getnfit@39
Cathlete
Hi "gang!" 
I received the card and "gift" about 45 minutes ago, but it's taken me 45 minutes to read and re-read both the card and Wanda's beautiful letter, which absolutely had me ROTFLOL in parts. "Sorry I made things so difficult for you!" And no, I had no idea of what was going on, I am fairly oblivious to most things and they usually hit me later in a sort of, "ooooohhhhhh, yeah" sort of way, so I knew nor suspected a thing!
But I thank you all for your card and gift which I will use to get something that I can use in my workouts and think always about how wonderful and supportive you all are every day.
I was speechless (not a usual state for me to be in!) while reading Wanda's letter and all the names on the card. It made me instantly reflect on something my father told me as a child when I got really upset while viewing the movie "Roots" for the very first time. (BTW, not a movie children should see without an adult present to redirect their feelings!), but I remember saying, "daddy, we should hate white people shouldn't we?" And he said to me, "sweetheart, you will find that for every 1 white person who will be mean or say mean and ugly things to you, there will be 3 or 4 more white people, who will not only not agree with what was said, but be ready to tar and feather that white person for saying it!" "so no! we don't hate white people or any people because it isn't the color that makes them wrong or ugly, but what they say, and any person of any color can say mean, ugly and hurtful things, never forget that!" "we feel sorry for those people who don't understand as we do, they just haven't been taught any better than that, so feel sorry for their ignorance and glad that you were loved enough to be taught better!"
For all the messages my dad ever tried to instill in me and I blew off as kids do, that is one conversation that for whatever reason has always been with me and I passed on to my own girls just as he said it to me.
And he was right, as I've learned time and time again throughout my lifetime, especially after moving to a small community from the city, but this out pour of love just completely illustrates what he told me so many years ago. That 1 woman, with her 1 word, has flooded my life with so much love and warmth and positivity that her email means nothing to me except that it caused me to become just so much closer to so many more people, and her 1 hateful word inspired 100's of loving words, thoughts and feelings.
So thank you "gang" aka "friends at Cathe's." You are all very special to me too, and I will NEVER forget this experience and how loved you've made me feel.
Love,
Donna
Fitness~ It's a journey, not a race!
I received the card and "gift" about 45 minutes ago, but it's taken me 45 minutes to read and re-read both the card and Wanda's beautiful letter, which absolutely had me ROTFLOL in parts. "Sorry I made things so difficult for you!
" And no, I had no idea of what was going on, I am fairly oblivious to most things and they usually hit me later in a sort of, "ooooohhhhhh, yeah" sort of way, so I knew nor suspected a thing! But I thank you all for your card and gift which I will use to get something that I can use in my workouts and think always about how wonderful and supportive you all are every day.
I was speechless (not a usual state for me to be in!) while reading Wanda's letter and all the names on the card. It made me instantly reflect on something my father told me as a child when I got really upset while viewing the movie "Roots" for the very first time. (BTW, not a movie children should see without an adult present to redirect their feelings!), but I remember saying, "daddy, we should hate white people shouldn't we?" And he said to me, "sweetheart, you will find that for every 1 white person who will be mean or say mean and ugly things to you, there will be 3 or 4 more white people, who will not only not agree with what was said, but be ready to tar and feather that white person for saying it!" "so no! we don't hate white people or any people because it isn't the color that makes them wrong or ugly, but what they say, and any person of any color can say mean, ugly and hurtful things, never forget that!" "we feel sorry for those people who don't understand as we do, they just haven't been taught any better than that, so feel sorry for their ignorance and glad that you were loved enough to be taught better!"
For all the messages my dad ever tried to instill in me and I blew off as kids do, that is one conversation that for whatever reason has always been with me and I passed on to my own girls just as he said it to me.
And he was right, as I've learned time and time again throughout my lifetime, especially after moving to a small community from the city, but this out pour of love just completely illustrates what he told me so many years ago. That 1 woman, with her 1 word, has flooded my life with so much love and warmth and positivity that her email means nothing to me except that it caused me to become just so much closer to so many more people, and her 1 hateful word inspired 100's of loving words, thoughts and feelings.
So thank you "gang" aka "friends at Cathe's." You are all very special to me too, and I will NEVER forget this experience and how loved you've made me feel.
Love,
Donna
Fitness~ It's a journey, not a race!
