Eviction

A few weeks ago I was walking to work from the bus stop downtown. Along Colfax there are a large number of rental properties, some of which are for low-income people. The sidewalk was strewn with clothes, bedding, a bed, a couch, bookshelves and piles and piles of trash. An eviction had taken place. Also, in my own apartment complex, which can also be classified as low-income, because face it, that is what I am, an eviction took place around the same time. With both dumpsters overflowing with someone's belongings and baby clothes scattered in the alley.
How dehumanizing! What can be more disheartening than to be struggling to pay the rent, maybe even late with the rent and to come home to the apartment that is standing between you and homelessness and find all your belongings outside and the locks changed. I am not sure that there is any way around this, but there has to be a better way.
Everyday I am so grateful for the fact that I have such a positive position in life. I have been blessed with so many things over my lifetime, and while I am indeed "low-income" right now, I know that I will not be here forever. I was able to go to College, and come out with a minimal amount of loans. I was able to make the decision to voluntarily earn NO MONEY for an entire year. I know that I can move back in with my family at any time. I have a job, and the education and life skills to keep it.

Kindness on the #10

I really hate this time of year. Winter has gone on too long, I am tired of it being dark and cold and I start to get really restless. In order to keep myself sane, I am trying to make the best of it right now. That includes appreciating the small things.
When I started my new job, I also started commuting by bus. In the course of taking the bus everyday, I have observed a number of small acts of kindness. I see people routinely give up their seats for elderly passengers. I watched a woman pay another woman's bus fare. I watched a high school student carry an elderly woman's cart up the bus steps. I see people stop and ask the bus driver how he is doing, in a genuine way, not just the cursory way that we so often ask. I think I am a happier person when I stop to appreciate the small things and do some of them myself.

in the minority

Last week I went to a fundraiser for an agency here in Denver that teaches English as a Second Language to immigrants. This agency tries to keep a low profile, which is why I am not mentioning it by name. Anyway, I went with my roommate Karla and our friends Thane, Erin and Linnea. We were five of approximately 15 white people at an event with over 250 people! It was so unique and informative to be a part of an event where for once, Latino people are the majority and Spanish is the norm. I could hardly understand a word of what was being said around me, and I had no idea what I was eating, but I loved every minute of it. And I discovered my new favorite beverage, Orchata, which is sweet rice milk with cinnamon and nutmeg.
It was interesting to feel how so many other people feel everyday...

reflections on organ transplants

I am on-call this weekend at the Ronald McDonald House and every time I go up to the second floor I have to walk past this room with a sign on the door. The sign reads, "Please pray for our little angel Jadelyn. She is waiting for a liver, pray that it comes soon!" I am struck by the fact that in order for this baby to live, another baby needs to die. The parent's who made this sign are in a sense saying, "Please pray for our little angel Jadelyn. She is waiting for a liver, so we are hoping that some other family's little angel does not make it so we can have the liver!" I am an advocate for organ transplant (I did an internship with the National Kidney Foundation in College) but the human drama involved really sets me back. In order for one child to live, some other child has to die, and in the case of organ transplant, a sudden death. I guess it goes to show that nothing is ever easy. I know the families at the house, and I want to support them and hope that things turn out well for them, yet, there are many other families out there with similar tragedies as well.

Christmas in MT...When I actually made it there.

I barely made it home to Bozeman, but once I got there, it was wonderful. I got to go to all of my favorite restaurants, randomly ran into some people from HS and spent alot of time with my family.

Katie and Melissa opening packages.

The cousins playing poker. (Melissa, Katie, Matt and Justin)
Me, Katie, Melissa, Meeko and Annabelle taking the requisite Christmas picture that mom gets so wound up about.
Me cuddling with Baby Emma. Emma is my cousin Matt and his wife Heather's second child.
Katie, Me and Melissa at MacKenzie River in Bozeman.