One week ago, almost to the minute, I was finishing the pesky tweets required by the Democracy for America--Netroots Nation '12 scholarship application, in a rush so not to be too late for posting an Open Thread to the Monday Night Cancer Club. ZenTrainer had been kind enough to nominate me, but the questions I had to answer myself required more time and thought than I expected. A good thing, of course, since this is a serious competition with major financial support and community recognition at stake.
The rest of the week was incredibly hectic. I had a long attorney consult, many hours of document preparation, a couple of other medical appointments--and then on Saturday I heard my mother was admitted to the hospital after a fall. I couldn't go see her that day because I felt I needed to be ready early for the FOC meeting I had first thing Monday morning.
But I was lifted up all week, through all these personal challenges, by the kind, encouraging, and astonishingly flattering responses to my NN'12 scholarship application. My older daughter posted the link on her FB page, and garnered several votes for me that way, including several from her elementary school teachers. (She graduated from high school in 2003, so you see those connections do go back a way.) Many of my other relatives and friends voted for me too, in response to my own FB plea and to my messages to my gmail contact list.
I do not think I would have attracted enough votes to put me in contention, though, without the fabulous support of all of you here at DKos. Folks in J Town, especially Dragon5616, made a point of posting reminders of my candidacy. Several people, including KelleyRN2, put up tweets to spread the word, or, like navajo and dear occupant, worked their DKos networks. When Sara R posted her diary last Saturday on my behalf, I was gobsmacked by her post and by the comments and votes that followed. When Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse followed up with an endearing critter photo extravaganza for me the next day, I was humbled and grateful anew. And then, in the middle of that thread, Avila decided (following llbear's suggestion) to post ANOTHER diary on my behalf late Sunday night, one which included perhaps the highest compliment I have ever received in my life, which she tended all the way till the close of voting this past Monday morning at midnight PDT.
In the past couple of days, sustained as I have been by the incredible support I have received, all the urgent matters I faced have been resolved--in Ooooh's powerful phrase--even better than I could have dreamed possible. My legal problems evaporated on Monday when my ex decided to withdraw his custody challenge. Today my mother is preparing for discharge from the hospital, and starting to think positively about her upcoming sojourn in a rehab facility. And last night I realized that even without winning the scholarship competition itself, I realized that I had already won much more.
I've won through the real and sustaining connections that I've been fortunate enough to make here, especially but not only through the Monday Night Cancer Club. (Can't miss an opportunity to publicize the group! ;) I've won by getting to know some fabulous, heroic people who take their accomplishments and courage for granted. I've won by learning to accept at least some portion of the compliments that have been SHOWERED upon me the last few days as having some basis in reality. (Believe me--or ProvokingMeaning, my DH--that in itself is truly a breakthrough.) I've won by recognizing that I really do have "people" now, in a way I never have before.
This afternoon, however, I also received a phone call from one of the competition organizers. She congratulated me--because I am indeed one of the 50 scholarship winners for NN '12!
Thank you, everyone who tweeted, FBed, reposted, alerted, and voted on my behalf. Thank you, everyone who said such amazingly kind things about me, it's a wonder I can even fit my big head through the door. Thank you IN ADVANCE to the MNCC members for letting me know what you'd like me to check out on our behalf. Thank you all for giving me the privilege to go and bring back as much as I can. It will indeed be an honor.
Can't wait to go!! Can't wait to come back home and share all I've learned!!!
Peace and blessings and thanks again to all,
pk
PS: I would be deeply remiss (and was until now!) if I didn't also explicitly thank my husband, ProvokingMeaning, who has been my most reliable fan all along. For better or worse, as they say, and we've had our share of both. But I am indeed indebted to him as well, for far more than I can ever say.