In support of a friend
I know, two posts within minutes, forgive me.
When I was really little, my grandparents house was broken into. They were doing some construction and a window was left unsecure. A lot of things were stolen, no one was hurt, but things were taken. To say it hurt would be an understatement. To say, I’m not still teary talking about it, almost 30 years later would be a lie.
I’ve conquered many of my fears in this world, but that is one I still have. To this day, I have nightmares about having something stolen from me. I know they are things and they are replaceable, what was stolen from grandparents then (and even me) there were things that were not replaceable, thus it is my greatest fear. In my most sane moments, I know my fear is based on the timing of the theft. I know I was young enough to still be forming the bonds of safety and security and those were damaged.
To give you an idea of how lasting this fear is, after conquering so many of my childhood fears, I still have this rock in the pit of my stomach every single time I return to the house after being away for any length of time. When the house is empty I worry. I push it as far to the corners of my mind, but there has never been a time I’ve returned to my empty house that I’ve not looked around fully expecting to have been broken into. (Fair warning: I own nothing of value beyond sentimental. I hear there is no market for sentimentality.) I don’t think anyone who knows me knew until reading this how deep my fear goes. (Yes, I’m pretty sure I need some therapy for it.)
So, I open my fear to you for a very important reason. A very good friend of mine had his broken into a few nights back. In the most frighten ways, they (he and his son) were asleep when it happened. Thankfully, everyone one is ok. Thankfully, nothing of sentimental value was taken (those are things I fear gone the most). But stuff was taken. Their safety violated.
My friend, Don (or db), is a single dad. He works hard to raise an amazing teenager. I’ve met his lad and I can tell you two important things about him, first, he is mature beyond his years in his ability to relate and talk to people; second, my Duke truly loves him. The Lad (what db calls him) was the first person outside of our family who Duke had no problem having for a sitter. We all love the Lad.
This past year the Lad had problems in school. Slacking, as teens do, db tried to encourage his son’s focus and goal setting. Finally, they struck a deal, while not wanting to pay for grade, db agreed to an iPod Video (30GB) for a total turnaround in school. This offer had been there in the fall and the Lad didn’t step up. But the spring came and the lightbulb flicked on and he performed, no he excelled in school. I, frankly, think he found his stride. He’s set himself a high bar for the school year coming up, but there are no doubts of his abilities. So, db with pride bought the promised iPod. In fact, I happen to know it arrived the same day as my first illfated MacBook Pro. (I saw the box while playing with the iSight Camera.)
That iPod, along with his xBox, and db’s wallet were all that were stolen. Now, db will get the bank stuff fixed. And I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the xBox thing. But that iPod needs to be replaced. It just has to be. So, I pinged db and told him it wouldn’t be wrong if he asked for help. Heck, if I have friends who will help send a guy to BlogHer, I have friends who will help with the iPod.
So, here’s my beg. If you can, help out — even just $1 or $5 will go a long way to do two things:
- Restore the THING lost.
- Help with the healing and hopefully the violation of it all.
In return, db has made me three promises:
- Thank yous from the lad.
- To move and move soon.
- Renter’s Insurance!!!
Here’s the donation button:
Now, to wash my face — yes, I’m still a little lot teary.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
OK, every little bit helps, right? A small donation from the Twister/Vogler household has been made!
July 27th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Awesome. No, that’s not quite it. Awesome to the millionth power? That’s a little closer!
thank you thank you thank you!
July 29th, 2007 at 1:08 am
A little bit from here: I well remember. When I was a teenager, our house was broken into while we were at church. (Edited out at the request of the commenter) We never proved who broke in later, but we knew.
Which in a way contained the problem emotionally so that it didn’t get even bigger. It was horrible, it was ferociously violating, but it was a kid we knew. But oh, do I feel for all of you in this one.
And you know? I do that same walk in the door, look to make sure the stereo and computers are still there thing when I’ve been away, too.