Saludos!
So last night we had the auction to benefit Rick Teal, a family friend of ours who was injured playing softball last summer. He tragically became a quadriplegic when a player on the opposing team barreled into him and broke his neck. You can check out an article about him here. Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley wrote it so we could get the word out about the auction. The goal was to raise enough $$$ to buy Rick a van so he can get around without it costing a fortune every time. To use a transportation service is very costly, but people with the kind of disabilities he has need a specially equipped van to get out and about. I don't know how much money was brought in but last I checked, it was at least enough to buy a used van, which would be totally fine (doesn't really matter if it's brand new or not).
The Teal family lived across the street from us for 25 years when we lived in Bothell. My parents moved out of that house last summer, just weeks before Rick's accident. In fact, he loaned my dad his truck and helped move some furniture for us. Being neighbors for all those years, my parents became good friends with Rick and Robin, as well as the other parents in the cul-de-sac. When it became evident that this injury and new lifestyle was burdensome financially, my parents and another couple who we've known since I was a kid decided to put on a fundraiser. It was decided that a silent auction would be the best.
Most of those families who were neighbors of ours when I was growing up are still living in the Bothell neighborhood and most were at the auction last night. I had not seen them in years and it was like a neighborhood reunion to suddenly be in the same room together! The bartender (the auction was in a private room at Redhook Brewery) was a guy I went through high school with, but when I went up to buy a beer, I could not recall his name. I had to ask my mom! Am I really that old? The answer is yes, apparently. Two of the boys I grew up with have recently married, one girl had a baby, and everyone else looked "about 10 years older," to quote my brother. It was a lot of fun to catch up with the "kids" I grew up with. And of course their parents all said hello as well.
Of course when you don't see people for a long time, the first thing they ask you is, "what are you up to these days?". That is a hard question as I admit I feel some shame about not doing anything super exciting...I never thought I'd be doing customer service over the phone after going to college and it's been very humbling indeed. I think I saw customer service providers in a much different light before working for ExO than I do now. I was honest though and told them about my job but then got to talk about Spain. I feel like I explained my plan to go to Spain about 100 times, though I'm sure that's an exaggeration. Everyone was really encouraging though and seemed excited for me.
It's interesting how when you're growing up in such a tight knit community as our little cul-de-sac was, you realize only later just how lucky you were to have kind neighbors who always had your back. While none of us kids have really stayed in touch, my parents still hang out with several of the couples whose kids I grew up with. In chatting with the "kids" last night, it became evident that we all still have good memories of growing up in the 'burbs. It also became evident that we're all getting old!
Abrazotes,
Ashley
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