in a foreign country is still considered more exotic than doing so locally, there seem to be are tons of kids of all faiths and backgrounds involved in an impressively huge range of projects depending on their interests.

In other news, I saw Precious on Sunday night with the Movie Club - wow, what a powerful film. If ever there were a movie showing the need to help others and to reach out to people who are poor, homeless, and desperately in need of finding someone who cares about them or who can mentor them, this was it. It was both depressing and inspiring, and certainly a film that stays with you for a long time after leaving the theater. I if you haven't already seen it I encourage you to do so.

Day 86 -- Baking for High School Teachers

2009-12-05T10:35:00.001-08:00

"Whatever you are, be a good one."
---Abraham Lincoln

Today I baked for the high school teacher holiday goody bag effort, and will probably do something similar over the weekend. I was supposed to do a gift-wrapping project through MoverMoms, which was being done on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a wonderful organization.

But there was a good problem -- too many volunteers signed up, so I was not needed and instead did some writing work and was able to meet a deadline. Thus my fallback activity was baking, as it seems to be (or else cooking) when I don't have another project lined up. I guess we're all good at different ways of giving, and we must tap into those whenever we can. I love to cook and bake so I turn to that activity. I also seem to be able to find lots of stuff around my house that can and should be given away to good causes but due to inertia or laziness on my part just stays put till I have incentive to do a one person or group collection drive!

Bottom line: do what you enjoy and are good at when it comes to community service, and you will not burn out or lack for ideas!

Day 85 - Coordinating Mom's Movie Club

2009-12-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

“A woman is like a teabag, you never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.”
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I did my monthly coordinating of the Mom's Movie Club. I started this in 2000 when I realized that I wasn't seeing nearly as many movies as I wanted to and thought what fun it'd be to do as an activity with other moms.

Nothing complicated or fancy - just a group of us who vote on the two movies that I choose and send in an email. After the votes are tallied (no Chicago-style - just one vote per person and doesn't matter if you vote early or late), I send out another message telling the title, time, and place where we'll meet. It's kind of like pot-luck people, since a different group shows up every month.

How do I choose the movies? Good question. It's more of an art than a science. I read the reviews and watch online the trailers of movies that sound good. Then I calculate whether it seems like one that spouses would want to see and if so, it usually is not one that I picked. We lean more towards chick-flicks and films about powerful and influential or inspiring women. Of course, romantic films are appealing too, whereas shoot-em-up films are almost never picked.

Like I said earlier, it's more art than science, but even when the movie is bad (and sometimes it really is), it's still fun to get together with a group of women for coffee (before the film) and chatting (afterwards, and occasionally during the film).

Day 84 -- Coordinating guitar class at school

2009-12-03T19:58:00.001-08:00

"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."
---Jimmy Johnson

Today I worked on coordinating a new guitar class at my daughter's school. There have been group piano classes and loads of other afterschool activities, but not this one.

I am pleasantly surprised at how easy it's been to organize and find people to help out, and it makes me so grateful to live in a community where people step forward to teach or volunteer or to help with coordinating so quickly.

A parent responded to my email posting that her husband could teach. The afterschool activities coordinator is taking care of the flyer and put me in touch with another mom who reserves the room. Then today I posted a message about seeking volunteers to help out in the class (since it'll be hard to have one teacher with about 12 kids) and I got very enthusiastic responses.

If you have an idea for a class or activity, or for anything that can better your child's school, I say go for it. It may not be as hard as you thing to get it up and running, and you may probably be surprised at how many people may make themselves available to help in some way.

Day 83 -- Helping at Drama Club dress rehearsal

2009-12-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

"Life is like a mirror - we get the best results when we smile at it."
---Anonymous

Today I volunteered at the dress rehearsal for the elementary school Drama Club. All the songs are well known Broadway show tunes and the kids are singing and dancing to those melodies. Two words sum it all up: So Cute!

While helping I got to assist with costumes, pass out hats, keep kids from talking loudly behind the stage, take a few to the bathroom as needed, and best of all I got to watch the show! Sure it took 3 hours, which is longer than many of my other projects, but it's a win-win project, as I got to see a preview of the show and was able to help keep the kids (relatively) calm.

And of coure, there's nothing like seeing a bunch of smiling kids to get you smiling! (one of the songs is even 'Put on a Happy Face'!)

Day 82 -- De-Cluttering to give stuff to shelter

2009-12-01T20:11:00.000-08:00

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
---Theodore Roosevelt

Today I did a much needed cleaning of the basement and of clothes that we no longer wear. I've got a few huge bags of stuff to donate to a local shelter, and will drive it over in the next couple of weeks. Doesn't seem like much of a project perhaps, but to me it's really good because it kills two birds with one stone. The de-cluttering is needed for basic neatness in my home, and the collecting of usable and wearable (is that a word?) stuff that we don't use is valuable because hopefully other people can use it.

I especially like this quote because it emphasizes the concept that each person contributes in his/her own way. It's awesome when you can directly help someone sick or homeless or helpless, but it's also very good, I have come to believe, to take smaller, more indirect steps towards helping people, and doing so in whatever way you can.

Day 81 -- Driving a friend's daughter

2009-11-30T21:18:00.000-08:00

"If you face life with a spirit of adventure and courage, you will get more out of it than if you are timid and unimaginative."
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I drove my close friend Salma's daughter home from school. Salma is off on a great adventure, building cultural bridges between Americans, Pakistanis, and the people of Kashmir. I love the way she lives life with such a strong spirit of adventure and courage.

Her daughter is equally admirable. Though she's only a teenager, she has raised thousands and thousands of dollars for various international charities, including the Central Asia Society and Pennies for Peace, by making creative greeting cards that can be used for different occasions.

I have broadened my definition of community service to include close-to-home projects like these because I truly believe that while helping strangers in need is a wonderful thing to do, it's also really important to help those in our immediate community, in whatever way they might need.

Day 80 -- Helping a friend pack/move to a new place

2009-11-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."
---Helen Keller

Today I helped a friend move to a new living space. It's such a monumental undertaking that while my contribution to the effort was not very big, I think I provided some needed moral support.

What I'm finding with a lot of the community service work that I'm doing is that it's not necessarily the size of the project or the amount of work that you do that makes the biggest difference but rather the way your effort is perceived. Sometimes just helping a little bit is perceived by the person on the receiving end to be a big deal, or a big favor, or a big help. Other times you might put in a lot of effort and it may unfortunately almost go unnoticed (this is much more likely when the organizers are part of a very big organization and they just have no idea what each volunteer is doing).

Transitions in life -- be it a new job, new house or apartment, new spouse or anything else --
are hard. Having a trusted friend nearby at a time of change means more than you might imagine to the person doing the changing. I tried to be that friend today.

Day 79 -- Dogsitting (again)

2009-11-28T21:12:00.000-08:00

"I shall pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall never pass this way again."
---Etienne de Grellet

Today I dogsat (is that a word?) again for my up the street neighbor. I was going to go on a walk with some friends, but needed to get to the dog before 9, and was a bit nervous about taking the dog on the Canal where there are so many other dogs on weekend mornings. So I took Ellie on a walk on my own, then was joined by my sister and had the bonus of not only getting good exercise, but also having a chance to visit with her while getting a vigorous workout for the dog too -- basically killing three birds with one stone, or four if you count helping out a neighbor.

One lesson that I have certainly learned is that helping a friend or neighbor is so simple in principle, but often harder in practice. We are all so busy, with our children, our work, our errands, our homes, our extended families, our bills, and so much more. I have found that it therefore takes a concerted effort to help others, and in my experience nearly always pays off in different ways. So today, while it might have been nice to socialize with friends, I reaped several other benefits by being with the dog instead. And now that her owners are back home, I'm already looking forward to my next dog-sitting opportunity!

Days 77 and 78 -- Dog sitting on Thanksgiving & the day after

2009-11-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

"Don't let what you can't do stop you from what you can do."
---John Wooden

I made an arrangement with my wonderful friend and neighbor Carol to dogsit for her for three days beginning Thanksgiving Day. The dog is an adorable lab retriever. I thought it'd be a great enhancement to our family Thanksgiving to have a beautiful, well-trained dog in our midst. And besides, I get my dog fix these days via dog-sitting.

It probably was a little too much -- I had a huge meal to prepare, we had kids in our family who were a bit scared of dogs, and it was not easy to find the time to go to the dog's house and take it for walk. And with so many relatives around, it's pretty chaotic here, though in a good way.

But I'm so happy to be doing this. From a selfish viewpoint, I love dogs and get my dog "fix" by dog-sitting since we no longer have our own dog; from the viewpoint of a mom, I love seeing the smiles that the dog puts on the children's faces; and from the viewpoint of a wife, I'm glad that the dog gave my husband and I an excuse to spend a little time together -- when the dog needed walking tonight, it was Rick who walked with me to the dog's house, took a short walk, and then walked home together. Doesn't sound like much of a date, but it's pretty much the only time we've had alone together in the past several nights -- so I'll take what I can get:-)

So overall, what I'm finding is that with the extra responsibility of a dog I'm staying up way too late and not getting to do things like frame the photos that I took a while ago. But on the other hand, we are reaping the benefits of having a super well-trained dog in our home, and it's most definitely easier to dog-sit than to dog-own. I reminded my husband of that as he shivered his way home from the chilly fall night.

I can't do everything, so I often try to focus on giving right here in my community!

Day 76 -- Bringing baked goods to the shelter

2009-11-25T21:10:00.000-08:00

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why...I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?"
---Robert F. Kennedy

Today I delivered to Community-Based shelter the baked goods that I prepared the other day" cranberry bread, pumpkin bread, and just plain sort of corn bread. I thought the traffic would be terrible going there, but in fact it was fine.

I was inspired to do more baking after last night's Children's Inn project - you wouldn't believe how much food we ended up with there, due to several MoverMoms' generosity. So I thought, why not bring more than I initially had planned, as that way it could feed more people.

This is the type of inspiration that I like and am always on the lookout for, namely the type that is right under your nose, or not too far away from it. You don't have to watch the Person of the Week on the News to be inspired to go beyond what is expected of you. Sure those people are incredibly inspiring, and I love watching those news segments each Friday evening, but there are pleny of small acts of generosity, kindness or heroism being done each day among people we know in a myriad of ways. I saw that evidenced at The Children's Inn last night, then again in a totally different way today when my mom came for the holiday.

She took my girls shopping and they came home with a cashmere sweater for me! Totally unnecessary and totally a surprise, yet they know I love that soft fabric and that I won't buy it because it's pricey. I also saw it at Giant, when I went to get the Thanksgiving groceries and a worker in the dairy aisle was so friendly even though he was wildly busy.

So as we approach Thanksgiving, perhaps make a concerted effort to be a bit kinder, more generous, and on occasion even more heroic than you usually are. Tis the season for that as much as it is for shopping!

Y

Day 75 -- Serving dinner at The Children's Inn

2009-11-24T22:16:00.000-08:00

"Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything good in the world."
---Helen Keller

Tonight I served dinner at the Children's Inn at NIH, where sick children and their families stay while the kids get groundbreaking treatment for their diseases. What an amazing place - an uplifting, bright and cheery environment. I didn't see any moping families but rather people who came with a smile on their faces and what looked like attitudes of strength and gratitude in the face of tremendously challenging situations.

