When thank you is not enough

Not what we give, But what we share, For the gift without the giver Is bare.
~James Russell Lowell


I am truly amazed at the kindness and generosity of people. Words cannot express what is in my heart about how I feel after the Benefit for Michael Wachsmuth on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Where do I start to thank everyone? And how do you say thank you to people for changing the world through their expressions of kindness?

The benefit was a huge success and thanks need to go out to everyone for making it happen. Every dollar and every cent donated either by items for the auction, raffle tickets, poker tournament, pig roast, time and talents, mailed in checks or the donation jar added up to quite a lot.

How much? I am pleased to inform you that we exceeded our goal. I don't have the exact dollar amount (because I forgot to write it down) but through all combined efforts the total came to over $11,000.

Thank you all.

I need to thank all of the volunteers who put in many hours of planning before hand and worked their butts off on Saturday. Thank you.

A giant thank you to Tim and all of the dealers from the Mille Lacs Grand Casino who volunteered their time, some taking the day off from work, or sleep, to work the benefit and some giving up a good day's wages so that they could be there for the benefit. I was amazed and grateful. Thank you.

Thank you to Bugs Haskin, Mary Simon, Donna Benson, student Kayla Cash of Nay Ah Shing schools and all of the students of Nay Ah Shing schools who worked very hard to raise over $1,100 to donate and to those who donated. Thanks for all of the items you put together for the silent auction. That still just blows me away and the amount of quality items you brought in and the money each one generated. Bugs, Mary, Donna and Kayla also donated their time on Saturday to help and collected more donations by offering pictures with Santa from Pow Wow pics with the proceeds going to the benefit. Thank you.

Thank you to Mark Tadych and his staff at the Blue Goose. Thank you all for all of the cooking and serving you did and for just being there. Mostly for putting up with some of our demands (requests?) but you were all fabulous to work with. Thank you.

Thanks to everyone who worked hard to collect donations and to those who donated items for the silent auction and raffles. Thank you.

Another giant thank you to Carl Larson and Ron Lingwall who cooked two full pigs in below zero windchill temperatures. The pig was fabulous! And you guys are the greatest for volunteering your time and talents. Thank you.

Thanks to every poker player and to every person who enjoyed the pig roast. And to everyone who came in to participate in the benefit in anyway. If you were unable to donate dollar amounts, your presence at the event was gift enough. Showing support to Michael, his family and a community event such as this was huge. Thank you.

Thanks to all Garrison civic organizations who donated. When we asked you, you didn't hesitate. You just got out your checkbooks and helped to make it happen. That is so huge. Thank you.

If for any reason I left anyone out, I can assure you it was not intentional and I deeply apologize.
Thank you everyone.

I think that Michael would have been proud to see his community come together they way they did. It was Michael's nature to be happy, and make sure that everyone around him was as happy as they could be.

Saturday was a good day. There were many stories about Michael and yes, there were a few gallons of tears. But mostly, the day was good. There were laughs overriding the tears. And people felt good.

There is nothing that can compare to the experience and deep feelings when one loses a loved one. The experience can test one's faith, not only in God, but in human nature. My hope is that those who feel tested will approach their feelings honestly and work through the pain.

Sometime through tragedy comes good. I have talked to a couple of people (names withheld for privacy) who said that through this entire tragedy came good. It brought people together, strengthened relationships, helped some people better understand themselves and new friendships were forged.

I spoke with one who was frustrated that so much attention and emphasis was placed on Michael when others also need help. True. And when someone asked me to sum up in a few sentences why a person should donate to this particular cause when there are so many other causes and deserving people to help, I simply said, I have no reason for you to give to this or any other cause. You simply need to follow your heart. When you feel strongly enough about something, when you are passionate, you don't necessarily need an explanation in words. Hopefully your actions will speak for you. Follow your heart. Give where you can. Do what you can. But do so with your heart.

I will be forever thankful for the new friends I have made and what I have learned about myself and the people in this community. I know that my journey is not complete. I have much to learn. I am just so glad that I met such wonderful people through this. We shared a lot of tears and a lot of laughs.

And that is what Michael would have wanted.

Thank you all.

Peace.