Small Act, Big Feeling

Yesterday morning, I took a box of soaps downtown to help with the tornado relief in Springfield. Many thanks to WWLP and Sy Becker for highlighting me in the brief video above (click to watch!), and how we can all help those in the Springfield and surrounding areas who are in need right now.

Also, deep gratitude to those in the community who are working tirelessly to help, including St. Francis Chapel on Bridge Street in Springfield. This was just my small part.

Debris.

I haven't posted since the day before the tornados ripped through Springfield. I've wanted to, but I haven't quite known where to start. There's been no shortage of things going round in my head, but emotions have been running high in me... and well, it's never a good thing to write on the internet when the heart is holding the brain hostage. I've seen a lot since Wednesday afternoon. Close up... like, real close up.

In the wake of much upset, this morning I moved to a place that I always go to when emotions are difficult for me to handle. It's a place on the floor... cross-legged, behind pen and paper. I so love the comfort of the written word. The blank page I held in my hand brought to mind images from the tornados that tore through our city. Debris. Huge heavy slices of stuff, being puffed around like paper. It's hard to look at debris. It's difficult to comprehend. Debris is one of those words that says a lot... and yet says nothing of what it really is.

Debris.

It's the roof of a house spinning airborne.
It's concrete, in freefall descents.
It's trees slamming up against front doors.
It's glass, sharding classrooms and creche.
It's picket fence impaled through kitchens.
It's bed linen, coddling bare boughs.
It's mail found on lawns many miles away.
It's the whys, and the wherefores and hows.
It's the pleas in the eyes of the helpless.
It's the open mouth stare of aghast.
Much more than six alphabet letters.
It's Debris: wretchedness unsurpassed.

-sm, 6/5/2011

"Debris" flowed with ease from my pen this morning, having watched the video below. Now that it's freed from the dark of my mind, I'm hoping I can concentrate more and put my head back into the soapy stuff.

Mattoon Street Arts Festival 2009

They had forecast it to rain all day long. We arrived to set up at about 8:45am and the rain stopped. We didn't see another drop until we were packing up the car to go. All in all, a very comfortable day weatherwise and not a bad turnout. They're saying tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and 75 degrees, so I think it's going to be a busy day. The Festival is always great.

A big thank you to all my customers who turned out to see us, and all my regulars who buy from us at Mattoon once a year. I love seeing all of you and it really makes all the work worth it. When you sell primarily on the internet, you don't get to interact too much with customers. I love watching everyone pick up the soap bars and smell them. It's very, very satisfying.

Oh, and by the way...

Whooooo-hoo! Yes, that red ribbon is mine. My booth (above) won second place in my category of "mixed media". I can't remember the last time I won anything. The woman came over talking to me and then said she "had something" for me. I had no idea. It was the ribbon! I really had no idea. I grinned like a cheshire cat for the rest of the day. I'm still grinning. Rain or shine tomorrow, it doesn't matter. I got the prize.

Thanks again to everyone, and me and my ribbon are looking forward to a gorgeous day tomorrow.

Thank you!

The 2nd Annual KIX Radiothon is now history, and raised a whopping $101,145 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Thank you to everyone who participated and to everyone who gave.

If you missed it, you don't have to wait until next year's Radiothon to give. You can still donate to this very worthy cause here.

Thank you again to everyone!

The KIX Radiothon is Here!

The 2nd Annual KIX 97.9 St Jude Children's Hospital Radiothon is finally here!

I'm so excited to be participating in this wonderful event for a beautiful charity and would like to thank KIX Country and Country Cares for putting this together.

In addition to the $100 Manor Hall gift basket and two $50 Manor Hall gift cards that will be given away on KIX, I am also running a sale for the duration of the Radiothon. Just enter the coupon code KIX979 at checkout to receive 20% off your order. (Note: Coupon does not apply to already discounted items, including Mischief Makers, Monthly Specials and Multibuys.)

To read more about the St. Jude charity, visit their web site or see my original post here. I just know this Radiothon is going to be a huge success! Thank you.

St. Jude Radiothon Update

Pictured above is the $100 Manor Hall gift basket that I dropped off at KIX radio in downtown Springfield yesterday. Here's what's inside for one lucky winner:

3 Soap Bars
1 Complexion Bar
1 Pedicure Foot Polish
1 Moisturizing Heel Balm
1 Foaming Facial Cleanser
1 Facial Cleansing Oil
1 Facial Toning Spritz
1 Facial Cleansing Grains
1 Lotion Stick
1 Facial Disc
1 Pumice Stone
2 Spa White Towels
2 Spa Face Cloths
1 Wooden Foot Brush
1 Wooden Soap Dish

I also dropped off two $50 Manor Hall gift certificates, which will also be given away during the KIX 97.9 Radiothon taking place this Thursday and Friday. Make your pledge to become a Partner in Hope for St Jude Children's hospital during the hour of the Manor Hall giveaway and any of them could be yours!

KIX 97.9 Radiothon 2009

KIX 97.9 is a local country radio station, headquartered right here in Springfield, MA. I am proud to be one of the featured donors in their 2nd Annual Radiothon, to be held on June 18th and 19th, 2009. Available during the two day charity drive, will be a $100 Manor Hall gift basket filled with lots of Manor Hall goodies, and two $50 Manor Hall gift cards.

The Radiothon is being held for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a wonderful hospital that specializes in childhood cancer as well as other catastrophic pediatric diseases. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where all patients accepted for treatment are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay. Families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance.

Visit kix979.com to find out more, and I will be updating here over the next two weeks to let you know how you can participate in this two day Radiothon event and help this wonderful charity. You can also give right on the St. Jude web site here. Thank you.