a different idea for a memorial...
have you ever driven up to a toll booth and been informed that , "the person in front of you paid your toll"? or have you ever enjoyed lunch with a friend at a restaurant, only to be told when going to pay your check that , "the gentle lady at the window table already got your tab"? if either of these surprises have happened to you, then you know the feeling. broad smile, warmth, positive affirmation that kindness and thoughtfulness really does exist.
the idea came to me that perhaps we can fund a handful of si lifetime memberships, in edwarda's name, to memorialize her contributions to, and her love for this cyber community.
a fine post on the 'pray for edwarda' thread says this...
"Edwarda demonstrated better than anyone if one wants to influence another, the best way to do it is through kindness, compassion, forgiveness and seeking first to understand before being understood."
i see this opportunity to pay for memberships as an act that edwarda would enjoy. and one that would continue to breathe life into her zest for si. this opportunity would also be unique unto edwarda, for no one else has picked up a fellow member's tab. she would then become the gracious and generous restaurant patron seated by the window, basking in the knowledge that her deed had brought forth a good thing. she'd be right there in the car in front of us, going through the toll booth and winking back at those that are to follow. it's something that she would do.
the logistics of such an endeavor can be quite uncomplicated, or we can get more scientific if we desire <g3>. a random selection of new, paid si members would receive a full refund, with an accompanying note identifying the benefactor. another way to go about it would be not to reimburse, but instead to have si announce, say, 10 lifetime memberships... to be awarded to those people who best described their vision for promoting harmony on si. selection (judging?) would be based upon the ideals that edwarda best projected here on si (see again the beautiful quote above).
this idea to fund si memberships in memory of edwarda in no way denigrates either the hunger site or scholarship ideas. both are without question worthy causes. funding si memberships in her name would, imo, give us all a highly tangible and evident feeling of accomplishment. we would have among us the recipients of edwarda's generosity... living, breathing, contributing members. to make it perfect, we would not know who the funded members are, unless they decide to share with us their identity, and their thanks.
think about it. if it's a good plan, we'll all know it. i'm not promoting it. just offering it up
:)
mark |
