bday gift to my sisters

"Dearest, you have no sisters, only brothers."

That's true for the family I was born into. However, I am also part of a family that I have chosen at Asbury Memorial Church. We call ourselves Sisters-In-Faith and those are the ones to which I refer in the post title.

"Oh, yes, I'm familiar with them. You've been hanging out with them for several months now, haven't you?"

That I have! And I had so looked forward to the luncheon this month with them! Linda had arranged for us to meet downtown at The Pirate's House for their midday feast. That would be followed up with a trolley tour. All we needed were 40 people who would pony up $50 each. I made sure to pay my money in March! That would be part of my bday68 gift to myself, right? Absolutely!!!

"I remember how excited you were about it. You were going in memory of those times years ago when you and Mama would 'play tourist' when you came home on leave. Those were such good times!"

They were, and I had looked forward to making memories with these sisters. Then I ended up at the hospital and could not get out in time. That was so frustrating that I cried several times.

"I know." (gently pats hand)

Thanks. Anyway, Linda has said she would try to get the money back for me, but I doubt she will be allowed to do so. Therefore, I have made a decision. After all, I had ponied up the funds in order to help us book the luncheon and tour. That is to say, I had spent that money to help us ALL to have that special occasion. So, I'm going to count it as a donation to this new group that I think of as family, as sisters. Happy birthday, my dears, from me to you.

"What a lovely sentiment! Good for you!"

Thanks. (smile!)

ciao, bella!!!

Toward the end of last year, I deleted my Kickstarter account.

It had been years since I'd spent any time on that site, so I ditched it.

Today, I opened a new account on Kickstarter... to help JinHi.

She has written an autobiographical play about her life with cancer, and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, has accepted it at that prestigious event.

Wow.

She has an entourage who will travel with her: stage manager, producers, light tech, sound tech, prop master, director, wardrobe mistress, and all the others who help bring this creation to life on stage.

This won't be the first time I've helped to send a production across the Atlantic Ocean, but that time was well over a decade ago.

Here's the difference: I know JinHi Soucy Rand.

I've supported fundraisers for her benefit before.

The first time was for the very first 24-Hour Play Festival here in Savannah, a fundraiser promoted by her one-and-only brother, Chris Soucy.

I treated that as a birthday gift to myself, as it was in May (of 2011).

The next time was also promoted by her brother and was that same summer, as a way to bring new folks to the fledgling Muse Arts Warehouse performance space that JinHi created for this seaport and its artist community.

The third time was in 2015 and was also to raise funds for that space, with artists contributing their creations as repayment for the lives JinHi had enriched.

The fourth time was two years later, with her brother putting on a one-man show titled "Fears My Sister Taught Me". 

Now, it's all about JinHi.

The kickstarter campaign, started by Erin Muller, has a big ask of $15,000.

Erin created a special funding opportunity just for me: Pen Pals Plus.

That's because I wanted to get a postcard from Scotland, but also wanted a ticket to the premiere of the show here in Savannah next month.

Like magic, Erin made that opportunity happen!

So far, I am the first to make that choice.

Sure, a postcard for $77 sounds a bit steep... but it's for my bday68... and it's doing the traveling for me, to benefit my friend.

That's worth every penny.