A Benevolent Stranger

This one will be brief for a change; at least I think it will be. True acts of generosity were on display this morning at the Aquatic Center in Spring Lake. First the Director, Jason, carried my bags in for me.  I clearly had my hands full with my bags and two kids.  As I struggled to move us toward the coveted front door, all of a sudden out of nowhere, there he was offering to help me to the door. I said “thanks”.  But a thanks doesn’t really do justice to the amount of help he provided me at that particular moment. I often feel I get enough of a work-out just getting me and the kids safely delivered to our work-out that the work-out itself is all bonus calories being burned! Seriously, dragging two kids and all of our stuff to the gym is a work-out all of its own. 

Well, the generosity didn’t stop at the door. Oh no, the best part is yet to come.  I will spare you all the details of the membership sign-up ordeal, but the end result was that I was not going to be able to afford to become a member after all.  I was bummed, really, really bummed.   After delivering the message about my not being able to sign up to the staff and shedding a few tears of frustration and sadness I headed to fetch my kids from the Little Lakers Activity Center. I cried for real. I felt really stupid, but I really wanted to become a member and I guess it just got to me. The staff was AMAZING though at dealing with my emotional outburst.  I really appreciated their compassion.  I was feeling completely defeated and sad as I worked to bundle up the kids once again for our voyage home.  That is when the lady from the front desk came into the room and let me know that an anonymous donor had paid for the rest of my membership, the part I could not afford.  I really need to thank the benevolent stranger who paid for the second half of my Aquatic Center Family Membership this morning.  That was truly incredible of him to do that.  I highly doubt he is following my adventures on NOTV 2011 blog, but on the off shot chance that he is, “Thank you so much!  It actually brought tears back to my eyes that someone who doesn’t even know me would do such a kind thing for me” That is my story for today.  That's it.  That is what I have been doing other than watching TV today.  I have been working out at the Aquatic Center and now thanks to a kind stranger I can continue to do so! Now I can train for my first marathon without having to do it all outside in the bitter cold.  I am so excited!  I am not positive of this fact, but I believe I may be the first (or at least close to it) person with hydrocephalus to complete a marathon so I am totally pumped and honored to be training for it! Lord willing I will make it happen July 30, 2011.

Vern Out