I made a commitment.

I committed to being a friend and being there for my friends in their time of need.

Not everyone can keep their friend commitments. I, even, have fallen in my commitments to people. To friends, to family, to former students, to my children.

I may not be committed to working out on a daily basis, but this time, I’m committed.

Committed to be a life-long friend to my friends.

My friends Heather and Anissa have suffered losses beyond what I can comprehend.

Today is the one year mark of Heather’s daughter, Maddie’s, death.

Incomprehensible.

Heather has told me that she wants to talk about Maddie. She wants to know people remember her sweet baby. Even though I never met Maddie, I have met her mama, and having met, laughed with, danced with, gossiped with, sat in silence with her mom, I know Maddie was a force in this universe. The day she passed, her energy did not continue. It changed.

It changed into a force for her mama to wrangle on the internet and throughout the world. Heather now has the opportunity to share the story of her daughter’s life to raise awareness for preemie babies and their families with Friends of Maddie and the March of Dimes.

It is not the opportunity she ever wished upon herself, nor anyone to wish it upon anyone else. But in the wake of her tragedy, Heather has helped so many other people in their time of tragedy.

I have not forgotten. I have committed to helping my friend, Heather.

I am committed to Anissa.

After Anissa’s strokes and while she was in a coma, I read a post about loss and the commitment to helping in the long term. I’ve thought about the post almost daily by Supa Dupa Fresh, a young widow who knows about surviving tragedy. Please read her post if you haven’t already.

I am committed to my friends. My family.

I will be at Anissa’s home for a week in June, committed to helping her and her family.

I will continue to talk about Maddie and donate to Friends of Maddie and the March of Dimes.

Will you?

There’s a story in seeing people fight, in seeing drama unfold.

But that’s not what this post is about.

so sorry. next time…

I’ve been around these parts since way back in 1994 when my 14.4 screeched its way onto AOL. I’ve been in social media since 2005 when MySpace was cool. I’ve been a worker since 2006 when I opened my store.

I’ve been finding my family since 2007 when I started my blog, came on to Twitter, Plurk, Cre8Buzz, Facebook, IM, Skype, etc.

Yes, there is drama in family.

Just ask my sister who can throw out an insult faster than I can get off my ass to smack her in the head.

Same as with my blood family, in my extended family (YOU GUYS), there is also drama.

But there is also love.

TRUE love.

I saw that this weekend when I was beyond BEYOND welcomed into Mishi‘s house and into her family. She opened her house to my family, rearranged furniture, cleaned bathrooms, vacuumed, cooked, baked (her daughter’s birthday cake was for me, I know it).

Mishi is my first internet friend. One of my BEST internet friends. She is my family.

She and I, we’re like gouda & crackers. We couldn’t have found one another without this here internet.

And then there’s Anissa.

THE Anissa.

The Anissa who forced the entire internet to come together to help her after she suffered 2 strokes in November.

I finally got to hug-up on her in person.

She is a force. She is strong. She is hilarious.

If you thought Anissa was funny pre-stroke, you should hear her now post-stroke with NO FILTER.

If she thinks it, she says it.

Anissa without an “appropriateness filter” makes for serious snort-laughing.

And totally not the pity-laughing.

Example:
“One of the good things about having a stroke: I don’t have to play Mouse Trap anymore. ‘Sorry kids, I had a stroke’ (as she held up her right arm -which, hilariously, they have named, Sheila- with her left hand).”

Real effing laughter.

Anissa is my family.

Without the internet and social media and “working” endless hours on my lappy and dealing with menial drama, I would not have Anissa and Mishi.

Yes, I do live much of my life online. Yes, I am proud to say that.

My life online has grown my family and my cold, black heart.

Send in your photo For Anissa.
Here’s mine (all cheesed out):

Other ways to help:

Shop for Anissa

Donate directly (use banner over —> there)

Blog • Bid • Hope

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