Just a brief diary here to thank you all for your ideas, your suggestions, your offers of work, your hookups for other freelance assignments, and your donations.
In the last 48 hours, I've received several hook-ups for potential freelance writing assignments. A potential expression of interest in one of my art tables. Pointers for new places for tutoring work. Advice on specific car, lift and mobility scooter models. And $504 in donations toward a new set of mobility equipment. I am blown away!
Beyond this, I've also received countless messages and comments expressing kind thoughts and support. It's as if the universe has opened up -- and not just on this, but other fronts.
More below:
So many Kossacks weighed in with help, both in the diary with comments and, then, with donations. For whatever reason, the Paypal server is temporarily unavailable, but I WILL post back with a complete list of folks who helped ASAP.
Added to the tutoring I did in the first summer semester, I now have a little over $800 toward the next scooter. If I can pull the money together, that's likely to be a little number called a TravelScoot because, although it runs a little north of $2200 all-in, it's light enough that I can break it down myself and stow it in my car and not need to replace my lift. That would make for a HUGE savings, not to mention add years to the life of my car, in all likehood.
Given the potential for freelance work, the ability to pull in the extra $1400 seems much more do-able than before! So, again, THANK YOU all!
In the last 48 hours, I've sent out resumes, I've made a potential creative-writing buddy, I have another couple of hook-ups for potental freelance assignments pending, and someone has expressed interest in picking up one of my found-object recycled art tables. The level of energy in my household feels explosive!
I was so energized, in fact, that I finished purging a couple of rooms of my house, getting rid of stuff we can't use and don't need and really held too little value to try and sell. With the tween's help, we set stuff out on the curb in advance of our monthly bulk trash collection and, as I sat on the porch, working in the shade on one of my art projects, I watched a man clearly down on his luck come by and eye our pile. Turns out, he does odd jobs for my neighbor, who completely vouches for him.
Using my rusty Spanish,I struck up a conversation and he asked for the items. I gladly handed them off and he then asked for work. Amazingly enough, he has the skills to repair two rotted wooden floor boards here in my old house -- and he offered to fix them for the cost of supplies plus my daughter's long-forgotten American Girl doll set to give to his own daughter for an upcoming birthday.
Done and done. He'll be here Monday and we'll do the exchange. It's a small repair, but necessary given the danger it poses to stepping through the flooring close to our door -- and every other repairman I've had through here has asked for at least $500 to repair it. We both had needs and we both will wind up happy. An amazing turn of events after looking for a repairman for months!
Then, after doing some pro bono work reviewing college essays for a couple of my former students who desperaately need the help, I got a call from an old client who, out of the clear blue, has asked me to write an ad and a company profile for his business for placement in a local magazine. I haven't spoken to this gentleman in years, and the timing isn't lost on me.
I'm not religious, but I am spiritual, and I'm a huge believer in karma. You guys have tons of the good kind coming to you!
With the help so many of you generously provided -- from money to freelance job possibilities to well wishes -- I am rolling closer toward meeting my financial goal for making this happen.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate all of it more than I can say.