Deepest Joy

I don't know quite how to put this, but I am so relieved right now. Building up to a screening is quite possibly one of the most stressful and frustrating times of my life. And I'm used to having a lot of stress and frustration, so that's saying quite a lot.

For three months now I've been pushing for people to come to our Invisible Children screening in March and have received the following questions:
1. Is this a joke?
2. What's Invisible Children?
3. How much does it cost?
4. Don't you have anything better to do?
5. Can I come late?

While numbers 3 and 5 are easily answered, and 2 simply takes a lot of time to tell, how in the world does one respond to numbers 1 and 4? Of course it isn't a joke and since this is my life's work why on earth would you criticize me? What better good is there to do in the world than to promote the aid and awareness of others? I don't understand people sometimes.

On a happier note, the Roadies were fantastic!
Andre--absolutely wonderful to talk to, had some interesting views on things, but quiet. Quiet isn't a bad thing. I like quiet.
Heather--so sweet; unfortunately she wasn't feeling the best on Tuesday, but that doesn't diminish her fantasticness in the slightest!
Brandon--I love Harry Potter tooooo! and Disney. And hearing stories told wondrously energetically!
Tessa--someone my own age? what is this? She was just great. I can't describe my love.

I'm so nondescript. But I don't care. Who else reads this but me? (oh right, LoBaz)
The bottom line is I loved them. I honestly, no matter how many times they told me to stop, only wish I could have done more. I guess it's the mom in me, and my only claim to motherhood is a 2-year nanny position and 5 years of babysitting. I wish I could have given them each their own rooms with private bathrooms, a kitchen full of food, instinctive knowledge about Columbia and the rest of the Midwest, a bunch of people to help them, contacts that actually upheld their end of the bargain, and anything else they could need.

I'm always happiest when things like this occur: Invisible Children coming to Mizzou, talking on the phone with the Roadies (past and present), holding meetings to which people actually show up. It's great. It's times like these when I feel that someone understands what really drives me. Someone else feels the same fire that burns within me. And as preachy-Christian as that sounds, I have to stand by it.

I'll leave now with a final hug and wish goodnight. Pictures from the screening to come! As soon as Ally gets them to me.