The one positive thing about ALS (which I knew only as Lou Gehrigs disease until recently) is that although it's not a club anyone wants to be in (or one that anyone wants anyone to be in for that matter) once you are a member you are in good company. The aforementioned Lou Gehrig, David Niven, Stephen Hawking, Shostakovich, Catfish Hunter, Lead Belly and of course, Jon Stone, all known more for their accomplishments as human beings in their lives and professional fields than sufferers of some cruel disease. "Who's Jon Stone?", you stay. "While the parts are rather common and sound familiar the name as a whole is unknown to me". It was for me as well until rather recently. He was a writer, producer and director with The Children's Television Workshop and, among a myriad of other accomplishments, is credited as a major part in the creation of Cookie Monster. That's right, Internet, without him you would most likely have to use adjectives to describe your desire for food. Most significantly to me, and I imagine to most people my age and older who enjoyed Sesame street from the '70s through the '90s, he was the author of "The Monster At The End Of This Book". A true masterpiece of childrens literature. I have much respect for the man and much love for his work. Oddly enough, though, not the most important person in my life who both lives/lived with ALS and learned me important life lessons using primarily the medium of puppetry. (Is puppetry a medium? I smell a sixth pooo-oost).
I'm having a hard time knowing how to continue. It may get a little bullet point facty from this point. It's just I know what points I want to make and I don't want to get too personal feely about it.
Mrs. V is an excellent mentor. Puppetry is 1% talent, 1% creativity and 98% endurance. Endurance needs to be learned. It's a mind over matter thing. "Pain don't hurt", if you will. Whenever I'm too exhausted to go on, physically or mentally, I remember holding my hand above my head for half an hour at a time working my lower thumb like a hinge on display at IKEA. It hurt. I perspired. I hate perspiring. But none of it is stronger than my Will, thanks in large part to Mrs. V. I don't see her as often as I used to. It's hard seeing a strong person lose any bit of control. Something should be done about it.
What's that? You aren't qualified or learn-ed enough to cure diseases? Well I have good news. Other people are, and luckily for the rest of humanity, we have the opportunity to support those few able to put in the work. They just need some help.
I wrote this now because I noticed the ice bucket thing is losing steam. It did its job. It brought awareness. Good for it. We don't have to pull off You-Tubeable stunts everytime we wanna do something nice for other people. We just have to do it. And while you're doing something nice for someone else, why not do a little something for yourself.
I don't expect it to go anywhere but I, James Ernest Hussey, do on this day officially christen...
The ELO Ice Coffee Challenge.
Give if you can, and you can. Everyone has at least one extra buck, and if everyone that has that buck gave that buck to a good cause then...good causes would...have more bucks, I guess. That one kinda got away from me. Anyway, why don't we all give of ourselves to those in need, or at least to those who can better help those in need, and why not enjoy a frosty caffeinated beverage and some symphonic prog-art rock from across the pond while we do.
I suggest an iced mocha and 1977s Out of the Blue.
Im doing it for Mrs. V.
PS. We don't have to stop at ALS. Charity is something you can practice everyday. There are countless causes people can get behind. It doesn't have to be just about giving money either. Put an extra granola bar in your lunch every day for the homeless girl you try to avoid eye contact with on the off-ramp on your way to work. It's a more significant act than it looks on the surface and will feed more than just her belly.
Unfortunately, in this world everything costs, but I promise you this; when you use your means to help another human being in need, your wallet will never feel as light as your heart. It's always worht it.
(pps. i apologize for my grammar and punctuation. i prefer to write how i talk and i have have no clue how to punctuate my speech patterns. also, yes i have completely stopped trying. im sick of hitting the shift key. i figure if my point gets across, what does the rest matter)
