Lunch Cards
Brittney wrote about her memory of free and reduced lunches for school kids. Lunch cards. How could I have forgotten? Oh, yeah. I tend to bury bad memories.
My middle school had different color cards for free and reduced lunches. I was one of those "free lunch" kids; which really confused me the first time I heard there was no such thing.
I've given countless United Way presentations and other such requests for funds. I always start by telling people about my childhood. How my family once lost everything. There were no addicts in my family to blame. No natural disaster. We had just enough to get by. Then we had some bad luck and a lot of medical bills.
And then we were broke. Less than broke.
One of consequences was that my sister and I received free lunches. A free breakfast when it was available; and sometimes that was all we had to eat.
I remember Christmas. How I knew that we were not going to get anything. I knew that Christmas I wouldn't run down the street to Junior's house to show him my favorite new toy.
That Christmas morning was quiet. I remember opening the front door and finding a small package. It had my younger sister's name on it. I watched her open it to find a Barbie doll.
If you know my sister you know she isn't the Barbie doll type, but I can guarantee you that there never was before and never will be again a gift so wonderful, magical, and appreciated as that doll. To this day the sight of a Barbie doll makes me feel both melancholy and exhilarated.
No one came forward to tell us who left that doll. There was no one we could thank. Now, when I speak to people who give to charity, I tell them what I just wrote and I add "I couldn't say this to the people who helped us. So I want to thank you."
Today, from this bully pulpit, I also want to say to all of you: "Thank you."
