Lanyards (& Manyards)

So, if you've been following this blog at all lately, you know that I've been a little down (or a lot). But as with most things, what goes down must, at some point, come up. (At least that's my view and I am sticking to it.) I'm on my way up.

I can let myself feel the sadness, but at some point, I have to pick myself back up, dry the tears and DO something. As Vickie would put it, I have to verb. What brought on this need for action, you ask?

It started on Friday. I was sitting in my basement watching TV (and possibly eating chocolate) when my mom came down and said, "Olivia, can I ask you about Erin and her lanyards? I think it would be a great project for my student council." It took me a minute. A long minute. "Erin? How did you hear about her and her lanyards?" I asked. And she replied that she had been on my blog and seen the links on the side and decided to click on Erin's link. I was awed. (I had never talked to my mom about Erin.) I looked at my mom and I said, "That is so strange! Today is exactly one year since Erin passed away and you just happened to be on my blog and to click on her site and read about the Lanyard project." And we both stood there and I swear Erin was in that basement with us. And I couldn't help but smile and laugh. It seemed so very "Erin". I was down and she pushed me back up. It was her own special way of saying, "You need to VERB."

I can be mad at neuroblastoma and pediatric cancer in general. I can be sad at the little lives that are lost and the families that are left hurting. I can allow myself to feel that; it's impossible not to. But in the end, I need to verb. I need to act. Because after all, it is through actions that more awareness will be gained, more funds will be raised, and more lives will be saved.

So, this weekend I'll be making my own lanyards. Vickie, I am going to be starting my own Odd Friday Lanyard group. (Even if it is only one person strong.) If you're reading this in the NYC area and you want to join me, please let me know.

Erin and Christi and Sydney and Ylaria and oh so many, many more deserve to have the world know. It's time to act. To verb. There is no more time to wait.