I was fortunate to be there with a wonderful group of moms from MoverMoms. The generosity in our group is incredible -- so many people took the time and effort and money to cook pasta, lasagne, meatballs, and more; to bake delicious desserts; to prepare salads; and to buy drinks, fruit, vegetables and other stuff.

We could have fed 100 people, though barely a third of that many arrived for dinner. It was definitely fun with a great purpose, though I had forgotten that getting through the security at NIH is almost like going through airport security for an international trip!

Day 74 -- Driving friend to airport

2009-11-23T21:20:00.000-08:00

"A ship in harbor is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for."
---John A. Shedd

Today I drove my very dear friend Salma to the airport to see her off on what will no doubt be an amazing trip. I think sometimes I tend to look for community service projects far and wide in connection with various non-profit organizations, without realizing that they can be very close to home, namely acts of kindness as simple as helping a friend or neighbor in whatever they might need.

She is taking her dad to the country of his birth - Pakistan, and also heading up to Kashmir to research an article on an American man there (Todd Shea) who is building hospitals for children. Among her luggage was a duffel bag filled with small toys and other items for children in those hospitals. They were collected from MoverMoms and other generous people that Salma knows.

This is a woman whom I greatly admire, in part for her sense of adventure but also for her sense of purpose. She is on a mission to take her father to see the places where he father spent many of his childhood years, but also to see the best side of mankind as she heads up to a freezing cold, war-torn and earthquake prone region, where Todd Shea does his humanitarian work.

Salma is truly a cultural ambassador, a bridge builder of people of different faiths and backgrounds. She is on her plane right now, so I guess all I hope and pray she has a safe journey - and that she returns with lots of wonderful stories to share.

Day 73 -- Baking breads for shelter

2009-11-22T20:56:00.000-08:00

"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm."
---Willa Cather

Today I did more baking for two homeless shelters in Rockville: cranberry-orange loaves and cake. Had to squeeze it in between lots of activities, and this week --with my two older daughters and some relatives arriving between Tuesday and Thursday -- is looking to be even busier than the weekend.

The challenge is fitting in volunteering with all the other stuff going on, not to mention my writing work. Won't be easy but it's such a part of my routine now that I will definitely plan for it. Will be more stuff that I can do from home, and I may need to get a bit creative.

I've learned that community service is such a broad term and can include such a wide range of activities, that no matter how busy I am I should not try to come up with an excuse not to do it. The many needs in the community -- big or small -- don't go away just because I have a busy calendar.

So as I approach the last one quarter of this journey, just as the holiday season is approaching, it may get harder, not easier to meet each day's goal. But I'm determined to find projects that are manageable and to fit my schedule around them, not necessarily vice versa. Which is why I like today's quote....

Day 72 -- Baking muffins for homeless shelter

2009-11-21T19:47:00.000-08:00

"It's better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness."
---Confucius

Today I began a community service project that will last for several days, though not consecutively. It won't change the world, but maybe it will put a few smiles on people's faces at breakfast time.

I committed to bringing enough breakfast breads/muffins to serve 36 people at either of two homeless shelters in Montgomery County for 5 days during Thanksgiving. That's about 180 servings! Oy vay, what was I thinking?

I guess I was thinking that I love to bake, but truthfully, there's so much cooking at Thanksgiving already, with my sister and her family and my mom coming to town, and a good friend and her kids coming for the meal on Thursday, that I probably wasn't wise to take on more baking responsibilities. So if you by any chance like baking and want to drop something by my house....hint, hint...

Anyway, tonight I baked two pumpkin loaves but even those will feed only about 24. Better get back to more baking (perhaps buying?) tomorrow....I guess we all bite off more than we can chew sometimes. Such are the times we are living in. Just have to figure out a way to get it all done when we do that. In this case it may be delegating....stay tuned!

Day 71 -- Being a Friendly Visitor to an elderly woman

2009-11-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

"Giving opens the way for receiving."
---Florence Scovel Shinn

Today I took the elderly woman with whom I visit on a shopping outing to the new Bloomingdale's store. It was the first time there for each of us, and while I'm not at all a shopping afficianado, we had a wonderful time browsing around the store.

I have a warm spot for "Bloomie's" since there was one in White Plains, New York near where I grew up, and an outing there was always a special occasion. It was always considered a splurge in my family to go there, yet we did go on occasion, and I always felt pretty special and under the illusion that I was fashionable after leaving the store with a clothing purchase.

Though I haven't been there in over 20 years, to this day I can remember the exact layout of the whole store, where the dresssing rooms were, and even the food area, where I'd salivate over the gourmet chocolates and other out-of-my-price-range food treats. Memory sure is a funny thing!

So while I wouldn't choose shopping as a way to spend my free time, it was actually fun as a volunteering experience. We didn't buy a thing, rather just went from department to department looking at and admiring the merchandise: shoes, handbags, scarves, sweaters, suits, coats, makeup, and even housewares. How can anyone sleep with 8 pillows on the bed, or take the time to take them on and off the bed each day, we wondered as we looked at the elaborately made beds!

We were perplexed about why a sit-down cafe of some kind wasn't built into the store, as that would seem a natural thing to have, especially since women are no doubt the primary customers and many women love to shop and socialize simultaneously! Anyway, on our way out we got to sample some Chanel perfume, which smelled sooo good, almost good enough for me to buy, were it not way out of my price range.

I totally enjoyed the company of my new elderly friend, a woman who is a real class act both in the way she dresses and acts. And so we're planning to go to Tyson's Corner Center next time, for a bit of shopping and lunch. I, the n0n-shopper, am already looking forward to that!

Day 70 -- Hosting Writer's group meeting

2009-11-19T20:17:00.000-08:00

"Whether you think you can, or that you can't, you are usually right."
---Henry Ford

Today I hosted a meeting of the Writer's group started by my friend Caralee Adams. It's a wonderful group of women (and sometimes a man) who all do some kind of writing work. Some are freelancers, some are employed part-time, and some work full-time.

We sit around and talk about the types of projects we are working on. Today's meeting was small, just three of us sitting at my kitchen table. We managed to cover a lot of topics beyond writing, and somehow two hours flew by. As always I gained some new information to help with potential future writing or work-related projects.

Among our topics, we talked about how difficult it has become to be a freelance journalist. Many organizations are doing more of their writing work in-house in order to save money, and publications seems to be cutting back on freelancers as well.

Still, we love what we do -- provide information in different forms to our readers. And we plan to stick with it through these tough times. Words are powerful, and putting them together in such a way as to inform, persuade, and inspire is very gratifying (when it works and especially when you get paid to do it!).

Day 69 -- Helping at the Writing Center

2009-11-18T21:05:00.000-08:00

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
---John Cotton Dana

Today I volunteered at the Writing Center at Whitman. It was quiet there, and the only student who needed help was working on a paper about Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." Fortunately there was a teacher there to help, as I alone would be pretty useless with that book.

I read it long ago, but am not up on it enough to help someone write about it's themes or about the characters. Just listening to the discussion made me realize that I really need to someday take a refresher class in American literature at a local college or on a family trip to Chautauqua. It would be so cool to make literary references, or to understand more of them when others make them!

I also spent some time getting ready for the Writer's Group meeting at my house tomorrow. Nothing fancy to prepare, but as usualy with entertaining I did need to do a basic cleanup and get the food. It's always fun having that group here or meeting elsewhere for it, as we talk "shop" about freelance writing - the pros/cons/challenges and more. Sort of like talking to colleagues at the office I suppose, only for those of us who work from home we have to settle for once a month of that! Will let you know how it goes...at least my house doesn't look like a hurricane hit it...

Day 68 -- PTSA meeting at the high school

2009-11-17T20:28:00.000-08:00

"The wisest mind has something yet to learn."
---George Santayana

Tonight I attended the high school PTSA meeting. These meetings are always information-filled and interesting, but usually nothing too controversial. Well tonight was an exception to that.

Some representatives from T-Mobile came to propose putting a cell tower on top of a lamp post at the baseball field at Whitman. They claimed health risks are minimal if there are any at all, and that the tower would be unobtrusive while making phone service better.

Several audience members strongly disagreed with each of these assertions, especially the one about the minimal to none health risks. My good friend Chris was super-articulate in making the case that the jury is still out on possible health risks such as cancer and that a while back people were saying there's no such thing as a risk from second-hand smoke when today it's a well known cause of various illnesses.

Many people there disagreed, but when she tried to find out how to channel this disagreement and make it know to the people who decide, that was a little less clear. It was also unclear who actually makes the final decision. Another good case was made by someone who said that on the website promoting it's cell phones, T-Mobile makes it look like there are no gaps in coverage in our area, yet here at the meeting they were claiming there are gaps (and thus the tower is needed).

I wanted to chime in that anyone with T-Mobile who has gaps in coverage might want to switch to Verizon, as I almost never have any trouble with service anywhere near the high school.

Anyway, it was an interesting discussion, and while I agreed very much with the position that we don't need this tower, I did feel a little bad for the company representatives, as I'm not sure if they knew the opposition they'd get (and I've been on the receiving end of unexpected opposition back when I tried to get a local school re-opened. It wasn't fun).

I'm so glad to live in a community where people really care about these and so many other issues. It's a well-informed group of people who ultimately increase quality of life for all of us.

Day 67 -- Helping at Elementary School

2009-11-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

"Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself."
---Chinese Proverb

I love volunteering in my daughter's second grade class. The kids are adorable, and as I've said on other days when I've volunteered there, the teacher is wonderful. So patient and kind, as are most of the teachers at this elementary school. I feel very lucky to live in this district, where public schools certainly rival private schools in terms of quality and parent involvement (though I would think class size is smaller in private school).

I spent most of the time in the copy room, but was totally fine with being there since that's what the teacher needed done. I'm a big believer in the idea that volunteers should do what they are asked and told to do rather than try to control the agenda. As a mom, I do enough of that at home and enjoy the concept of sitting back and being told what to do!

We also had the MoverMoms Board meeting here at my house tonight. What a remarkable group of women we have on that Board. Lawyers, computer experts, writers and others -- each person is amazing in her own right, and I'm grateful that she has taken time to serve on this Board.

Day 66 -- Volunteering at Breathe Deep lung cancer walk

2009-11-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

"You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow too."
---Sam Rayburn

Meaningful doesn't begin to describe the event I helped at today with other MoverMoms. Touching, powerful, inspirational - it was all of those and more. I helped out at Breathe Deep DC, a 5K walk to raise funds for lung cancer research and awareness of lung cancer. It's the #1 cancer killer and kills more people each year than do breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers combined.

Jerry Sorkin, a local dad, has Stage 4 lung cancer. He and his wife are the brains behind this event. They have a huge network of family and friends, so the turnout today was incredible. There were chants of Je-rry, Je-rry from the crowd of about 1500 who stood together in the shadows of the Washington Monument. And it seemed to be organized flawlessly, with everything from a kid's tent, to a Jumbo-tron that had photos of other Breathe Deep walks in different cities, including Baghdad and the Caribbean island of Turks and Caicos!

I hadn't seen the sunrise in a while and was exhausted when the alarm went off at 5:50 AM (I was up last night till about 1 AM). But once I was in the car with other MoverMoms I was fine. When we got downtown it was so serene and beautiful, especially at the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial. There were some volunteers who gave us minor tasks but the lucky thing was that we also got to go for a walk around the Washington Monument. Oh, and I forgot to mention that it was indeeed a beautiful sunrise over the Capital!

