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Thursday, March 15, 2012

An Embarassment of Riches

Oh, you guys. Last Sunday was my birthday, and thanks to you kind folks (most, but not all, of whom are gunnies) it's been the best birthday I've had in a long, long time. I love you all. :D

I have been advised by certain knowledgeable people that I should not disclose the exact amount I raised lest I invoke the dread gaze of the IRS, but I do want to say that you folks went far above and beyond what was necessary to help me acquire a carry pistol, a permit, and training. I will be sending out thank-you notes later this week.

In one of her posts, A Girl says she sometimes feels guilty, as if all she does is take. Well, let me tell you something: this wonderful woman has given away self-defense training, has helped me get a pistol for concealed carry, and is in the process of giving away even more training. That's not taking; that's very much the example of giving. Meanwhile, here I was, begging strangers to give me money so I could buy a gun I should have been able to get for myself. That is taking, and I have to admit, as the donations came pouring in from as far away as the Czech Republic, I felt terribly embarrassed and unworthy to received such generosity.

As Oleg recently advised me: "Get over your guilt issues. They are not terminal. You aren't getting repeat donations -- people are giving you what would have otherwise gone to political campaigns or similar. For some reason, people feel you merit that. Isn't it nice to be valued for reasons other than T&A?"

Wise man, that Oleg. Still, there's a part of me that worries I received donations solely because I am female. I don't honestly think that's the case -- I believe you folks would have donated to anyone who asked, be they male or female, straight or gay, because it's something you strongly believe in -- but it's still something that gives me pause. I like to fret, I guess.

Anyway, what I am getting at is that I have been overfunded such that I feel I can't, in good conscience, keep all of this money. I feel like I should give some it to charities like Wounded Warrior, or other folks in need, or contribute to A Girl's training giveaway. But then I think, "Well, isn't that rude! These folks gave me money for a gun and a permit and ammo and training, and to spend it on anything else is an insult to their intentions, regardless of whether they will know about it or not."

Again, I feel like the gun community has given me so much, and all I've really done is take.

The only thing I can do, I guess, is to promise everyone that I am good for it; and I deserve this; and that I will give back to the gun community with my time and my effort and my love, even if I can't give back financially.

I love you all so much. You've made little sister cry, but in a very, very good way.

9 comments:

  1. Awww ... I'm so happy for you! What a beautiful thing. You deserve it, my dear.

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  2. Excellent, glad that it worked out. You deserve it, now prove us right. (No pressure ;p).
    The tears are a sign of humility and lack of entitlement.  Oleg is right, the guilt will pass and you can help by paying it forward.  That's the thing I've found with this community is the generosity that comes from helping others stand on their two feet and believing that people deserve it.

    I say use the leftover money for its intended purpose.  You still have a bit more hardware to get, and some software that you need to take.  Or you can look to charities right away.

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  3. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
    Holster
    Gunbelt (yes you do need one)
    Training
    Training
    Training
    (you never get enough of that last one)

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  4. The holster and belt have been donated courtesy of The Holster Site, and will be proudly displayed on this blog as soon as I finish being such a picky girl and actually decide on a color & design.

    Training is more of a time & travel thing.

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  5. In the early days of this blog, I resorted to posting pictures of cleavage in my "bio pic" as a way to grab the attention of male readers.

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  6. Awwwww, I miss all the "good" stuff.  I always meet the porn starlet after she's taking her vows to become a nun.

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  7. Woot!  Although technically, that's just T.  Notthattheresanythingwrongwiththat.

    Of course I've been captured by the writing so anything else is a bonus.

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