This project wouldn’t be possible without the help of a number of people that I want to show some appreciation for.
First and foremost, obviously, my parents. Dad hasn’t been with us since 2009, but as I grow older and experience life more fully, I get a deeper understanding of the kind of man he was. What that means is that as I understand more about who he was, I continue to be inspired about what to do in life. How about that? Even death didn’t stop him from being a good father.
Certainly my mom, who is pretty much responsible for just about everything I have in my life, and who let me stay with her for three months in order to save up more money for this project. My mom is exceptionally particular about the things in her apartment, understandably because she’s got an incredible eye for design and wants things to be a certain specific way, always. And no matter how careful I am (which is rarely) my presence infests those ways. In other words, it was definitely a burden so again mom, thank you.
I want to thank Kimmy Boone. Kimmy was also like a mom in that she too let me stay in her home for 3 months when I got back from Greece last fall, again to help me save up for the start of this project. Kimmy is cool and passive, a beautiful person and also someone who knows what it’s like to start a business from nothing. Her empathy and support will never be forgotten. If you’re inclined, you can learn more about her business over at Hope Floats . I know when I get back to the US, I’m definitely spending some time in one of those flotation chambers to relax and rejuvenate.
And I also want to thank my bosses. Well, technically they’re now former bosses….or maybe more technically “soon to be bosses again,” but the point is this: when I first approached them about going to do volunteer work in Lesvos because of the refugee crisis and then taking time to put together a non profit, they were exceptionally encouraging and supportive. Specifically I was told two things that really stood out. One was, “You know, there’s a lot of people who talk about doing something different but they never know what exactly it is….and they never do anything. But you know what you want to do and how you’re going to go about it. That puts you ahead of a lot of people out there and it puts you in a really good spot. And…you know how we feel about you here and unless that were to, for some reason change in the next couple of months, I don’t see why it’d be a problem to have you back.” The other was, “What you’re going to go do is going to make you a better person…and we’ll be lucky to have that person come back to us. Because we’re always going to be here.” What an amazing thing to have said to you…I don’t take it for granted at all. I could have easily had some chump for a boss that told me, “Sounds like you don’t want to be here anymore. Well go pick up your shit and get out.”
And lastly, to everyone who has sent messages encouraging what I’m doing and asking how you can help: that alone means you’ve helped already. Thank you.