Jeff and I were moving to Maryland from Maine about 20 years ago and needed to store a few things. We called Aunt Barb and Uncle Bob and said "Hey, we need a place to put a washer and dryer for a few weeks until we find a place, think we could leave it at your house?" Naturally, the answer was "Of course".... So down we drove from Maine with our U-Haul.....
We landed at their house on the Elk the next day and began unloading, a washer, a dryer, and a box and another box, and some furniture, some other boxes, a table, and some other boxes.... in fact, we filled up an entire storage room with our stuff.... and we never heard a word.
I can still see Uncle Bob sitting there, Coors Light in his hand, watching us drive in and asking, "I thought you just had a washer and dryer?" Never once did he complain... But he kept saying "That's a mighty big washer and dryer....."
This is who they are, amazing family who give to everyone... And here I started this venture in an attempt to give back to them for all they have done for so many, when in actuality, I am the one getting the gift here...
Day after day I receive e-mails of love and support for two amazing people. I hear stories of each of them and how important they are to so many friends and family. I am humbled and overwhelmed seeing the love and support of friends and realizing its power to provide peace and healing.... Thank you to each of you for what you are doing for Bobby and Barbara, and also, for what you are doing for me. I am learning more and more each day about the amazing people Bobby and Barbara are and the people that love them. I am getting far more than I deserve by being a part of their lives and yours.
Now, a message from the Top Deck:
I sent a list of all the donors (we are nearly 55 strong to date!) and here is Barbara's response (I took the liberty of cutting some of this a bit):
Wow, this is quite a list. I have to start writing thank you notes. I think I will have some time while I am waiting for Uncle Bob when he is having pulmonary rehab. He starts this Monday and is scheduled for 3 times a week if he can handle it.
(My parents (his sister and brother in law Lee-Roy went to visit them this weekend)
It was great having your mom and dad here this weekend. I miss them already. They were such a big help. They left at the crack of dawn (no surprise) so I didn't see them. We decided to put all of the donations into a savings account and just draw down on it as the bills come due. That way we will have a separate account for donations only. Good thing Uncle Bob knows how to do these things...
Just in case you didn't know it, your uncle is quite a character. (really.... who doesn't know that!) Someday we will all have to sit down and get him to tell you some of the stories from when he was a kid. You might be shocked but then again maybe not. To be sure, you would get more than a few laughs.
Aunt Barb
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