Heck of a Way to Say “Hello”, Isn’t It?
A high-school buddy just recently sent me an interesting email. She’s doing a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, volunteering to be locked up “behind bars” until her friends raise some unspecified amount of money for the cause. Charity is an important part of a complete and responsible membership in society, and even though the MDA spends fifteen cents of every dollar on more fundraising and seven more on administrative overhead (compare to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, who spend nine cents on both put together), I do admire her dedication and willingness to help. My friends can usually count on me for donations to their causes.
That said, we haven’t spoken in about three years. We didn’t fight, and I leave my door always open to friends; I think she just got busy and we drifted apart.
That’s a very long time, and I imagine there that there are a lot of stories for both of us to tell. What do you say to a friend after three years?
Apparently, depending on your name and your friend’s, you say something that looks like this:
Adrian Mailenna,
I’m proud to tell you that I’m being locked up…that’s right, I’m going behind barsto help Jerry’s Kids and MDA. To be released on good behavior I have to raise bail and I need your help!
All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation before 05/21/08. Your donation will help families living in our community and help guarantee me an early release.I can’t wait to add you to my list of contributors.
Thanks in advance for your help. Don’t hesitate to call or email me with any questions.
Together we’ll make a difference,
ChristanneP.S. I’m counting on you, click here to donate.
Maybe I’m a stiff-necked, elitist bastard (I have been called far worse), but I really appreciate a well-crafted letter, and this one leaves me just a little bit disappointed. Since we last talked, she changed her name; I almost didn’t recognize her and marked it as spam on the first pass. She was married back in June 2006, but she did not tell me this; prompted by curiosity, my GoogleFu did.
She has her reasons for the form letter, whatever they might be, so I took her up on her offer of emailing her back. I remember her fondly and I’d like to believe that she isn’t the kind of person who would ask for sponsorship from someone she doesn’t actually care to keep as a friend anymore.
Still, that was a heck of a way to say “Hello”.
The twenty-first has come and gone, and I have heard no answer. I hope she met her fundraising goal, or that if she didn’t her stay in government custody is short and uneventful.