During one of my first Christmas seasons in Los Angeles, I found myself restlessly rattling around the Leimert Park District like so many other lonely, childless, single, successful, well-educated African American women. I'd been to church that day, but still the anxiety lingered. So I aimlessly cruised around in my paid-for car and fancy clothes, just to keep from going home to my beautifully decorated, but empty, Pasadena townhouse.
Suddenly, I heard music and followed it to a little theatre. I slipped inside to find African American high schoolers playing straight-ahead jazz! I let the music take my mind off of myself as I settled into my seat. I marveled as kid after well-disciplined kid gave up their best performances.
An auction followed. I got caught up in the competitiveness of the bidding, and found myself with a boy's bike on my hands and no kid to give it to. "Maybe Ill give it to the church," I thought.
Later, I spotted a young African American woman and her son sitting at a bus stop as I drove north on Crenshaw. I parked my car and approached her.
"Ma'am, have you finished your Christmas shopping? Do you think your little boy would like a bike for Christmas? I have a brand new one in my car that would just fit your little man. It's yours for the taking," I offered. The woman eyed me as though I'd just loss my mind.
"Honest," I reassured her as we moved toward my car.
The little boy's eyes lit up as he tried the bike out. He just couldn't stop laughing and grinning. Soon their bus arrived. I watched as they strapped the bike to the bus's bike rack and boarded. I drove ahead of the bus and kept my eyes glued to my rear-view mirror as we proceeded up Crenshaw. "Merry Christmas!" I shouted out to my new best friends as I drove on to the 10.
The memory of that little boy's smile took my loneliness away for that entire Christmas season.
This year, that one bike has turned into 50 bikes. Thirty will go to kids whose parents are incarcerated; ten will go to formerly abused teenagers who find themselves in the foster care system, and ten will go to a low-income charter school. My goal is to donate 100 bikes next year.
Giving back is a sure cure for the Holiday Blues.
~ From Doris in Alhambra
Suddenly, I heard music and followed it to a little theatre. I slipped inside to find African American high schoolers playing straight-ahead jazz! I let the music take my mind off of myself as I settled into my seat. I marveled as kid after well-disciplined kid gave up their best performances.
An auction followed. I got caught up in the competitiveness of the bidding, and found myself with a boy's bike on my hands and no kid to give it to. "Maybe Ill give it to the church," I thought.
Later, I spotted a young African American woman and her son sitting at a bus stop as I drove north on Crenshaw. I parked my car and approached her.
"Ma'am, have you finished your Christmas shopping? Do you think your little boy would like a bike for Christmas? I have a brand new one in my car that would just fit your little man. It's yours for the taking," I offered. The woman eyed me as though I'd just loss my mind.
"Honest," I reassured her as we moved toward my car.
The little boy's eyes lit up as he tried the bike out. He just couldn't stop laughing and grinning. Soon their bus arrived. I watched as they strapped the bike to the bus's bike rack and boarded. I drove ahead of the bus and kept my eyes glued to my rear-view mirror as we proceeded up Crenshaw. "Merry Christmas!" I shouted out to my new best friends as I drove on to the 10.
The memory of that little boy's smile took my loneliness away for that entire Christmas season.
This year, that one bike has turned into 50 bikes. Thirty will go to kids whose parents are incarcerated; ten will go to formerly abused teenagers who find themselves in the foster care system, and ten will go to a low-income charter school. My goal is to donate 100 bikes next year.
Giving back is a sure cure for the Holiday Blues.
~ From Doris in Alhambra
Comments (1)
It is amazing the places our inspirations come from, isn't it? Beautiful!
Posted by Elizabeth | December 16, 2006 10:23 AM
Posted on December 16, 2006 10:23