My prediction? This walk gets bigger and bigger each year, especially if the weather forecast is anything like today.

Day 65 -- Helping Rick give away clothes

2009-11-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

"Well done is better than half said."
---Benjamin Franklin

Today I helped my husband declutter his wardrobe. Initially I was supposed to help a friend who is chairing a charity auction load up her car with all the auction stuff. But by the time I got to her house she was done.

Seeking a last minute project, my wonderful husband said he really needs to go through his clothes and get rid of lots of stuff he never wears anymore. Boy was he not kidding! On his giveaway pile were at least 5 pairs of shoes, a couple of suits, about 15 nice shirts and 15 t-shirts, pajamas, many pairs of shorts and pants, and a bunch of ties and belts. I had no idea he had that many clothes!

Together we filled his stuff in 4 large black trash bags and got them ready to donate to charity. He had not gone through his stuff that thoroughly in many years and realized much of the clothing was stuff he wore in high school. I took a couple of patriotic shirts for myself and one of our daughters, and also kept a pair of long underwear that no doubt will be useful in cold weather!

So while it was a bummer to not be there in time to load up the auction stuff, this was definitely one of those "go to Plan B" times in which we really benefitted. Now Rick's drawers and closet are not overflowing with stuff he doesn't wear, and hopefully people who are in need of clothes, shoes and other menswear will have more to choose from :-)

Day 64 -- Delivering Meals on Wheels

2009-11-13T20:16:00.000-08:00

"The control center of your life is your attitude."
---Norman Cousins

Today I once again delivered meals to elderly people through the Meals on Wheels program. I love the opportunity it gives me to talk to older people.

Some are very upbeat and friendly, whereas others are quieter and more reserved. One talks about his fond memories of being a teacher and high school administrator (I especially like him since he asked me today if I'm a college student!!) Another person is always working on difficult puzzles.

But some don't seem to be doing as well - in one house it always smells like smoke and looks like it desperately needs a cleaning job, though the woman who lives there seems very appreciative of the meal delivery.

It's hard to think of ourselves at different ages, but I hope if I'm fortunate enough to be as old as most of these people that I have as positive an attitude towards life as many of them do.

Day 63 -- Helping at the school book fair (again)

2009-11-12T21:32:00.000-08:00

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."
---Mark Twain

Once again I got to spend time at the school book fair, this time with my daughter. It's so great to see kids getting excited about books, as so many statistics and headlines seem to be saying that kids (and adults too for that matter) are no longer reading.

You'd never know that at this book fair. Kids were browsing all kinds of books, from novels to sports books to picture books and more. They seemed very interested in reading and overjoyed to be purchasing (or to have their parents purchasing) multiple books.

My daughter had picked out two books - one called The Diary of a Wimpy Kid (or something like that) and a spy-related book, but in the end she picked out a white board on a high quality piece of wood that is a chart for chores.

Can you believe she'd pick a non-book at the book fair? And can you believe I said ok to that? We both figured we have a backlog of unread books so may as well not add to the collection. And truthfully, this seems to be something that will encourage and motivate her to do more chores and be more responsible - sounds good to me!

Day 62 --- Helping at the school book fair

2009-11-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

"All rests with those who read."
---Philip James Bailey

Today I helped out at the Bannockburn Book Fair, an annual event that the kids love. The book selections are not as good as a place like Barnes & Noble or Border's, but there's something very special for the children to have the books displayed in a very child-friendly way in the gym.

It's another community event that not only yields several thousand dollars, but also has so many people (mostly moms) working together for a good cause. It's fun to be the "cashier" for a couple of hours, as you get to see what books others are buying (as well as items like pencils, posters, and bookmarks) and to browse the shelves for one's own kids as well as for gift books. For kids there are a wide range of books, but for adults, it's mostly limited to cookbooks, sports books, and some bestsellers.

One adult book that caught my eye is "This I Believe," which focuses on life philosophies of a wide range of people. Looks very inspiring, exactly the type of book I enjoy reading these days or giving as a gift. The book is based on many NPR interviews, and as I flipped through it I could totally imagine listening to the short essays on radio. I'll probably buy it tomorrow, as I'm going back to volunteer again, this time with my youngest daughter.

The book fair brings back memories of when my older girls were young and in elementary school, as they used to love this event. I even remember there being art projects there one year, and the girls made plastic plates with their own design on them. Believe it or not we still eat on those. I just can't bare to get rid of them, as they represent a time that certainly seems like long ago (actually about 10 or 12 years)!

Day 61 -- Serving dinner at Whitman for newspaper

2009-11-10T21:35:00.000-08:00

"Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind."
---Rudyard Kipling

Tonight I served dinner at Whitman to the students who write for the school newspaper, the Black & White. Parents take turns bringing and serving meals so that the kids don't need to leave the school and drive to restaurants in many different cars. It save them time, promotes their safety (by not driving) and benefits the environment - a win-win on all counts. Meanwhile, the kids, under the direction of a teacher, produce an outstanding and even award-winning school newspaper.

Interestingly, the two people with whom I volunteered were both dads. I've done this volunteer job at least 4 times in the past and never has there been even one dad. Does this mean times have changed? Are more dads involved in volunteering at their children's schools today compared to 5 or 10 years ago?

I would have to say yes in my experience. Seems like especially at the elementary level, dads are there midday just as moms are, whether it's to volunteer in the classroom, attend a special event, or go on a field trip. Surely the number of moms still far outweigh dads in most communities, but still, seeing a dad there is no longer an anomaly.

Nevertheless I was surprised to see two dads tonight. Fortunately I enjoyed speaking to both of them very much and stayed quite a while afterwards chatting. This was to the dismay of my youngest daughter and her two friends, all of whom came to help serve but were hoping to play basketball in the gym afterwards. No such luck, as we didn't find a ball, but we managed to play several versions of tag and monkey-in-the-middle, 2 of my favorite childhood games!

Day 60 -- Delivering Treats-4-Troops to West Virginia

2009-11-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do."
---Henry Ford

Just got back from driving the truck to West Virginia. Everything went well and the folks at Boatsie's Boxes are so appreciative of this huge effort. Got a late start so didn't get there till later than expected, but that was fine.

A highlight was getting to go with my friend Hilary Joel. We got to talk for 13 hours -- -and somehow kept the conversation going the whole time. She is an amazing woman - very involved in many causes and also a very smart executive coach.

I'm so grateful to everyone involved in this huge effort. Hurray -- WE DID IT AGAIN!! More successful than ever in that so many kids were involved and they learned a great lesson about sharing candy and helping soldiers. Lots of companies and organizations involved too, as well as neighborhooods, families, sports teams, schools, and more.

I am glad to have spearheaded it but to me the best part was working on it with so many others in MoverMoms and getting the chance to connect with lots and lots of people around the DC region. Started with a conversation about collection dates and ended with a huge truckload of candy - very cool!!

Day 59 -- Loading the Truck

2009-11-08T20:54:00.001-08:00

"Our greatest weariness comes from work not done."
---Eric Hoffer

Guess I agree with this quote. A bunch of MoverMoms and dads (myself included) packed up the Enterprise truck today and we filled it with candy. Candy just kept coming and coming and coming - even hours after we loaded it all. It's more candy than I've ever seen except for at the Hershey factory! You name it, it was there - every type of candy in existence in the US - I'm pretty sure about that.

But even though the project involved physical labor, it was not tiring but energizing to do it. We worked together and finished the job in less than half the time that I expected. Really nice to have different friends meet each other and get to talk while volunteering.

So the truck is loaded and ready to go. Heading out tomorrow with a very good feeling about hundreds or more likely thousands of participants in this project, especially kids, and of getting to meet so many people (though my house is a mess and I've got a big list of errands that I've been successfully avoiding!).

Nervous about the drive for sure, but it's all part of the adventure. Wish me luck!!

Day 58-- Wrapping Up Treats-4-Troops collection

2009-11-07T21:22:00.001-08:00

"The future comes one day at a time."
---Dean Acheson

Today was the final day of candy collection. Wow, what a huge mountain of candy we have. And it's all been one email at at time (to listservs), one bag at a time, one day at a time, one FedExed package at a time, one dropoff at a time, at my doorstep or that of one of the other collectors. Yet the sum total is huge -- a truckload totally full.

Remarkable how generous people are - buying candy this year specifically for this project in addition to donating extra Halloween candy. And having their kids go out and trick-or-treat for the troops. I'll miss the constant flurry of activity with candy deliveries to my front doorstep, but really need to get it out of my house before I turn into a house from all the Reese's I'm eating!

Next up for tomorrow: A packing party to load up the truck. Will let you know how it goes!

Day 57 -- Friendly Visitor to an elderly woman

2009-11-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."
---Jimi Hendrix

Today I met with an elderly woman, through a Friendly Visitor program. She is a real class act - very fashionable, very friendly, and very interesting. I went to her apartment building and we talked for a long time about her family, mine, her childhood and much more. I just loved listening to her stories, and she seemed to enjoy having the company. We are planning to meet again in a couple of weeks, at which time I will take her to see the new shops in Chevy Chase. I had forgotten how much I enjoy being around elderly people. They just seem so wise!

Day 56 -- Delivering Meals on Wheels

2009-11-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

"It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
---J.K. Rowling

Had loads to do with Treats-4-Troops but had committed to delivering Meals on Wheels today, so I didn't want to back out. Very gratifying to deliver the meals (one hot and one cold, along with a milk, for each person) and to see how appreciative the elderly people are to receive them, even though they seem fairly basic. Many of the people don't see a lot of other adults during the day, if any, so they welcome me very kindly.

I forgot to bring the hot meals from the church into my car, so when I arrived at the first apartment, the gentleman said "where's my dinner?" to which I could only reply: "Oh no, I left it back at the church." So I had to double back and get it, requiring almost twice as much time to do the route, but really no big deal - it was just about 30 minutes extra and I know the recipients are appreciative.

Sometimes we value our time so much that we forget that it won't really matter at the end of the day if we have a half hour or hour less for what we need to do, so long as we are helping others. I kicked myself for being so forgetful, but was so glad I went back and got the hot meals. It's definitely worth it to do so!

Day 55 - Treats-4-Troops collecting/responding to inquiries

2009-11-04T21:55:00.000-08:00

"The greatest happiness comes from the greatest activity."
---Christian Nestell Bovee

Candy is flowing into my garage and other collection sites like Niagara Falls - it just keeps coming and coming. Today I got it FedExed to my house, and received another package via UPS. A delivery is coming from New Jersey as well as a big load from Baltimore.

A woman is collecting in Alexandria and a company is doing so in Clarksburg. A veteran is going around his neighborhood telling people about the project and kids are bringing it in their backpacks to drop off in schools. One guy who came by with several boxes explained that he's a teacher and he challenged his students to bring in more candy than his weight - they definitely succeeded!

In short, it's become a huge community event. Just answering people's questions about when, how, where, and what types of candy they can drop off is more than a part time job this week. I am amazed at people's willingness and persistence in donating their candy. Very inspiring!!

