$80.36...

Watching Joe clad in a "get-up" of hockey socks pulled up to his knees, short-short soccer shorts (he has grown over the winter), tubing swaying in the breeze, and his long lean legs with stained knee caps skipping through the parking lot, while a beer bottle at the bottom of the bag he was carrying clinked and clanked as it kept hitting the pavement in his wake, filled me with pride.

Yesterday, we headed into our local supermarket to recycle cans and bottles. The last "installment" from our neighborhood.

Joe had wanted to do more than "ask" for money for the Walk To Cure Diabetes. He wanted to earn it. He and Bridget decided to collect cans and bottles from our street and recycle them to raise funds to donate to JDRF.

The Drafted Letter ... that was distributed door-to-door a week before "Collection Day"

Have you ever roller-bladed? Have you ever maneuvered stairs while on roller-blades? Well Joe has. Against my better judgement, I let him distribute the CANS FOR A CURE letter door-to-door. The homes on our street are of a Colonial and Cape variety. They all have at least 3 stair steps leading up to the front door. Watching him blade, side-step up the stairs, and then sit on his bottom to inch down the stairs ... at.each.and.every.one.of.the.30.some.odd.homes.on.our.street was painful. But, he did it.

After The Letter Distribution...see the "blades"?

Collection day...Joe asked to wear roller-blades for collecting the cans as well. I put my foot down on that idea.

The Collecting...

The "Supervising"...

Joe would get somewhat discouraged if there weren't cans out on the porch. He stated "these people aren't taking me seriously." He wanted to knock on their doors to point out that we were collecting the cans at this point in time. I reminded him that we distributed the letters so that we would not need to bother people. This didn't convince him. Bother people he did. If there were not cans left out, Joe went to the door, rang the doorbell, and explained his cause. He was pleasantly surprised when one generous neighbor gave him a $10.oo bill to donate.

Elation...

Doin' the "Dirty"... The Maher Clan was cramming bottles and cans into those machines like nobody's beeswax.

The Kids Loved This Part...

Bridget and Joe saved money throughout the year. They saved coins, gift money, and allowance money. They store it in an Animas Cartridge box. This money is solely dedicated to a CURE. Their idea, not mine. They added their CAN money to their "savings" money.

Sorting And Counting...

Joe Keeping Track Of Money "Secured" To Date...

In the four years since Joe has had Type 1 I have always been very cautious in this territory. The "Cure Territory" is dangerous I think. I have always been careful in what I say around Joe during the fundraising, the letter writing, the Walk Kick-Off Luncheon, and in general about a CURE. You see, I have never wanted him to think there is anything "wrong" with him per se. I have never wanted him to think something about him must be changed or fixed to make him "right". I have never wanted him to count on a CURE in his lifetime. I don't want him to be disappointed.

Perhaps I need to follow his and Bridget's lead on this one. My hope should be more than just a flicker.

I admire my children's desire to make a difference. I admire their hope. I admire their dedication.

A day-in-the-life of pride. I am proud of Bridget and Joe.