Lucky

When things are good, they are so good it is addictive. Right now, we're in posession of a $5000 check from the Worcester Sharks from their autographed jersey auction! The check presentation was held last night immediately before the game during an on-ice presentation. I didn't think we would be getting that much money and I didn't want to ask, so of course it was an awesome surprise. I got to go "backstage" again at the DCU Center before the presentation. It is always fun to get to go behind the scenes at venues like that. While we were waiting, I got to see the hockey players up close as they lined up to take the ice. They had a red carpet on the ice (thankfully, since I was wearing high heeled boots!), we were escorted onto the ice immediately after the national anthem was sung. Moments like that are kind of a blur because they are somewhat surreal. I remember standing there holding the big check along with Diane and a fellow from Bay State Savings and Mike from the Sharks. I could hear our names and titles being announced and I remember looking up at the jumbotrone and saw us all on the screen and I thought how funny I looked. I looked at the cameraman and the photographer and out at the people in audience and I felt nervous and happy and in disbelief at the same time. Nervous, because I was afraid that I would drop the check or do something dumb or that my nose would start running again and I would look utterly gross. Happy- because I was holding a check for $5k for my organization I love and I was standing on the ice at the DCU Center and disbelief because I felt so lucky that I couldn't quite believe that I was really standing there and holding this check. Sometimes, when good things happen like this it doesn't seem real to me. I have to stop, take a breath and really look around- believe that it is actually happening. When things are good like this, it is one of the absolutely best feelings in the world. The highs with this job are breathtaking and utterly addictive. It makes me work my hardest to build Project Smile.

Sometimes, I get to do really cool things and last night was one of those times. I got to stay for the game- we were given really cool second row seats again. As I watched the game, I couldn't help but think about how far we've come in these past years- and how much further we will go. I thought of the first time I went to the DCU Center- it was to a Worcester Ice Cats game about 6 or 7 years ago- they played there before the Sharks. If someone had told me then that someday I would be standing on that ice holding a check, I would have laughed. Even 5 years ago, when I was about to start working on PS full time, if someone had told me where I would be in 2009- told me about all the great things that would happen, about date auctions at Gypsy, an event at the Hard Rock, sending stuffies across the country, standing out on Center Court at a Celtics game- all the awesome other things that have happened, I wouldn't have believed. It's not about having a lack of ambition- I've had big dreams forever, but I have never lost that sense of disbelief when good things actually happen. I always feel lucky. It doesn't matter that I know I've worked very hard to achieve and that I know Project Smile deserves the support, I feel lucky when things go right. I know there are plenty of people that work hard but don't achieve their dreams or they work hard and never receive any recognition, that people suffer bad breaks in life and have bad things happen that are far beyond their control. I'm also aware that there are many deserving charities that exist and the competition for financial support is fierce, so when Project Smile is selected, I feel lucky.

Anyways, I think that is it for tonight. It is exciting to think about what will come in the next 5 years. I can only imagine all the good things that may lie in store. Of course, I know that there will be hard times, mistakes to be made, problems to overcome, frustrations to deal with, tears to be shed- I deal with all that already and there is a chance that it could all implode, but I prefer to take each day with the eternal optimism that I get from my mom- and to believe that we can make each day better than yesterday and tomorrow even better than today and that with hard work and firm belief in yourself, all the good things really can happen.

On that cheery note, I am off to write my extensive list for tomorrow and eat my grapefruit. I have a grant application to finish- it is a simple one thankfully, auction items to work on and date auction financial sponsors to search for as well as more grant research and usual program work. I also need to start work on calendar sponsors. I can't imagine it is going to snow- it was so warm and beautiful today. I'm supposed to pick up the growler kit tomorrow, but with snow, that will not be happening. I'm having trouble with this hour change, it is midnite, but I feel totally awake and full of energy- I don't know how I'll be able to get to sleep at anywhere near a decent hour. I am so happy tonight- it is such a relief to have this donation, you can't even imagine. Until tomorrow friends..