Day 54 -- Coordinating Treats-4-Troops Transportation

2009-11-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

"Opportunities multiply as they are seized."
---Sun Tzu

Today was a continuation of the Treats-4-Troops project, with a focus on transportation. Last year Enterprise Rent-A-Car donated a cargo van that we filled with donated candy and drove (along with a station wagon) to Wheeling, West Virginia. This year the hope/concern is that we'll have even more candy and need a bigger vehicle. We really want to fit the candy in one vehicle so that Cheryl and I (actually we call ourselves Thelma and Louise on the road!) can drive together (last year we caravaned).

So I picked up the phone and did the old fashioned thing - I called Enterprise, and the guy who remembered me referred me to the company's commercial truck division. That division has been kind enough to loan us (free of charge, though we pay for gas) one of their 16 foot Boxcar trucks. I haven't driven one of those before but am actually looking forward to it. We'll be on the open road, hopefully mostly in daylight, so it shouldn't be too hard, right? Any of you out there driven this type of vehicle?

Meanwhile, candy continues to flow in from so many areas - Baltimore, Woodbridge, Annapolis, College Park, Alexandria, even New Jersey and elsewhere. Here's my question -- where would it go otherwise??? Probably largely on our hips, a thoughy I hate to consider!

Day 53 -- Baking muffins for a teacher breakfas

2009-11-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

"Only the educated are free."
---Epictetus

Today I baked muffins for a teacher breakfast at Bannockburn ES. Got a late start on the baking process, as they were supposed to be at school by 8:30. Then realized I didn't have as many muffin holders as I thought, but it was too late to get to the grocery for more.

Still, I baked them anyway, with chocolate chips, and brought them over to the school along with some OJ. A bit weird looking, and a bit overcooked, but still pretty tasty (the chocolate chips do wonders!). Fortunately there was a huge spread of food there, so the fact that I didn't bring more than a dozen muffins was insignificant.

Guess I get an A for effort, though about a C for outcome! But that's part of the volunteering experience - you do the best you can and no one penalizes you for the result; actually, I find the opposite is usually the case - your effort is much appreciated, no matter how meager it is. Which is why I keep coming back to the idea that making a small difference is so much better than making a tiny difference.

The teachers at Bannockburn are truly awesome - so devoted to the kids, and so friendly to the parents. They certainly deserves any appreciation given to them by parents. And one teacher in particular, my friend Ross Mills, also deserves the votes of everyone who knows him. He's been nominated for a teacher award by the Gazette newspapers. If you haven't voted yet, do so early and often, as in Chicago, by going to: http://www.gazette.net/teacher/

Day 52-- Treats-4-Troops high schools collection - OMG

2009-11-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

"There is a time to let things happen and a time to make things happen."
---Hugh Prather

Today was the big collection day for Treats-4-Troops at two area high schools. We got tons of candy at both locations, Walt Whitman High School and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. It was possible to do because of the generous volunteers in MoverMoms -- women and kids who took time out of their day to man the collection point.

Given that it was pouring much of the morning, volunteers had to go out in the rain and up to people's cars as they passed us their candy. But no one seemed to mind getting wet for this good cause - it's all so inspiring to me!

And speaking of inspiring - so many kids came and clutched their candy before giving it to us for the troops. Apparently many kids went out trick or treating this year with the intention of keeping some for themselves and giving the rest to soldiers.

I just love that concept - the idea that it's not all about getting more, more, more for me, me, me, but rather about getting some for oneself and the rest for other people.

Then there was the WTOP News stories about the project - those yielded so many inquiries about dropoff points beyond our little Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac niche, as well as providing the opportunity to add a new dropoff point in Clarksburg. I am so pleased that interest has spread far and wide, though I feel bad that we don't have more places for collection. Maybe we'll expand next year....

Meanwhile, the messages and feedback that I've gotten has been so heart-warming. People really are trying to donate their candy to this cause. One woman in Prince George's County is having her husband bring the candy downtown to his office near Union Station, so that he can then come to my husband's office near Metro Center and give him the candy to bring to my house - wow, I'm not sure I'd go through all that effort, but I really admire it!

Anyway, the power of many working together is being proven once again today...and I'm feeling like all the planning was worthwhile, though it's tough to resist the Almond Joys sitting in my garage at this very moment!

Days 51 -- Treats-4-Troops set up and final steps for collection

2009-10-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

"By mutual confidence and mutual aid, great deeds are done and great discoveries made."
---Homer

Today and tomorrow are big days for Treats-4-Troops collection. Today was getting all the ducks in a row and tomorrow is the big collection at the local high schools. So hard to have any idea what amount of candy will be donated but hopefully lots.

My husband Rick just sent me an article about the person who had the idea to start collecting Unicef. He was a Presbyterian minister named Clyde Allison, and lived in Pennsylvania. The first Unifcef collection in 1950 yielded about $100,000? This year, the Unicef Halloween program is expected to yield about $4 million, with some collection taking place even over the Internet!

Allison's line of thinking was similar to ours for T-4-T, namely make it an occasion for kids to be inspired to think about helping other people, not just raking in a ton of candy for themselves. I had the feeling that we accomplished that goal the other day, when I was talking to my neighbor's daughter and she said she'd bring two bags of candy on her route: one to collect for herself and one for the troops! And surprisingly, my youngest daughter forked over about half her loot when she got home, saying "that's all for the troops."

So we'll see what happens as of tomorrow. WTOP is running a spot about the project all morning (once an hour) and a couple of other radio stations have info on their websites. Stay tuned - I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, hope you had a fun Halloween and got to enjoy at least a bit of candy -- I couldn't resist my favorites: Junior Mints an Almond Joys!

Day 50 -- Helping at school Halloween party

2009-10-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

"Kids are always the only future the human race has."
---William Saroyan

Well today is an important milestone for this blog --it's day 50 so I'm officially halfway through my volunteering challenge. Hurray! Feels like a regular part of my routine by now...but hope I'm not boring readers with too much repetition. I'll continue with the daily quotes, assuming I can keep finding good ones, and will try to sprinkle new info into each entry.

Today was the Halloween parade and party at the Elementary school. Fortunately, my daughter, who was sick earlier in the week, was fine to go today (actually with a bit of a cold, but that's ok, right?). And it's a good thing she was better, since missing this event is like an adult missing a really special event like a movie opening night, or like giving up NFL, NHL, or NBA club level tickets, or something equivalent. I would have been hearing about it all year if she didn't get to go.

The day of Halloween festivities is a HUGE day for the kids, since they get to march around the school driveway and have candy and games in class. They just seem to love it, so of course it was a pleasure being there to witness all that. All I had to do was clean up, and with paper plates and juice boxes that was a breeze. Really, the teachers at this school are amazing, as are the kids. Such an energetic place to be, though with all the sugar in these kids today I'm sure it was probably a bit more supercharged than usual. Still, you forget how much energy these kids have till you spend time around so many of them at once. It's fantastic!

Day 49 -- Helping at KEEN auction

2009-10-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
---Walt Disney

Tonight I helped out at the Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) annual dinner and auction. What the founders of this group seem to have done is create an amazingly successful organization that serves so many kids with varying disabilities. KEEN provides these kids with a way to enjoy fitness and to build friendships. I have great admiration for the group and for everyone who works there.

The event was in a big ballroom at a Marriott Conference Center. Tons of well-dressed people and some really cool auction items, especially those relating to sports, home, hobbies, and travel. I didn't win anything but enjoyed just browsing.

My official role, together with another MoverMom Suja Ali, was to help carry items from the auction tables to the table where everything was being tallied and put away. It was not hard but rather fun to do it together, to see people coming together for such a good cause, and to observe the whole scene. Somehow I just have never acquired the right wardrobe for this kind of event, especially now that Suja pointed out to me several women with different fishnet stockings (she said those are now in style). Maybe I should buy a pair??

Day 48 - Treats for Troops continued

2009-10-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."
---Henry Ford

Still another day with a child home sick, but I had plenty to do on Treats-4-Troops. Painted a couple of signs, sent our more messages, tried to arrange which vehicle to use for candy delivery to West Virginia, and more. This isn't an intellectually challenging project so much as an organizational and logistical one. It's been wonderful to have interest in this project from companies such as Wells Fargo and schools as far away as in New Jersey, but tricky to make it possible for everyone to get their candy here in time for delivery to Wheeling.

Overall though, it's really a fun undertaking because so many people share the desire to do something with the candy other than eat it, and they seem so willing and eager to donate it to a good cause.

Day 47 -- More work on Treats-4-Troops

2009-10-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

"It's plain hard work that does it."
---Thomas Edison

My youngest daughter was home sick today so I worked from home on the Treats-4-Troops candy collection project. Hard to believe that this whole thing started on a whim, two years ago when I was trying to think of what to do with extra candy. But much more than one person's idea, this whole effort is a shining example of the greater power of working together on community projects compared with working alone. People have been spreading the message via the Internet (I guess the power of that is proven here too!) and so I've gotten lots of inquiries about the candy collection as well as about MoverMoms in general.

Questions range from whether chocolate is ok to send to soldiers in the desert (answer: yes at this time of year and through the winter), to whether it's ok to drop off Beanie Babies at one of the collection sites (yes, though our focus is candy) to whether there are collection sites in other parts of Montgomery County and elsewhere...etc. etc.

There have also been a couple of media inquiries, which is fantastic because that's such an effective way to get the word out. Not sure what will become of those, but I'm glad the interest is there. At the end of the day this project really is a feel-good story because of how it brings together so many people for participation in a goodwill effort for the brave soldiers.

But who would have thought of candy as such a unifying force? Not me! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to eat an Almond Joy (have loads of them in the house in anticipation of Halloween, and just can't resist!).

Day 46 -- Speaking with elderly woman and delivering jeans

2009-10-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."
---Mark Twain

Today I had the privilege of speaking with a woman in her 80s. The purpose of the call was to initiate a friendly relationship with her so that I can spend time with her on a regular basis. It's a program of the Jewish Social Services Agency called the Friendly Visitor Program. Activities can include taking her to do errands, grocery shopping, browsing in stores, having coffee or lunch, or just being with her where she lives.

I expected the conversation to be short and matter-of-fact. It actually lasted over 45 minutes and covered so many topics. In the small world department, it turns out she grew up and lived in the same town that my sister does in New York, and she went to the same high school as my mom (but did so several years earlier). I knew of the shopping area where she worked and of several landmark buildings that she mentioned.

Currently she lives alone and is somewhat lonely. But she seems like a lovely person and after our long conversation we decided that our first "visit" in November will include an outing to the new shops in Chevy Chase. She hasn't seen those yet, and while I've driven by at least 100 times, I've never gone in. Should be fun for both of us!

After getting off the phone I realized how much I can learn from this woman, about life, loss, aging, and more. I'm really looking forward to meeting her in person.
______________________
Also delivered about a dozen or more used men's jeans to Miriam's Kitchen, along with more donated mugs. I continue to be amazed at how quick people are to give used stuff in excellent condition and not even ask for a donation slip - very kind of them, and I know it's much appreciated by the organization.

Day 45 - Planning Treats-4-Troops

2009-10-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
---Thomas Jefferson

Today I did more planning for the big candy collection -- Treats-4-Troops. We nearly doubled our candy collection last year from the previous year, which was the first year, largely because we had collection at two more sites, a high school and a private home.

