Guest Opinion| Wise words from a friend

— from Karen J. Key Speck —

During these trying times many of us wonder “what can I do to help” and because the isolation and lack of work makes things seem terribly daunting, one may also wonder, “Is anything I do or donate even enough?”  I wanted to share what I thought was serendipity, how it moved three people and how it may move you, too.

A friend and I was exchanging emails with thoughts of how the CoVid19 pandemic made us feel with regard to isolation and lack of income for so many.  My friend Judy said:   “I’m sending you a video link I got today from my friend who is terrified and news obsessed. I’ve watched(listened really) to 37 minutes of it which seems like about half of it. It is surprisingly comforting. So when it gets to you, take a look.”    She supplied an internet link for my viewing.

The next day I wrote her back:  “OMG.  Initially your link did not work and I tried to cut and paste.  Too funny in that somehow when I did, it went to a 14 minute video on the ‘Women of Oaxaca’ which I watched in full – wondering exactly how it benefited your frightened friend.  However, I learned all about the wonderful clothes these native women weave and how there are like 15 different native languages spoken and how the tourists try to bargain the weavers down when the amount of work that goes into the well made clothes is worth far and above the cheap-acts the tourists feel they must do rather than pay them the few dollars they deserve.   So at one point I was pissed watching it and in another I was grateful to see something so unique.  It then allowed me to ask my dear Mexican friend, via text, to remind me what Mexican State/town he is from as I thought it was Oaxaca, but he is not.  Then it prompted him to call me and we (not the first time) talked about the state of affairs our world is in and allowed us to say, ‘I love you’.   (I cry as I write this.)   Then I went back to your email and got the link again and watched the hour-long doctor video on CoVid19 safety tips.  It was informative.”

She and I had another email exchange talking about the financial needs in our community.  Part of my email read:  “How wonderful that there is some relief out there.  I made an OICF donation, but it seems so little when everyone has so little.  These thoughts are the ones that can really bring me down.”

And Judy wrote: “Well hello again, Karen. It’s fun to get your lovely messages.  I saw your earlier message about watching the wrong video.  It made me laugh and then tear up just a bit as I thought about the crazy world and what all is happening against the backdrop of the two cultures in your conversation with your friend. Cultural differences aside, we are all the same at our core.

Last I heard, over 260 donations came in for OICF to distribute. And their campaign will start on the 6th for two weeks. So it will be interesting to see how it goes. What you say about it being so little?         It can feel that way, but a handful of small gifts can be a significant amount if they are combined. And really, here are two truths. First, no one can make anyone give a donation. Most people are motivated because they believe in the good the cause is doing, aligned with their personal beliefs and values.

Second, as much as people are hurting, and as much worse it appears it is going to get, every penny matters. Some in our community are going to try to survive with no income, some loans, family and friends, bartering, etc and even the tiniest help from OICF or OCRC or OPAL and any of the other organizations will be such a lifeline they will never forget, especially if they have children. And while you may be anonymous to them you are one of the most important people in their world.”

And I teared up again. We are all in this together.  https://orcas.recovers.org