A Letter To Kevin Bacon...

many of you probably follow Ali Edwards' blog, and are familiar with her fight for autism. You've seen her talk about her Six Degrees Badge, in which Kevin Bacon will make a matching contribution to his top 6 contributors. He was on Ellen the other day, and was talking about his organization, Six Degrees, and mentioned a woman in Oregon who's badge is in honor of her son, who has autism. how's that for paying it forward? and scrapbookers who watched that immediately knew he was talking about Ali. i have donated. my daughter doesn't have autism. but what if? there's always that chance. and why not? it's $10. 10 flippin dollars, people. if you haven't donated, you should. 10 = one trip to starbucks for me.

so, in listening to this and reading ali's blog, i felt compelled to email Mr. Bacon's site, in the hopes that my letter makes it into his hands. i want him to know what an intricate part of our little scrapbooky world, Mrs. Edwards really is. i mean, when have you stopped by her blog, with your morning coffee, and NOT been inspired? she puts it ALL out there. she challenges the everyday. and you know what? in the words of AE.. .

IT IS OK.

here's my letter.. now go donate, damnit!

http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/

Dear Kevin,

I have been following the Six Degrees Campaign, namely the Ali Edwards Badge for her son Simon. I was dumbfounded to hear you mention her on Ellen yesterday. You mentioned a woman from Oregon who’s son has Autism. This woman, whom I’ve never met in person… is astounding. Not only is it an everyday fight for a cure for Autism and research for her… she is a light and a fire in the lives of women across the world. You see, Ali belongs to this tightly connected world of Scrapbookers and Paper Crafters across the world. She creates art, everyday. She shares her life, everyday. She inspires, everyday. And she does this selflessly. Honestly.

So, as I sat and watched the webcast of your little snippet about Six Degrees over and over again, there were tears. Tears! There were tears streaming down my face. A woman in Oregon. WOW. If you only knew what an inspiration she is to all, not only through her never ending fight for Simon and those affected with autism... but it's her daily inspirations. The inspirations to help us to look deeper. Listen more closely. Watch more intently. To life. To create with reckless abandon. I have become a better artist because of her. Not to mention, a better mother, woman, wife, friend… because of her thought provoking words.

I believe in my heart, what you are doing is a good thing. Really good. Paying it forward. I am a HUGE believer in that theory. And let me tell you, Ali Edwards is truly an example of this theory. I do hope her charity earns your match. I hope she has the honor of meeting you some day.. for it would do you a great honor to have the pleasure of meeting her. To simply sit down and have a cup of coffee with her.. you will see what I mean. And me? Never even seen her in person. But I have coffee with her every day. Each morning, her blog is the first place I visit. It’s the first place I look for inspiration when I am compelled to just jump back into bed and wish today had never begun. Divine inspiration.