This year we're hoping for as much as last year or maybe even more - which would be fantastic since it'd enable us to give it to Boatsie's Boxes, the group that does Operation Christmas Stocking and packs the candy in stockings for troops of all faiths. We have 6 main collection sites - 2 high schools and four private homes, and a couple of others that people have arranged.

But I've realized the candy won't come pouring in automatically. It takes work from our group, MoverMoms and from me - from sending out the email messages to coordinating with school officials and individuals whose homes will be collection sites to delivering and hanging signs to doing other publicity as well -- this is truly a group effort and "takes a village" to make happen. Though the economy may have a minor effect, generally speaking it's a pretty simple equation - the more effort we put in, the more candy we collect.

Day 44-- Making poster and cards for the troops

2009-10-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

"Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money and power and influence."
---Henry Chester

Today I helped organize and oversee a poster and card making project that MoverMoms suggested and participated in through Montgomery County's 23rd Annual Community Service Day. The County provided all the art supplies as well as the indoor space for the project, and the chief organizer, Karen Thon, was terrific about having everything ready to go.

Perhaps because publicity was good, or because the project was geared to kids, or simply because it was raining (and therefore not conducive to outside play), many people showed up to help out. There were kids from about age 6 to 14, and several adults as well, all sitting together at a large conference table writing touching cards to soldiers (with phrases such as "Hope you come home soon," "You rock" "I'm going to give you my Halloween candy"), and posters intended to be used for the Treats-4-Troops candy collection project.

I was so impressed at the kids' creativity and enthusiasm for this project. They were concentrating on their writing and designs, and not goofing around at all, even though it was the middle of a Saturday afternoon and no one was forcing them to do this. Several moms too, and even one dad, put their artistic skills to work, so that by the end we had a couple of dozen cards and about 20 posters! It's amazing what people of all ages can accomplish when working together with enthusiasm and a positive attitude!

Day 43 -- Making sandwiches for the homeless with schoolchildren

2009-10-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
---Albert Einstein

Today I had the privilege of spending time at my daughter's elementary school where some children in each grade took time out of their recess period to make sandwiches for the homeless. The sandwiches were far from gourmet -- they were cheese, turkey, ham, and a combination of those. But the children took great pride in each step of the process - decorating brown paper lunch bags with drawings, cartoon figures, and upbeat phrases, as well as packing two sandwiches, along with fruit, candy, and more in each, and putting the bag in a designated box after it was stapled closed. Many kids -- older and younger -- even wanted to do the activity twice.

I came away realizing that when presented in a simple yet creative way -- and when allowed to do an altruistic activity together with friends -- kids will give up part of their favorite school activities to help less fortunate people. This activity seemed very normal to them, and while one could argue that making one lunch isn't doing all that much for the larger homeless problem, it certainly gives kids a bit of education and realization that not everyone has as much as they do, and certainly not everyone gets to be picky about what they eat for lunch (that's an issue we've occasionally had in my house - I'm working on it!).

Bottom line: It was nice to see kids doing something to help others during the school day.

Day 42 -- Writing community presentation summary

2009-10-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

"Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
Give a little bit
I'll give a little bit of my love to you
There's so much that we need to share
So send a smile and show you care."
---from song called "Give a Little Bit" by Supertramp

Today I wrote up the summary of a Tuesday presentation to the community by a woman who wrote a book on college admissions. It's called “You’re Accepted:
Lose the Stress. Discover Yourself. Get into the College That’s Right for You.”
The book takes a sort of granola-ish approach to the whole process, encouraging students to focus on self-discovery and to make it a personal journey of self-acceptance. Many of the concepts came from the speaker's background as a yoga instructor. It could seem a bit touchy-feely, but truth be told I think it's exactly what high stress, intense students need to hear.

The presentation drew about 100 to 150 people but sending the summary out on the listserv means many, many more will now know about it. Often in the past I have felt way underpaid as a freelance writer, but in this case, as was the case yesterday at the writer's center, it feels good to put my writing skills to use in the volunteering arena. I will do so again when writing up the PTSA minutes, probably tomorrow, underscoring to me yet again how many different ways there are to give back to the community.

Also met with a very nice woman at the Jewish Social Servies Agency today regarding a volunteer project that I hope to begin through this organization. It involves visiting an elderly woman, doing errands with her, and providing some companionship. I am looking forward to that and will keep you posted on how it goes.....

Day 41 - Helping teens at the high school writer's center

2009-10-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I volunteered at the Writer's Center at Walt Whitman High School and got to help kids with their college essays. It's a wonderful exercise for teens to write about themselves as they must for these applications. Why? Because it gives the young people the chance to be introspective and think about who and what matter most matter to them, and about where they see themselves having come from as well as where they see themselves heading.

May seem like they're just 'kids.' But in 17 or 18 years they've collected many life experiences and deep thoughts, as well as of course goals and dreams. Getting to listen to their opinions and read their writings really is a lot of fun.

Day 40 -- Attending PTSA meeting at high school and taking minutes

2009-10-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

"Most people don't aim too high and miss. They aim too low and hit."
---Bob Moawad

Tonight I attended the PTSA meeting at my daughter's high school, where we had a short meeting followed by a talk on college admissions. The speaker, Katie Malachuk, wrote a book called "You're Accepted: Lose the Stress. Discover Yourself. Get into the College That's Right for You." She spent much time talking about the need for kids to make the college application process a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, rather than an effort to package oneself into something that one thinks the colleges are looking for or into a candidate that parents/guidance counselors/others think will have the best shot of getting into a school.

I found her talk uplifting and refreshing, since the process can be so stressful for the teen and therefore for the parent. Her approach is in part based on her job as a yoga teacher, and so a major goal is to get rid of the stress while being honest and true to oneself.

Another uplifting community event that I attended today was the Washington Area Women's Foundation's 2009 Leadership Luncheon. I walked into a ballroom filled with about 1000 women of so many different ages and backgrounds. The Emcee was Doreen Gentzler, who is so articulate and welcoming, and the moderators were the mother daughter team of Cokie and Rebecca Roberts, both much admired journalists. There were other amazing women speakers too, including a woman from the Obama Administration.

To see mother and daughter up on the podium together was particularly inspiring, though the really inspirational part was to hear the success stories of this terrific organization that raises money from women in order to help women and girls succeed and have more economic security. This organization provides a great model of the power that women have when aiming high and working together, two goals that I strive to do and greatly admire.

Day 39 -- Delivering meal to friend who had surgery

2009-10-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built."
---Eleanor Roosevelt

Tonight I delivered a meal to a friend who recently had surgery. Nothing gourmet or fancy, but hopefully edible and maybe even tasty. This friend has had more than one surgery as she has battled cancer, but always has a smile on her face when I have come by with a meal. She dresses well, looks great, and talks about a range of topics unrelated to her health. I am so impressed and inspired by her attitude and courage.

Day 38 -- Participating in Halloween Young Run

2009-10-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

"I would rather regret the things I have done than the things I have not."
---Lucille Ball

Today I participated with my daughter in the Halloween Young Run. It was a beautiful sight to watch -- a couple of thousand (or so) kids and parents running together distances of 1 mile (or less) on a cold, wet morning in Rockville. Other parents cheering on the sidelines as though a dignitary or celebrity was marching in a parade. Loads of volunteers on hand to provide bibs and other goodies to kids as they checked in, to keep the course safe and well-marked, to put medals around the finishers' necks, to provide post-race snacks and drinks, and to run booths with a variety of games like ball tosses, soccer kicks, etc...truly a community-wide event.

Some proceeds for the non-competitive race went to charities that help kids with disabilities play sports.

We thought about not going because of the weather, but as is usually the case with events like these, I am so glad we did. My daughter and so many other kids got to feel like champions; they got to see friends early on a Sunday morning when they'd probably otherwise be home; they could feel the joy and see the enthusiasm that results when people join together for a good cause, and they got some early morning exercise while doing something fun. And parents got some fitness and social time too. What more can a mom or dad want in a child's activity??

Day 37 -- Attending volunteer orientation and CARE talk

2009-10-17T20:01:00.000-07:00

"Not all those who wander are lost."
---J.R.R. Tolkein

I was a bit all over the map, or at least in different corners of it, with my service focus today. I attended a volunteer orientation of Greater DC Cares at the Mount Pleasant Public Library in DC in the afternoon, then headed in the evening to a talk by a woman from the non-profit organization CARE.

At the volunteer orientation, about 60 people of different ages listened attentively to a talk by a Greater DC Cares representative as she discussed the myriad volunteer opportunities in the DC area. Short term, long term, leadership-focused, team oriented, youth-related -- you name it, it's offered through this organization. It was very inspiring to see such a robust turnout and such enthusiasm for volunteering among the attendees.

At the CARE talk, about 15 people gathered in the warm and friendly home of Phyllis Levinson, a terrific woman who is also in MoverMoms. The speaker addressed the whole issue of women's health during pregnancy and childbirth, and discussed what this wonderful organziation is doing with partners across the globe to safeguard women's maternal and post-partum health so that families can thrive. Loads of food for thought and very inspiring to learn about the work that is being done on this issue, primarily in Asia and Africa.

Had to leave a fun tour of the National Cathedral that I was doing with family and good friends to get to the orientation, and had to go out in the pouring rain to get to the nighttime gathering. But as is usually the case with these kinds of events, I was so glad I went. I left thinking about the many entrenched societal problems both locally and globally, but left knowing that very dedicated people are addressing them in creative and persistent ways. Makes me want to do my part, whatever that part may be....

Day 36 - Planning for Treats-4-Troops

2009-10-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

"Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare."
---Japanese proverb

Today I began planning for the MoverMoms big annual candy collection project called Treats-4-Troops. We collect extra and donated Halloween candy and give it to Boatsie's Boxes, a West Virginia organization that packs it all in Christmas stockings for US troops of all faiths in all branches of the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization is run by a super-dynamic, amazing woman named Boatsie VanVranken, who send shipments of goodies to soldiers at different times of the year.

I am hoping that together with MoverMoms and so many other people in the community who get involved in this that we can collect as much or more candy than in the past two years -- namely one or two van loads -- which would be wonderful. My favorite parts about the project are the generosity of kids, who so willingly fork over their candy when they find out it's going to US soldiers, and the way it enables the crossing of paths of so many kind people in the community.

Day 35 -- Delivering Meals on Wheels

2009-10-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

"A person is not old until regrets take the place of dreams."
---John Barrymore

Today I delivered food to elderly people for the Meals on Wheels program. The recipients, who were in their late 80s and 90s, were not necessarily in the best of health but were well enough to be living in their own homes or apartments. I had a wonderful conversation with one gentleman who is nearly blind. Just coming to his door seemed to brighten his day, as he is a bachelor who doesn't have much family around. But the funny thing is that talking to him brightened my day too. He is a former teacher and administrator, and worked as a high school teacher, assistant principal, and more, and he had many insights into teenagers (those always interest me as a mom of teens!) and into the history of Montgomery County Public Schools.

Another woman, said to be in her late 90s, was hard at work on an extremely difficult puzzle when I arrived with her meal. It had mountain and wooded scenery against a blue sky and background, and must have been a few hundred pieces. I was inspired by her diligence and interest in completing it (aren't puzzles one of those things that keep one's mind sharp?).

