thanksgiving wishes from afar

I received the above message yesterday and wanted to share it here.
To my knowledge, none of these projects are making films or writing plays.
They are all working to make the world better by literally working, as farmers and grocers, llama herders and fishermen, knitters and woodworkers. All working to help their communities and families and friends to have better lives.
What a worthy goal.
I had written about it recently in my other blog, but it bears repeating.

"I joined Kiva in July of 2012 because the Nerdfighters group was having a membership drive. (I no longer recall how I stumbled upon the Nerdfighters. The important thing is this: I did.) The deal was this: an "angel" (an unnamed sponsor) would provide $25 to each new member. The new member would then "donate" this money toward a loan for a struggling business owner in some country. The business owner was then responsible for repaying this loan, with the money going back into the lender's acoount. The lender could then make anothe loan to a new business owner.
So, for no cost to me, I was able to do a good deed.
Hey, life doesn't get better than that!
Do a favor for a stranger for free?
That's easier, and faster, than giving blood. Why wouldn't someone participate?

At that time, I had also invested $25 of my own money to fund someone else's dream of a better life. On September 21, 2013, that loan was repaid in full and I again had $25 to invest. On that very same day, I selected a group in Bolivia to receive that amount from me, towards their loan.
When I did, here's the message I received from Kiva:

"Dear Faustina,
Thank you for making a Kiva Loan!
We're so excited that you've chosen to give a hand up to entrepreneurs working towards better lives.
Best wishes,
The Kiva Team
www.kiva.org
Loans that change lives"

You can change a life, too.
And you can do so the very same way I first did.
For free.
Using the money of an angel.
Just use this link.

Become 1 in the next 1,000,000.

rock (and a hard place) opera

more soon...
Savannah touches: Bird Girl pose on cover, Paula Deen, Miley Cyrus

hallelujah for family

more soon...

Grover's Corners

The Asbury Memorial Theatre first made an imprint on me near year's end in 2003, with their production of "West Side Story". Incredibly talented cast, fabulous use of space (the very active play was performed in the social center at the church on East Henry Street and Waters Avenue), and beautifully rendered songs. The play was one of Mama's favorites, so I knew it well.
In 2008, they reprised portions of that play in the not-yet renovated sanctuary. That was done as part of the church's annual "God on Broadway" series, a fundraiser that brings in a good number of visitors.

This is the 75th Anniversary of performances of "Our Town". Performed in the now-beautiful sanctuary, with the flexible seating arrangements afforded therein, the audience was allowed to, literally, be part of the townsfolk of the fictional Grover's Corners. Some of the cast members even sat amongst the audience between their performances. Newspaper and milk deliveries were made using the wide "lanes" through the segmented seating areas. Children walked to and from "school" on those same lanes, the wedding party came down "Main Street", the police officer made his rounds through the paths laid out on the sanctuary floor.
All in all, a very memorable evening for all in attendance.
This was my first experience with Wilder's play; I'm very glad to have seen this group's performance. I don't know that the play would have had such an emotional impact on me if it were held in a regular theatre setting, with the audience separate from the cast.
I proudly will continue to support them in their endeavors.
I encourage you to do the same.