Tuesday, May 13, 2008

A Little Help From My Friends

Photo not picked for Hugo House profile

I'll admit, I'm having a hard time asking people for money this week. Between Myanmar and the earthquake in China, it feels a bit like the world is in need in more ways than we can imagine, though I know that the truth is that this week is no different than any other in that respect.

I am going to ask for money anyway, for Write-O-Rama, the Hugo House fundraiser that is taking place now. There are a lot of reasons I still feel good about asking, some of which you can view if you go here and view my profile on their Write-O-Rama laureates page. But I want to also tell you why I'm still asking this week, even with the earthquake, even with Myanmar.

There's something that Gloria Steinem says a lot - "Do what you can uniquely do." It's a phrase that has stuck with me over the years, and has informed a lot of my decisions about where to spend my energy. I think my love for Hugo House makes it one of those places where I am doing something that I can uniquely do, and so I will stick to it as the work I do to make the world better, whatever else is going on.

The other thing is - I don't want to live in a world where art is a luxury. Here in Seattle, we live with the threat of earthquake, and I don't find it difficult to imagine us suffering loss in that particular way. If we did, writing would not be one of those things "put in perspective" i.e. made less important, for me by that kind of event. The writing would be only more important, I think. I know I would turn to it, and it would be there.

So, I'd love it if some of my readers here would consider making a pledge to me for Write-O-Rama. Little pledges are fine, I'd like to raise at least $200 this time around, and we can do that in a flash, can't we?

If you'd like to pledge, go HERE.

Thank you!

2 comments:

Barb said...

You are such a gifted writer. I loved your bio on Network for Good. You make ME want to go to Hugo House, and I live 2000 miles away.

Heather said...

Barb, that means a lot coming from you - you know I love your stories!