Some of the people I deliver to do indeed seem very old when I look at them and at their sometimes apparent physical problems. But upon talking to them I can often hear a more youthful spirit, or just provide an occasional listening ear. Either way it's as rewarding an activity for the deliverer (is that a word??) as the deliveree (not sure about that one either...).

Day 34-- Helping after school and donating used games

2009-10-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

"It's possible to own too much. A man with one watch knows what time it is while a man with two watches is never quite sure."
---Lee Segall

Yesterday I saw an email posting on the school listserv about a request for used games to be donated for indoor recess. So I used this opportunity to go through our many games with my daughter Amanda and pick out ones that we never or rarely use. As it turned out, there were a bunch, and together we agreed that I would bring them to school and place them in the box by the office.

It was a teachable moment for Amanda to sort through the games. I was really proud of her for so readily realizing that she didn't need to keep them all when she was barely using them. I have noticed her becoming more giving lately, and I hope it's in part due to this project. Like other kids her age, she loves to mimic what her parents do.

It was also a good feeling for me to go through and clean out our games cabinet. Truly there is such a thing as having too much of almost anything, and games/toys certainly are no exception. I had kept games from years ago, thinking maybe we'd use them but mostly just not taking the time to sort through them. Thus today was not only about giving, but also about de-cluttering, a highly undervalued activity!

I also helped for a few minutes at Sign Language Club, while waiting for the wonderful teacher to come. I would never have thought of going out and signing my daughter up for this, but given that it's right at the school with such a great teacher I couldn't resist. And with my daughter (and from what I can see with the other kids), it's a big hit!

Day 33 - Volunteering at elementary school

2009-10-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

"Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means."
---Leo Buscaglia

Today I volunteered for the first time this year in my daughter's class. Subject was math but I was given the task of collating simple reading books, which I did gladly since it needed to be done.

Volunteering in a classroom inevitably leads me to have great respect for the teacher, regardless of whether he/she is stellar or not (in this case she is!). How do these mere mortals do so much for so many children each and every school day?

And the kids could not be cuter - so eager to learn. This was my second day in a row in the classroom, as yesterday was the annual Open House when parents can come and go in their child's classroom. But each day is equally inspiring. I am amazed each time I go at how different classroom settings are today than back when I was a kid - back then, at least in my private school, there was so much order to everything.

People say today education is geared too much toward testing, but I recall a much less creative and bustling classroom than I see in elementary school today. I remember teachers standing at the front of the silent room (other than her voice) and teaching one lesson at a time. If you didn't listen, you were sent to a corner or to the principal. Now it seems kids are working together in groups, talking together about their work rather than listening to a teacher lecture, and doing more creative projects. If only it continued to be this fun and low-stress through middle and high school......

Day 32 -- Starting used men's jeans collection drive

2009-10-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

"You can't change the wind; you can, however, adjust your sails."
---Unknown

Today I was supposed to host a PTSA Executive Committee meeting at my house, but it got cancelled in the afternoon. With little time to regroup and find another project, I thought about making a meal and donating it to a shelter, as has been my plan B on other occasions. Home cooked food seems to always be appreciated at many shelters.

But that would have involved a trip to the grocery store as well as to the shelter and my schedule was already pretty full. So I came up with the idea of starting a used men's jeans drive. This idea comes from a comment posted a few days ago by someone at Miriam's Kitchen, where I recently donated about 100 mugs (with a substantial donation from another mom).

The comment said that Men's jeans were very much needed. So far I have two pair - from my husband. My plan is to post something about it on the MoverMoms list and collect from friends too. Hopefully the effort will yield a bunch.

This journey was bound to take some unexpected turns - I just hope I have the creativity to come up with new ideas as needed. As always I welcome your suggestions!

Day 31 -- Attending and helping at neighborhood festival

2009-10-11T21:02:00.001-07:00

"Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind."
---Henry James

This quote seems especially true when it comes to neighbors. Having kind neighbors and a kind community to live in increases one's quality of life. When we first moved to the Washington area, we lived in a neighborhood where everyone seemed to leave early in the morning and return at night. Fortunately I met two very nice families with young children like I had, and it was the kindness of these two nearby neighbors that made living there bearable and fun.

Next we moved to a Mayberry-like neighborhood in Bethesda, which I miss to this day. Then to Chevy Chase, where we stayed only two years but met some very kind and friendly neighbors who made us feel like we were in a strong community.

In our current neighborhood, we initially didn't feel very connected to the community (other than a few special neighbors) but over time that has changed. One woman in particular -- Renee West -- has taken on the demanding task of organizing a neighborhood festival a couple of times a year each year for several years. And each one seems to get bigger and better (often I find that those two words don't go well together, but in this case they do!).

Today a huge number of people of different ages came to the neighborhood park on a glorious Sunday afternoon to hang out, paint pumpkins, play soccer, eat snacks, get faces painted, and more. The Neighborhood Festival is becoming a tradition. You get to talk to people that you rarely see but whom may live just a few houses away, since with our busy lives we just can't get together as often as we'd like.

So in this day and age, events like this one are not only fun but necessary for community building. Though I really didn't do much with clean up, whatever I did was done with
pleasure, as I could tell by the end that nearly everyone seemed to leave with positive feelings about the festival and the neighborhood :-)

Day 30 -- Participating in the Leukemia & Lymphona Society's Light the Night Walk

2009-10-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
---John Wooden

Tonight I participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. I did so as part of Team Holtzman, a team put together by my friend Mary, who was stricken with Leukemmia several years ago and is now a five year survivor. The weather was crisp and clear, and the timing of the start coincided perfectly with a gorgeous pink and purple sunset. In addition, there was a band playing festive music, with lots of familiar rock tunes, and several booths/tents with giveaways of food, stickers, and more.

The Walk was amazing. I had no idea what to expect, but headed up to Rockville with my youngest daughter to meet Mary and walk with her and her team. I arrived later than I had hoped and had a hard time finding parking, so by the time we got to the tent where we were supposed to meet Mary she and her team were no longer there. They and most of the crowd had already begun walking to the starting line.

I was shocked at how many people were there - Mary estimated it to be around a few thousand. Most people were holding red balloons with lights placed inside them, hence they were "lighting the night" as they walked together. There were teams from Elementary schools (leading me to think they were walking in honor or memory of a child), from corporations, from churches and other organizations, and many individuals walking with friends and family.

The walk, which seemed super-well organized, included a loop around Rockville Town Center. My daughter and I only ended up doing part of it, as we walked from the finish line towards the walkers in the hope of finding Mary. Sure enough, we spotted her, smiling as usual and excited about the event. Mary is the kind of person who always has a positive attitude. I don't see her often enough but always enjoy when I do. I was especially impressed to hear that she raised even more funds for the cause than she had pledged to. Actually this isn't surprising given her energy and enthusiasm about this cause and about life.

Walks like this one (and the MS one last weekend) leave me feeling sad because you inevitably see people who are suffering from a particular disease, or hear sad stories about people who died from it. But I also feel exhiliarated by the hundreds or in this case thousands of people who gathered to walk for awareness, for a cure, or for a celebration of life after facing and overcoming a very tough battle.

Day 29 -- Packing gift baskets at mental health non-profit

2009-10-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

"If we have the opportunity to be generous with our hearts, ourselves, we have no idea of the depth and breadth of love's reach."
---Margaret Cho

Today I helped make gift baskets for an upcoming event/fundraiser of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Montgomery County. By the time I arrived, several volunteers were hard at work, putting together beautiful gift baskets with all kinds of items in them. Cellophane wrapping with bows tied on top covered most of the baskets.

I was struck by how professional the baskets looked, and quite frankly a bit nervous that I wasn't up to par when it came to making them, though I managed to do a few. I imagine the winners (many are being auctioned off) will be very happy to get them, as they are clearly put together with a lot of TLC and contain a lot of decorative and useful stuff.

Tonight I went to another fun community event which didn't involve volunteering but still had a nice giving component. It was a book swap hosted by a longtime friend at her beautiful home. Each woman who came brought some books that we put on a table, and as each person left she could take the books she chose. As a book lover, I couldn't help thinking the idea was brilliant. I browsed at the titles, took a biography of Ben Bradlee for my husband and a Jodi Picault novel for my daughter, and left with the notion that I definitely want to copy her idea sometime, maybe as another day's project or just for the fun of it.

Day 28 --- Delivering Meals on Wheels and calling new families at high school

2009-10-08T20:50:00.000-07:00

"It's not so hard to get rich as it is to know when you have gotten rich."
---Josh Billings

Today I delivered Meals on Wheels once again, bringing a hot and cold meal plus a drink to several very elderly people. It wasn't easy for any of them to get to the door, yet the ones I was able to have a conversation with were so very friendly and appreciative for these simple meals. One told me about his three decades plus as a school teacher and administrator, yet he rarely goes outside now because he has very limited eyesight. Another could barely hold the meals, which were packed in a cardboard box and in a small foil container.

Seeing them made me count my blessings that on such a gorgeous fall day I could easily go in and out of my car, move around freely, and enjoy the sunshine. I felt "rich" in a way that is irrelevant of how much money is in the bank account. Note to self: Look for more projects that involve elderly people. Being around them can be very uplifting and/or can make one feel that one is making a difference.

I also had the opportunity to call some new families at the local high school. Totally coincidentally, one of the people I called -- a really nice guy -- was my nephew's teacher last year up in New York. Is that indicative of a small world or what?!

Day 27-- Helping at the high school writing center

2009-10-07T21:06:00.001-07:00

"Kindness is more important than wisdom and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom."
---Theodore Isaac Rubin

I have to hope this quote is true, as my task today was to help teens with their short papers on John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and I tried to be kind when doing so. Nothing like helping out at a high school writing center to make you feel a bit uneducated when it comes to classic literature!

Though I think I read that book long ago, I couldn't for the life of me remember the themes and motifs. Fortunately the kids were very knowledgeable and incorporated into their papers lots of key information from the novel. I was able to help them with the writing style and structure, as well as with the grammar (yes, high schoolers still sometimes need help with grammar), so didn't feel useless, but it did make me realize I should take time to read some of those great novels, especially now that I won't be tested or graded on them!

Day 26 -- Delivering mugs to Miriam's Kitchen

2009-10-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare think."
---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Hurray -- I'm moving into the second quarter of this 100 day journey!!

Today I delivered about 100 sturdy coffee mugs to Miriam's Kitchen, a place that provides meals and services to homeless people in Washington DC in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. In fact Michelle Obama volunteered here recently, and praised the organization for the great work that they do.

I had collected the mugs from a declutterization (is that a word? seems like it should be!) of a couple of my kitchen cabinets and from a generous mom in the MoverMoms group. Driving down was a bit inconvenient, but I made it before rush hour, got to listen to my new Spanish tapes (trying for about the 4th time to learn this language!) and got to see a few nice neighborhoods downtown (I took a couple of wrong turns) .

I realized how important the transportation component of volunteering is -- without a viable way of moving stuff from one location to another, how could so many useful collection drives take place?

This homeless services center is located in a church near the upscale Watergate Hotel and the Kennedy Center. Sad that in the backdrop of this wealth is a place where homeless people flock. But it's an excellent place, with a well-established breakfast program, Case Management Program, and After-breakfast program.

