day by day

K and baby M say hello.

***

This will be a short update about K and then I hope to have more of a story to share with you soon.

On Thursday night, I spent quite a long time printing out so many incredibly moving and encouraging letters for K to read. The timing could not have been better.

On Friday afternoon, over a shared sandwich in a cafe downtown, she told me how sad and lonely she'd been feeling that day. Which is so understandable, given her circumstances. I gave her an orange folder thick with your letters. When I started to tell her about how the notes of love and hope were flooding into my email box, we both started to cry over our lunch plates.

I told her that the next time she feels sad and lonely, to read those letters because so many of you hold her and the kids in your hearts. Truly, I don't know yet what to make of all of this-- it just dawned on me yesterday that it has only been a week since I saw K and the kids on the street. I have learned so much since then and can only see more and more how good people everywhere become present when you need them.

People like you.

***

Normally if I ever "regifted" a present to me, I would never admit it publicly and certainly never tell the person who had given me the gift, but the little purse you see above holds part of the donations that you so generously have been sending in.

I did not want to hand her a plain envelope. I remembered this vibrant, beautiful little purse that Tara had given me the last time she visited San Francisco. When I told K that this purse was a gift from a special and talented lady in Paris, who had also taken the time to write her a letter of encouragement and love that was in the orange folder, I think she just couldn't believe what was happening.

Surely I am almost having a hard time believing it myself.

***

She is not out of the woods yet. Not by a long shot. The most important thing of all is to get a regular roof over her head. I worry that the money may run out before a shelter becomes available but for now I will not think of that. We have some breathing room.

And it is all thanks to you.

More soon. xoxo

ps.: Again, I must apologize that I've not been able to answer your individual requests and questions about donations, clothing sizes, etc. I still have not had enough time to ask K all the myriad of important questions I need to, and also be there just to listen to her. And then to find the time back here at my desk. But I thank you all for your patience. Soon you will hear from me about whatever it was you needed to know. But don't stop writing and asking.