Friday night we spent our time in Boston at a Southie Time. For everyone not from Southie-it’s a tradition there when someone needs funds (for anything from a charity cross country bike race to a household accident that requires extra meals and health care) that neighbors and friends and stragglers from the neighborhood or New Jersey and beyond get together to party for a cause.
We only stayed a short time because we had the kids, but even in the early hours we could see that it was not only lucrative, but one heck of a good time. (Get it?)
As a mom, I love the ancillary lessons my kids picked up. Number one, their beloved Uncle John is taking on this huge task of riding a bike across America in the name of Lung Cancer research. It is not a charity bike race. He is doing it FOR charity. Amazing. On Saturday, they got to watch John drag himself up early after “staying up too late” at his party and get on the bike for 60 miles because he committed to training. That was impressive and I am sure will last with them forever. Number two, they got to see all these people who love John (and some who were just bored on a Friday night) come together to help him raise money. They paid at the door, they bought raffle tickets for items donated to also help the cause. They showed their loyalty and generosity in so many ways you could almost feel the love and admiration for John and his parents the entire night.
My kids not only witnessed generosity in person, but they witnessed the kindness of neighbors and the unending magic of good friends.
We had a blast. My kids did too. They just don’t know they also got some great life lessons along the way. Come to think of it, so did their mom. Please visit John’s website. Bring your tissues because there are some lovely tributes to the people he is riding for. While you’re there, please donate what you can. Not because John asked, because I am asking. It doesn’t take a lot from you-just a little from a lot. As far as I’m concerned, until Lung Cancer is nothing more than a dirty word, we can never raise enough. It is an important cause. And he is a great guy to carry the torch for it.
