tonight i finally wrote the thank you note to the family we've never met who gave us their own christmas presents on christmas morning. i wrote about it back in january ("hello, kind stranger") - how overwhelming this whole ordeal has been, how overwhelming and extremely humbling it is to be on the receiving end of so much love and support. and it is tenfold when it comes from people we have never even met.
humility is such an intense emotion. i am sure i have experienced it in small doses throughout my life, who hasn't? but to be absolutely buried by the tidal wave of kindness that has been bestowed upon us - it is almost too humbling to bear. it changes the source of the "why us?" question that is ever present in our hearts and minds since that day. instead of "why us?" with regards to the fire, and our loss, which would be such an easy road to head down - it is transformed to "why us - why are we worthy of this much kindness?" and then "how can we ever repay everyone?". it really boils down to simply being overwhelmed at the undeniable realization of just how very much we are loved. humbling, indeed.
i know that people have said that we shouldn't worry about thanking everyone personally, that the giving is a two-sided gift, in and of itself. people do it because they want to do it. people feel good when they give. logically, i get that. and it's certainly what i would be saying if i were on the other end this time.
but i am not on the giving side this time. and there are moments when i am simply overwhelmed and at a loss for what to do or say. the list is endless. the acts of kindness and generosity have been endless.
on the phone that morning with basile, i remember saying (among many other ramblings) "i don't want to be *those* people". we don't know how to be these people, the people who everyone gives to and cares for". when basile shared this with some of our friends, our friend ardie said "be sure to tell veek that, no, you're not _those_ people, but you are indeed THOSE people, meaning the ones we cherish."
humbling, indeed.
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