After delivering the mugs, I was ready to start collecting something else (or to volunteer there at some point) so asked for a list of items needed. Among other things, they need men's underwear and will accept it used....as the woman said when I inquired about that "if someone doesn't have any underwear and a pair that's in good shape is given to them they will accept it." What a potent reminder of how unfair the world is. Fortunately each of us can do our part to try to rectify that...

Day 25 -- Being a parent volunteer at Drama Club

2009-10-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

"Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means."
---Leo Buscaglia

Today I was one of two parent volunteers at my daughter's school for the afterschool Drama Club. I was excited to be able to be a fly on the wall and see what the children (about 40 or 50 of them) have been doing in the club meetings twice a week.

Turns out they are singing and dancing up a storm to several Broadway hits. The dance they practiced today wasn't particularly hard in and of itslef, but it must have been hard to do it in sync with so many other kids.

It's always fun to be around performing children. And I marvel at their abilities, so highly developed among some. I think I'm all the more interested in and amazed by what these kids do since I had practically zero talent in this area as a kid and did not steer my older girls towards it. I recall getting picked for abbreviated part as Golda, the mom in Fiddler on the Roof, and Maria, the Governess, in Sound of Music. But since those are the last roles I can remember I guess that means my acting/drama career piqued by fourth grade!

Uh oh, falling asleep here -- it's been a really late weekend...better sign off. Goodnight!

Day 24 -- Setting up and cheering at MS walk

2009-10-04T21:03:00.001-07:00

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else."
---Booker T. Washington

Today I helped at a walk to raise awareness and funds for a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. I went as a volunteer for a MoverMoms project with another mom, who was kind enough to go on the morning of her birthday and with my youngest daughter, who seems to take to these projects like a fish to water, especially when there are t-shirts and food being given out! We also went with a dad and his two daughters, as they went to cheer on their mom who was a walker.

The tasks were pretty minor -- putting up a tent for tables with various things on them, from food to cow-bells to bubbles and more; carrrying water jugs from one place to another; taping down trash bags so that the wind didn't blow them away; and just being there to cheer on the walkers as they crossed the finish line.

But the impact of all the volunteers collectively was to create a finish line where participants could feel that their accomplishment (30 mile walk!) was being recognized and celebrated. There was a small but enthusiastic crowd of people of all ages cheering, several tables of lunch types of food and drinks, ample space under tents to sit and rest, and upbeat music playing in the background to give the atmosphere a more festive feel.

All this took place on a gorgeous fall day in the backdrop of the Washington monument, with the sun shining, the wind blowing, and the temperature a breezy 60 degrees or so. Great way to spend a Sunday morning!

Day 23--- Chaperoning high school Homecoming dance

2009-10-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

"You must give time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others -- something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it."
---Albert Schweitzer

Tonight I had the privilege of chaperoning at the high school dance. I've had two kids go through that school but they never wanted me to be present during the dance. My 17 year-old, however, was one of the organizers and she was happy to have me volunteer.

I got to see the kids all dressed up, way better dressed than I ever was in high school, and to see the administrators and security folks working hard and keeping the environment safe and fun. I got to watch the kids in their element, mingling and dancing in the gym with cool lighting and decorations along with blaring music. And I got to hang out and chat with a few of my friends who I hadn't seen in a while and who were also volunteering. All in all not a bad way to spend a Saturday night!

Day 22 -- collecting coffee mugs to donate to shelter

2009-10-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

"A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty."
---G. Donald Gale

I did not have a specific project lined up today so I followed up on an item in an e-newsletter that I got from Miriam's Kitchen in DC. The item said the shelter needs coffee mugs. I figured I had a few extra cof those luttering up a kitchen shelf and this would be a good excuse to de-clutter (why do I always need an excuse to de-clutter rather than just doing it for its own sake?).

I found about 10 mugs at home, but the real jackpot was when I mentioned this small goal to my friend Brenda, who happened to have 75 mugs at her house that she was willing to part with. She had bought them as a set for a special occasion but no longer needed them. So I was up to about 90 mugs with minimal effort.

If you're looking for a project, you could easily do this, or something like it. Just look around for something in your house that you'd like to have less of, and put them together in a box or bag. Chances are someone else also wants to have fewer of that item, and all you need to do is collect from a couple of other people and find an organization to donate them to. Don't be afraid to ask people to donate stuff - often times you are doing them a favor by taking the stuff off their hands or out of their homes.

I've become a big advocate of collection drives of various kinds, as the free transfer of goods from one person or group to another seems so productive and good for the environment, not to mention that it's also a really nice gesture of kindness on the part of the givers and collectors.

Day 21 -- Helping at women's shelter silent auction

2009-10-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."
---Aesop

Tonight I went downtown with another mom and her daughter as well as my daughter and a neighbor to help at the fundraiser of a day shelter for women. Turned out there were plenty of volunteers so our help was not really needed.

Still, the effort was far from wasted. For one thing we brought with us several bags of clothes donated by women in MoverMoms, and had we not been going to the auction we would not have done the clothing drive. Also, we were able to talk to the kids about the women's shelter and the good work that they do. And third, we got to see all the items that were up for bidding at the Silent Auction and had the opportunity to bid (and thereby make a donation) on stuff that we liked.

I have had a few occasions where I've been a volunteer and there hasn't been enough to keep me or other volunteers busy. I guess it's the nature of the beast. But better to have too many than too few, and tonight I was more than happy to hang out with a friend and the kids for a while in an elegant setting where people had gathered for a good cause. And did I mention the food?? In a word, yum!

Day 20 -- Helping give kids nasal flu vaccine at Elementary School

2009-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without heping himself."
---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today I helped in the makeshift flu clinic at my daughter's elementary school. About 200 children were receiving the nasal flu vaccine spray. The volunteers escorted groups of children from their class to the portable classroom, which normally serves as the instrumental music room, and after checking in at the desk they took a seat until it was their turn.

I was so impressed at how brave -- and trusting -- the kids were, especially those who hadn't had it before and didn't know what to expect. As a mom who asks lots of questions and proceeds very hesitantly when it comes to even seemingly simple medical procedures, I found it especially sweet that these kids just "went with the flow" and didn't complain a bit. Actually they seemed to enjoy the shared experience, afterwards talking and giggling about how it made their noses feel funny.

There's nothing like spending time with cute, healthy kids to put you in a good mood. I left feeling very cheerful, and of course in awe of the teachers who spend not 90 minutes just watching/supervising kids (as I did) but rather the whole school day teaching, inspiring, and nurturing them. They're my heroes!

Day 19 Labeling ducks at a hospice organization

2009-09-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it."
---Mother Teresa

Today I did something that might sound strange - labeled rubber ducks with a stickers that had numbers on them. The purpose for doing this is an upcoming fundraiser sponsored by Montgomery Hospice Foundation. The annual "Derby Duck Race and Festival" is one of their largest fundraisers of the year." Winners of the duck race get donated prizes, such as restaurant gift cards.

So this was one of those activities where my little part seemed inconsequential but actually contributed to a much larger goal, i.e. raising funds for a very worthy organization. And the fun part was getting to talk to the other people helping out - everyone was really nice and so appreciative. And what's not to like about being surrounded by rubber ducks? It reminded me of bath time when the kids were little!

Day 18 - Doing an art project with women at a group home

2009-09-28T20:59:00.001-07:00

"It's not so hard to get rich as it is to know when you have gotten rich."
---Josh Billings

Today, on Yom Kippur, my youngest daughter and I went to a group home for people who are mentally-challenged. It was a nice house in a quiet suburban neighborhood. We did a very simple art project with them -- making a colorful chain of construction paper links. All it involved was glueing and linking strips of different colored construction paper.

I was touched by their enthusiasm even though it was a hard project for some of them; by their smiles even though it didn't seem like they had all that much to smile about; and by their kindess towards us and appreciation of our coming there even though we hadn't done much (and were there for an hour or less).

I left feeling very fortunate to have the skills and abilities that I do, as well as to be able to live in a house with my family. I was thinking about how there are ways to feel "rich" without having a lot of money -- and as I drove away I was feeling very rich in some of those ways!

Day 17 - - Making the switch to 100 days of service

2009-09-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time."
---Leonard Bernstein

I am writing another posting today (Day 17) because I have decided to adjust/refine (not totally change!) my original goal of volunteering each day for a year. I have come to realize that that goal is to some degree unrealistic and to another degree unnecessary.

It's unrealistic because we are planning several trips as of late December and into 2010, and making sure to volunteer each day would be imposing on family members at a minimum, and perhaps even leaving/ignoring them at times when the whole point is to travel or share in a special occasion. It's unnecessary because I am benefitting so much each day with every project yet I can see the finish line a couple of months away and continue to be creative in my choices. Going for a year would require so much repetition and juggling, especially on weekends, that I think some of the stress caused would end up affecting my family a lot.

So I hope you, my 3 or maybe even 4 readers -- will understand
and be supportive. Any comments, thoughts, cricisms??

Days 16 and 17 -- Making brownies and delivering them to shelter

2009-09-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Having dropped off apples at a homeless shelter in Rockville last weekend, I'm now feeling comfortable just stopping by there impromptu with some food. It always seems appreciated by the staff and other people there, and by my family as well, since I tend to make extra for us. I may even improve my cooking by the end of this endeavor (much improvement is needed!).

It's funny that before starting this it didn't occur to me to make extra or to cook/bake specially on any given weekend in order to donate food to a homeless shelter, unless I was doing it as part of a group project. But I think now that concept is etched in my brain, and hopefully I'll continue it after this journey is done.

Having said that, it doesn't take much -- a plate of pasta, a casserole, or as I did this weekend, just a couple of batches of brownies (confession: made from a mix).

Day 15 -- Delivering meals to the elderly

2009-09-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

"There is no better exercise for your heart than reaching down and helping to lift someone up."
---Bernard Meltzer

It seems to me there are few volunteering experiences that yield such a good feeling as delivering meals to elderly people who need them. You get direct contact with people in their homes, some of whom interact with few other people all day. They are so appreciative and so nice about something as simple as bringing a meal (and not a gourmet one!) to their door. One person said "Thank you for bringing this so that I won't starve this weekend."

The homes range from very well-furnished and neat to extremely cluttered. But either way, the face t0 face encounters are very touching. This is the type of project that I hope to be able to do every week or every other week.

And as a bonus, it gives me time to spend on my own in the car (at non-rush hour times when traffic thankfully is not bad) so I can listen to talk radio or to cds on tape. I even made a stop at the library after finishing my route and picked up some Spanish cds and a biography of Benjamin Franklin on cd. If I can keep myself away from my cellphone I could really learn a lot. Adios and Buenas noches...

Day 14 -- Preparing a newsletter mailing at NAMI

2009-09-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
---Nelson Henderson

Today I helped prepare newsletters for a big mailing at a local office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It was interesting and in a way exciting to head to this office where I'd never been, like a total clean slate. I didn't know what to expect.

What I found were a group of volunteers who ranged in age from about 20 to 70 and some very friendly staffpeople. We sat at a big table and each took a stack of the monthly newsletters to seal with a sticker. The task was pretty menial, so we could talk while doing it about a wide range of general topics-- different recycling policies, cellphone carriers, where we live, etc... Working from home I don't get to work directly with people of different ages and backgrounds on a daily basis, so these sorts of situations are a treat.

I've been fortunate not to have to seek out NAMI's services, but hope to help out there again. There is something nice about volunteering at a place you don't directly benefit from.

