Meet & Greet (Date, Time, & Location TBD Later)

Hey friends,

Long time no see / talk, right?

Are all of you doing okay?

I've been ott, but should be around next weekend (Sept 27 & 28), so I'm open to meeting up with others.

A friend in the group recently moved back to LA, and we reconnected earlier this week -- and she suggested volunteering...so if anyone else is interested, feel free to lmk.

If volunteering doesn't appeal to everyone, I'm also open to grabbing food, playing board/card/party games, doing something outdoorsy, or talking.

During the past few years, I've volunteered a lot with a children's camp for kids who lost a parent, sibling, or other loved one / family member.

One of the many things that has impressed me is seeing kids connect & bond over their loss & grief.

Children have benefited from supporting each other (listening as well as opening up and sharing about their feelings, experiences, etc.) -- and surely adults can benefit similarly.

So if anybody wants to finds others who share a hobby, interest, background, situation, condition, etc... --- please feel free to lmk and maybe you can plan something for others to join you.

Last year, one of the children's camps I helped with was for kids who lost a loved one to suicide.

Previously, we had encountered a few children who had a loss to suicide, but for this specific camp, every child lost a family member to suicide -- and hearing multiple stories was sad.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/02/19/camp-comfort-zone-grief-kids-parents-died-suicide/75828165007

This weekend, I'm back in Michigan for another camp -- and I sympathize with those who are dealing with mental health issues.

For the past two months, despite being busy (volunteering in New York, Northern California, Utah, and South Carolina...and visiting family in Toronto), I've seen news headlines -- and am aware how chaotic and crazy things have been in this country.

The high cost of living in SoCal has affected some people (i.e. housing, food, car insurance, heath insurance, internet, etc.) -- so for those of you who haven't moved yet, and are still able to stay -- I sincerely hope you all are doing well.

If anyone is struggling with anything -- hopefully you aren't alone (nor feel alone) -- and that you have someone in your life to lean on and stand with.

Many of us see things on the news and social media -- and sadly, some individuals choose to be horrible, depraved, selfish, greedy, corrupt, dishonest, etc.

One of the benefits of volunteering is meeting kind, caring, positive, compassionate, and decent people.

I have attended over 60 children's camps for kids who lost a parent, sibling, or other loved one -- and unequivocally, I realize life is short and our time is limited -- which has molded me into the person I am and who I aspire to be.

I pity those who waste their lives and choose to be terrible individuals.

What a tragedy to squander the gift of life and resort to being odd and evil degenerates.

So yeah, I sincerely hope you all are doing well....thriving & succeeding.

I should be around next weekend, Sept 27 & 28, and possibly Oct 3 & 4.

It'd be nice to volunteer again in SoCal with others in the group.

Or if anyone wants to grab some food (like Ethiopian food) or do an outdoor activity -- or just talk -- that's fine too.

Okay...I gotta start getting ready for the children's camp.

Talk to some of you later. Cheers!

p.s. Depending on feedback from others -- I'll update the day/time/location. Or when I return from Michigan, I'll check with the other friend on where & when she wants to volunteer.