A few weeks ago I sat and watched as a town halfway around the world, was devastated by it’s second earthquake in less than 6 months.
Through my “second life”, I’ve come to call some New Zealanders friends. Although I don’t sit beside them at a ballgame, or watch their kids play sports, I do interact with them every day. Just recently, I, along with some other friends, received a gift in the mail of some fantastic handmade jewelry from one of these friends. So, although I don’t physically see them every day, I do consider them friends, in all worlds.
As the news coverage started to show the pictures of Christchurch, I sat here stunned, thinking what if this were my town? What if they were my neighbors. How can we help them when they are so far away?
I am lucky enough to be a part of Second Life and to have the tools to easily reach out to friends, no matter their physical location. As I’ve seen happen, time and time again, Second Lifers showed just how generous they can be. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a community that comes together for charities quite like those in Second Life. The offers to help were literally overwhelming. One person said to me–thank you all for doing this and I replied…”How could we not?” There was never a question that we’d reach out and hold the hands of our neighbors.
$3600NZ was given to the NZ Red Cross today from our GCR fundraiser. Thank you to Jori, Hibi and Kat for helping me organize it and to Jori another thank you for the venue space. A huge thank you to the creators for the gift of your time. Thank you to everyone who made it happen –your support means the world to our New Zealand friends.
Once again, a reminder that no matter where I sit when I’m talking to you, beside you at dinner, behind my monitor, we are all friends and there truly is only one world, one life.
❤
Shelly/Michelle