Marcy walks in to the kitchen to find Cynthia slumped over the kitchen table with her head face down on the newspaper.
Marcy: What happened?
Cynthia (still face down): Oh, Marcy. It seems like we are in the midst of an onslaught of horrible bad sad terrifying events lately. It’s … so many. And … so much.
Marcy: You people are messed up.
Cynthia: I know. It’s heartbreaking.
Cynthia lifts her chin so it is resting on the table.
Cynthia: You know, I think this general feeling of hopelessness and terror is why the ALS Ice Bucket challenge has been so successful.
Marcy: Oh yeah?
Cynthia: Yeah. I mean, think about it.
- It feels good to be able to do something that is helpful.
- Plus, it’s fun! It’s still hot out so the thought of being doused with a bucket of ice just plain old feels nice. Seriously, there is a reason this is happening now and not in January.
- Besides, our collective favorite distraction – football – hasn’t started yet.
- It’s apolitical so it’s unifying.
- And of course, school is beginning which signals the start of stress and work. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is an innocent and carefree way to stretch out summer a little bit.
It’s silliness for a good cause.
Marcy: It’s hope!
Cynthia jumps up.
Cynthia: Exactly. I know there are some criticisms out there and I understand them but you know what? I think this is nice. We need more nice. Nice is good.
Marcy: Yay nice!
Cynthia: So I say – go for it ALS!
Marcy: Go for it!
Cynthia: Take that money and run with it.
Marcy: Run with it!
Cynthia and Marcy are now racing around the room.
Cynthia: Find a cure!
Maybe it will inspire us all even further. Maybe it will knock it into our heads that if we do get together we can actually change the world around us and make it better for everyone.
Marcy: For everyone! In the whole wide world!
Marcy and Cynthia stop to think about what a nice place the world could be.
Marcy: So … should we do it?
Cynthia: No. We’re in California. There’s a severe drought. We’ll donate instead.
Marcy: Why don’t you just dump a bucket of Friskies in my food bowl and we’ll call it even.
*Please note, if you are in California please douse yourself responsibly and use grey water, recycle your water, or pull a Matt Damon and use toilet water to raise money for another cause – drinking water for the 8 million people who don’t have it – Water.org.
12 Comments
Great post! My son just got nominated so we are donating instead (I do not want his face on the internet). I know someone with ALS and it is a fast scary disease. They need to find a cure and a cause. It is so hard to believe I can type on this iPad and leave a message that anyone can see in the world, but we cannot fix a few cells. I am terrified of a drought. Thankfully I only wash my hair every four to five days and take quick showers but having a teenager who loves long showers is driving me crazy!
Jenni
Doesn't it feel somewhat like the apocalypse around here lately? I mean, we are almost out of water. I get panicky about it.
ALS is so horrible. How wonderful that your son is donating.
xo.cynthia
I had no idea the situation was so dire in California. I like what one of my friends did…. she stood in the river, filled a bucket with river water and dumped it on her head. It's glacial meltwater so it's at least as cold as ice water!
I agree with you that this fundraiser has its criticisms but I think it's nice.
Yes it is very bad out here. Oh my gosh glacial meltwater sounds sooo cold!
xo,cynthia
The way you've broken it down makes so much sense! And I agree, this would never happen in January 😉
I bet it starts to lose stem by mid September.
xo,cynthia
It's nice that Marcy is agreeing with you today. Maybe you should dump some extra Friskies in her bowl as a reward.
I hope the drought ends soon. It seems when things are most desperate it finally rains.
I hope you are right about the rain!
xo,cynthia
i noticed cindy ignored your brilliant suggestion to give me extra friskies. i'm going to go bite her and move in with you.
meow,marcy
Hey Cynthia….what is grey water? I just moved to Cali and need to know about these things. Btw…is it sad that i didn't know about the ice bucket until I happened across Pamela Anderson declining to do it..lol
Hi Merrie!
Grey water is essentially dirty water. For example, water from your shower that you collect in a big bin or water from the washing machine after it has cleaned a load. You then take it to water your plants and yard. Here is a website that has more information. Btw, it is NOT water from the toilet.
https://greywateraction.org/content/about-greywater-reuse
Hope this helps!
Oh you have been so busy with moving and a new job! I wouldn't even be able to remember my own name if I was in your shoes!
xo,cynthia
Also , I have a product reccomendation for you…the flik by frolicat…it's a mechanical toy that wips around a string. I just bought it for the kitties today and Minnie has been dragging it around by the string forever. I finally had to put it away bc I was a little scared of her attention to it. I'm gonna post one of her videos soon…when I get my life together …it's super cute 🙂
That toy sounds amazing! I will have to try it out! Thank you for the recommendation,
Ha. At least you have a very good reason for not posting videos. I am just being lazy. Or scared. Or something.