Day 13 -- Helping out at the high school Writing Center

2009-09-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many."
---Unknown

Today I was sent a New York Times article written by Maureen Dowd about how women are becoming less happy and more gloomy as they age, while men are becoming happier. I don't doubt the finding, as so many women seem to regret and bemoan the aging process.

I on the other hand (and fortunately many of my friends) am trying to embrace it. I think it's easier for me to do so since my father died suddenly at age 34. Ever since I turned that age and each year since I've felt lucky to be able to surpass the age at which he passed away, as though there might be some family curse that could lead me to the same destiny as him.

But I also believe that each year, with the wisdom that age brings I've been able to get a bit wiser, a bit mellower about sweating the small stuff, and hopefully a bit kinder and more patient (I'm a New Yorker, so that last characteristic doesn't come easily)!

And while volunteering won't enable me to better afford anti-aging products, I do believe it adds happiness to my life, which is something the New York Times article reminds me is nothing to sneeze at for a woman in her 40s.

Day 12 -- Planning MoverMoms and future service projects

2009-09-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
---Albert Einstein

Planning volunteer projects for myself and for MoverMoms takes a lot of time. Fortunately I enjoy all of it - making contact with organizations, going back and forth on dates and other details, sending out emails to the group, and getting responses from members.

I went back and forth as to whether this "counts" as a community service project, but concluded that it does, as planning is an essential, if behind the scenes, component to making community service effective and fun.

My only other thought on this topic is that if you are trying to plan volunteer projects for yourself or others, don't get discouraged by what might seem like an overwhelming number of choices or by not knowing where to start or if you don't get your email or call returned. There are volunteer opportunities in almost every walk of life. But many organizations are understaffed so you may not get a response right away.

As with anything worthwhile, you need to persist - it's worth it in the long run!

Day 11 -- Picking fruit off the ground for the needy

2009-09-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

"Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
---Dr. Seuss in The Lorax

Today's project was so enjoyable mostly because I did it with friends. It was a MoverMoms project in which we headed out to a farm in Leesburg, Virginia for the privilege of getting on our hands and knees to pick the apples that had already fallen from the ground.

Doesn't sound fun? Well it was, totally. The weather was great, we felt like we were doing the work for a good cause (the apples would be donated to people without enough means for food), and I was there with two amazing women who shared my passion for helping out and had lots of interesting topics to discuss.

I like meeting new people, but it's less of a guarantee of a good time than if I volunteer with friends. Then again, this is an adventure, so I need to keep an open mind...

Day 10 -- Bringing apples to a women's homeless shelter

2009-09-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.....
....For it is in giving that we receive...
---St. Francis of Assissi

One of the readers (maybe I have about 6?) sent this Christian prayer to me, and I like the lofty goals that it espouses. Certainly ones to aim for, even in small daily acts. And that last line - so true, so true. Doing something today as simple as delivering the apples that I picked with my family yesterday felt like I was benefitting. Why? Because I could that the fruit brought smiles to some women's faces at the shelter. I could tell that my daughter and her friend were learning something about giving to others as we delivered them, and I knew we still had way more at home than we needed for a pie or cobbler.

Day 9 -- Picking Apples to donate to a shelter

2009-09-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."
---Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am happy to report that after a little more than a week it seems my family is on board with my plan. At first they thought it was a crazy, overly ambitious concept, or maybe just another of my wacky ideas (I have many!), but now they are interested in taking part when they can. One of my daughters sent me a whole lot of inspirational quotes to use at the top of blog entries. Even my daughters in college ask 'so what's today's project?'

I try to involve my family whenever I can since I want - and need -- them to be supportive to make this work. Partially in deference to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana (on which apples are traditionally eaten with honey to symbolize and hope for a sweet New Year), my husband, one daughter, and I we went to a nearby farm and picked apples with the intention of donating them to a homeless shelter tomorrow (that's your preview of tomorrow's project!). My husband put our youngest daughter on his shoulders so she could reach the apples, and pushed her around like in a wheelbarrow at record speed, and we all had a great time.

It seems obvious in retrospect that one of the teachable moments of a family excursion to a farm would be to donate some fruit to needy people, but before undertaking this journey I didn't think of doing that. Not to sound too dramatic, but I think I'm starting to look at life a bit differently...maybe with a more giving approach? (or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part).

Please keep sending comments or questions - I love getting those!

Day 8 -- Checking people in for lunch at a shelter

2009-09-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

"You've got to get up every morning
With a smile in your face
And show the world all the love in your heart" -- Carole King

Today I went to help with lunch at a shelter for people who are homeless or who are among the working poor. My job was simply to check people (mostly men) in as they walked through the door. In total, about 40 came through. I tried to greet people in a friendly way as they walked in and again as they were leaving. Most of the people seemed like they had been there before, so they knew what to do. There was little conversation among them -- they seemed to mostly sit quietly and contently while eating a meal of vegetables, yogurt, pasta, salad and chicken that would please even the most health conscious of eaters.

Noticeably absent were cellphones. While there was no sign prohibiting anyone from using them, I didn't see a single person talking on his phone, or texting or doing anything else with any technological device. I realized they aren't quite as ubiquitous as they seem in most of the circles that I travel in, which was a welcome realization!

Day 7 -- Delivering Meals on Wheels

2009-09-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." --Mahatma Gandhi

I love this Gandhi quote, as it challenges each of us who hopes to make a difference to set high standards for ourselves. It's not enough to talk the talk about helping people, you've got to walk the walk.

I tried to do that today (by driving not walking!) when delivering meals to elderly people who for the most part live alone. They were somewhat frail but at the same time could express appreciation for my bringing them a meal, and in some cases provided interesting details about their lives. I wanted to stay longer to learn more about each person.

Another thing that happened today is that my youngest daughter saw that a friend who liked certain shoes that she was wearing. Since my daughter happens to have two pairs of those (they were hand-me-downs), she took them off her feet and gave them to her friend. I realized right then and there that something in her has clicked when it comes to giving and generosity. I know she's picked up lessons about those traits in school and elsewhere, but since being a good role model is in part what this journey is about, it was very gratifying to see those characteristics put into action right before my eyes.

Day 6 -- Helping new families adust to local high school

2009-09-16T20:58:00.001-07:00

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." -- Winston Churchill

I love this quote because it says what I really believe to be true: that there is so much personal benefit gained through giving to others, no matter what form that giving is in. It could be time, or money, or skill, or even just patience or a listening ear.

Today I did something pretty simple -- calling families that are new to the local high school and inquiring about how they are adjusting. The goal was just to give them a chance to ask questions, and to make them feel more welcome. Didn't take much of my time but felt as though I was contributing in some way to the community.

It's been almost a week and already this is starting to feel very good and normal, though I haven't a clue how I'll keep it up for 359 more days! Any thoughts?

Day 5 -- PTSA meeting at the high school

2009-09-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
--Joshua J. Marine

Several people have made really nice comments to me about my personal challenge of volunteering each day. And I appreciate that support so much, as I'm finding it not that easy to line up some type of meaningful project each day.

But today I am thinking that many people I know are doing impressive and inspiring things day in and day out, though not necessarily getting public recognition for them. It could be caring for a sick or elderly relative or for a disabled child, or working in the mental or physical health field or teaching children, or working to make the environment cleaner - the list goes on and on.

In other words, when I look around I find inspiration for my project in so many places. So many people are out there working hard at making the world a slightly better place, and while I'm trying to count myself among those people, it is they who are my heroes (and heroines!).

Day 4 -- Bringing lots of stuff to a shelter

2009-09-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

"One of my best moves is to surround myself with friends who instead of asking 'why?' are quick to say 'why not?' That attitude is contagious." -- Oprah Winfrey

Well it turns out Oprah now has scientific proof of that quote. A Sunday New York Times magazine article focus on how to some degree happiness, good behaviors, and even good health is appearing to be contagious among friends, almost like a virus.

I couldn't be more glad about this finding since I feel so lucky to have friends are upbeat, who take care of themselves and their families, who do lots of good works, and who inspire me in many ways.

They have been so supportive of this project and I am so grateful for that, especially at moments when I'm wondering if this journey makes sense. I had a moment like that this morning, when I didn't have a project lined up. But with the encouraging words of friends in mind, I came up with the idea of doing some (much needed) de-cluttering and taking all the stuff to a nearby homeless shelter. I collected several bags of stuff (clothes and toys) that my two younger daughters had given me when they recently cleaned and rearranged their rooms, along with some outdoor play things and drove them to the shelter, where I knew it would be much appreciated.

Day 3: Stuffing Envelopes at KEEN

2009-09-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle; the other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

Today my youngest daughter and I helped out at KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now), a fitness program for kids with developmental and physical disabilities that helps them develop friendships while engaging in a community activity. Our task was to stuff envelopes with invitations for the organization's upcoming Annual Dinner and Silent Auction.

We worked at a table with many other very nice volunteers who we met and talked to. But we also had the chance to see several of the kids, or "athletes," engaged in a variety of recreational activities. Despite their disabilities, they were working hard at exercising, and appeared for the most part to be having a great time doing it. I couldn't help thinking that each and every one of them is a miraculous child, as are my own children and yours too.

Day 2 -- Adopt-A-Road Cleanup with MoverMoms

2009-09-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

"The longest journey begins with a single step." -- Attributed to Lao-tzu (c 604-c 531 bc), founder of Taoism.

An appropos quote since today I took not one but many steps along Sangamore Road in Bethesda picking up trash with other women in the MoverMoms group, followed by a stop at Starbucks. Really, could I ask for a more enjoyable way to spend a Saturday morning than chatting with friends while walking outside on a cool September day, then continuing the conversation over coffee and tea? So far this challenge is so much fun it feels like I'm cheating....

Also saw in The Washington Post that Michelle Obama is challenging George Washington University students to do 100,000 hours of community service by the end of their spring semester. If they do it she'll be their commencement speaker. I love how she's made community service such a big priority. Do you agree?

Day 1 -- Creek cleanup and manning a PTA table

2009-09-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

“Let us renew the true spirit of that day: not the human capacity for evil, but the human capacity for good; not the desire to destroy, but the impulse to save and to serve and to build. On this first National Day of Service and Remembrance, we can summon once more that ordinary goodness of America to serve our communities, to strengthen our country and to better our world.”
---President Obama, speaking at the Pentagon on 9/11

I'm off and running, in this marathon of sorts, and am happy to report a wonderful first day!

Instead of my 17 year-old daughter Caroline and I sitting at our computers, as we routinely do when she gets home from school, this afternoon we headed down to a nearby creek wearing dishwashing gloves and holding black trash bags as we walked along and picked up pieces of styrofoam and other garbage along the creek-side trail.

Instead of being in our own worlds behind our screens, we talked to each other about our day, observed the beauty of a rushing stream surrounded by woods, and picked up trash along the way. As anyone with teens knows, having the opportunity to talk leisurely with a teen in an peaceful outdoor setting that has no technological or other distractions is a rare treat.

Later in the day I sat at a PTA table, signing parents in for the back-to-school picnic. I volunteered for this at the last minute, as it seemed simple enough. It felt good to help out, but again there was a hidden benefit - getting to see and talk to friends as they arrive and to meet a lot of parents whom I had never seen.

I'm beginning to think there are going to be lots of unexpected benefits during this undertaking....--RK