Grateful

Barry Neil Kaufman wrote this little book called Happiness is a Choice. It’s little in size, but what is written inside is HUGE. I mean HUGE. He writes about six shortcuts to happiness. The one I want to write about today is “being grateful.”

Back in June, I went to a wonderful fund raiser at the McConnell Estates Winery in Elk Grove, CA for a little boy named Hank. It was serendipity, of course, as to how I ended up there, but I instantly thought, “Well, I can do this!” Hank has a condition known as Parry Romberg Syndrome. I could write a whole blog about it, but simply put, his face will cave in if he doesn’t have several necessary surgeries. So Hank’s challenge is on the outside and Ross’s is on the inside. I feel bonded to Hank’s mother, nonetheless, because she and I are both going to the ends of the earth for our children.

We had a lifesize cutout of Ross at the entrance. FREAKY!

So, back to being grateful. I decided right then that I would do a “wine tasting” event too! It would have a raffle and a silent auction. And I set out to do it. I, quite naively, set the date for only two months away…September 12th. I put an all points bulletin out for committee members to help me, and I was ON MY WAY!

Well, after weeks and weeks of planning, scheming, and Facebooking, September 12th finally came. A few weeks prior I had this nightmare that no one showed up and then it rained on my raffle prizes. So when I woke up that Sept. 12th morning and Kevin said, “It’s been raining this morning,” I told him he’d better not tease me like that. But sure enough it WAS raining. In fact, although the day before it was 100 degrees, this particular day was wet, cold and windy! Not ideal for an outdoor event, for sure.

Again, back to being grateful…the event started at 6pm and, sure enough, the wind stopped, the jazz band started playing and the clouds cleared. It was this spectacular evening under the stars! Just as I envisioned it would be. And people SHOWED UP! My dream was just that, a stress-induced dream. The reality was far more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

I am so grateful for everything. I am grateful for the weather cooperating. Thanks Momma Nature! I’m so grateful for my committee. Ann Marie, Sheila, Maureen, Dawn, Michael, Caroline, Valerie, Dianna, Jeff, and Ramie. (I hope I didn’t leave anyone out!) I’m grateful for the wonderful Sacramento Youth Jazz Band! I can’t say enough about them! It set the whole tone. I’m grateful for the Elk Grove Grocery Outlet for bringing the bomb of appetizers. I’m grateful for The Magic Forrest for going around and doing magic for everyone…so much fun. I’m especially grateful for everyone showing up!! It meant so much to me. I’m also grateful for Mike for being one helluva’n emcee. He was so, SO funny. And Jeff Mayo Photography….incredibly cool to have him there taking portraits.

Tricia, me, and Ramie! FUN!

There’s so many more people I can thank: the high school volunteers, the winery employees, the other restaurants, THE SPONSORS! Oh yeah…and the prize donors. Too many to thank here! So cool.

Our Son-Rise Volunteer Table

So I’m left with being incredibly grateful. I’ve said it a hundred times already, but Ross’s Autism has been a special gift to me. It has brought connection into my life like I have never felt it before. Connection with Ross. Old connections. New connections. Re-connections.

So THANK YOU! A special thank you to everyone who either came, donated, or just put out positive thoughts of success. I am truly, TRULY GRATEFUL.