Keepsake for MsBearmagnet

“Wild Child, on the Other Side,wrote this:

"Bearmagnet helped me through a meltdown this summer. Not directly - but I was ready to throw in the towel. He had been typing a thread in French. I ended up trying to call him a stinker using Babelfish to translate and what came out was "magnet of bear is a turnip". The pm he sent me about it was hysterical - then I read the posts about what a difficult journey he was having and it inspired me to see that he could be so positive (in his unique way) and fight so hard. Here was this man, who had so much to deal with, making me smile. It really made me think and put things into perspective... then there was the support when I had the miscarriage. I'll never ever forget it.

Swarovski makes beautiful crystal snowflake ornaments. As you know snowflakes are unique - just like Phil was... would anyone be into chipping in buy one to send to Dani in honor of Phil? I do this for my friend who's daughter was murdered 10 years ago and I do it every year. Seeing what it has meant to her is incredible. We'd have to do it soon because Swarovski destroys what isn't sold at the end of the season."

I am going to buy the ornament since Wild Child lives in Canada and the whole logistics thing is just easier from Stateside...

The ornament is $70...if anyone is interested in throwing a couple dollars in an envelope and sending it to me, I will add your name to the card...extra money will go to Dani. To get my snailmail addy, email me...mataharihiker at yahoo dot com. It won't get there in time for Christmas but I think Wild Child's idea is great and I'm going for it...

you in? email me!



http://www.swarovski.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/SCO-Web_US-Site/en_US/-/USD/SW_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=872200&CategoryName=91136&Promotion=true”

“Mata, YGM.”

“I'm in...............”

“Thanks, I sent you both my snail addy...”

“me too”

“I've had email flying in...you guys are GREAT!”

“I'm in, Mata. I think I have your address.”

“Me too!”

“Mata, I buy those for my mom every year. =) They are beautiful. I'll throw in a few dollars for sure.”

“I have received 30 email and/or PM's asking for my address...this is one of the nicest Sunday's I've ever had online...thank you, everyone...”

“Hey, got room for another? Keep this up and the cost/person will be 3.5 pennies. A very good cause and great idea. Thanks.”

“I'm kicking this up to the top for those who were not online over the week-end...

I've received over 40 requests for my address...I am so proud to be a backpacker!

I return to work tomorrow where I put in 10 1/2 hrs a day...this means not to expect immediate responses to your PM's or emails...I do not have computer access at work and don't have a lot of time at home as I need to sleep to work those hours without collapsing myself....

I do not want to send the ornament off without the card with all the names of those who contributed...and, that will take time. I will wait for the contributions to arrive. You may not agree with how I choose to do this and for that, I am sorry but, so it goes....I want to have the ornament to her before the New Year...that is my goal...

So, you are not too late...I would hope everyone would respond by this Wednesday, December 19th and get their contributions in the mail by the end of the week so they arrive the week after Christmas...

Let's shoot for New Year's and hope this helps Dani start 2008 off knowing how many of us are thinking of her and missing Phil...”

“Thank you for what you're doing MH, you've a big heart, you do..............”

“Update time...

I've just gone through the names...out of 63 who emailed or PM'd and asked for my address, 46 actually sent a contribution...I think this is just amazing and want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtfulness...and, I tried to do just that...

If you sent a contribution and have not received an email or PM from me acknowledging it, please either email or send me a PM...I've tried to keep the plus 40 balls in the air but I may have inadvertently dropped one...I do have one contribution that I cannot cross reference to anyone I know as they only put their real name and did not include their trailname or email address and it's no one I know...

Contributions sent later than tomorrow, Friday December 28, will be too late...I think it's time we get this out to Dani...she hasn't been home so it's not been an issue but I would like her to have it as soon as possible in January...it is going to blow her mind...it has mine which is why I may have missed thanking some of you....

Again, if you sent something and haven't heard from me, let me know! I love you guys...”

“I put my contribution in the mail on 12/26 and emailed you a couple of days before that. Hopefully it will get there in time.”

“I got your email, Nimblefoot...don't worry...it will get here in time...after all, it only has to go through the Twin Cities to get here...ARG!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Mataharihiker... Please also let her know that there are some of us who would have loved to contribute but simply were not able to. I am not asking for names to be included among that group. But I, for one, am simply not in a position to be able to give money. Though she has been in my thoughts.

I think if I were receiving such a keepsake I would like to know who made contributions for it. Not amounts, just the names of who gave, particularly when the numbers show that level of support. my 2 cents, for whatever it is worth.”

“Ramblinrev...excellent suggestion about mentioning those who would have liked to contribute but could not...I will add that...

I always planned to list the name of every person who contributed on the card I include with the ornament...that is why I've been trying so hard to keep track of everything...”

“wish i had seen this before :(
day late dollar short. what are you all sending to her?”

“

This is a crystal ornament from Swarovski...they make one design a year and all that are not sold at the end of the year are broken.

plus a check, which is not going to be insignificant...”

“very nice. i am sure it will mean a lot to her.”

“Thanks again for doing this!”

“rock on mata!”

“I have to give my sincerest thanks to Mataharihiker for doing this for Dani.

And to everyone would contributed with donations or kind thoughts or both. It's pretty inspiring to see how the two backpacking communities made this gift possible.

Mata I know you've spent a lot of time with emails and payments. You are the best!”

“I received a contribution from a Rebecca of Daly City...if this is you, would you please email me your trailname as I cannot cross reference this name with any email or PM's...”

“Mata, thank you so much for all your effort and heading this up. You give our love wings....
OK, GROUP HUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!”