One Long Weekend

No, this is not what you would expect form me.  I am not going to go on about me missing my boys,  even though I did every minute of this Thanksgiving weekend.  This long weekend was about making decisions, extending invitations, working on sponsorship proposals, searching for numbers regarding funding on the National Cancer Institute webpage and finally setting the Joedance Board with the last two members:  Sarah Cook and Will Davis.  It all came together during the long Thanksgiving weekend.

I am overwhelmed and amazed by my Board and Advisory Council.  They have embraced the challenge to make Joedance a premiere event and everyone keeps at top of mind that it was created in memory of Joe.  They support the idea of keeping it local and the money raised is to support Levine Children's Hospital.  Our family is so eternally fortunate to have this much support.

Joedance 2013 is going to be awesome!

Thanksgiving

I really miss all my boys this Thanksgiving.

Catch Up and Catch My Breath

I run from this email to that appointment to the decision of paper for the letter head to budgets to the insurance guy meeting to five year business plans and sponsors packets.  Joedance is in my face, in my life everyday.  But there are no complaints.  This is good.  For everyday I had no control of what would happen to Joe has been replaced with total control of how Joedance Film Festival will be next year and the years to come.  How we will remember Joe, those who have suffered before him and this who will suffer beyond him with rare pediatric cancers.  And the result will be more awareness and funds raised for research.

I am not usually comfortable speaking in front of crowds, it takes a strong summoning of strength from deep inside.  Asking for money is out of my comfort zone but for some reason now it comes easy.  I tend to tear up when I talk about Joe before and after his cancer and the toll it took on our family.  How the odds of him having bone cancer were so slim, the fact of him surviving was even slimmer leaves me drained.

But at every turn there is a compassionate heart.  Another person that comes on board with their support.  And again I am overwhelmed by their generosity of their time and talent. I could not, our family could not do this with the support of all you.   So I summon my strength, I talk about my son and the harsh treatments, I look them in the face saying he died far to young from a rare cancer.  And yes if you support this cause maybe we can find a better way.

Thank you.

Joedance

501(c)3, EIN, Articles of Incorporation, business checking account, Charter for Solicitation, Sales Tax forms.  It is swirling around in my head every night. But this swirl in my head is us making something good out of a very hurtful experience for our family.  One year, two years maybe ten years down the road people will gather to remember Joe and raise  money for rare pediatric cancers.  So I will press on, wade through the paper work, ask for the sponsorships, sell the tickets and every first weekend in August we will show original films with a Charlotte connection.  And every first weekend in August I will introduce the featured film maker but I will always look out to the audience for the familiar faces that were there from the beginning.

Moving On To November

We are at the first part of November and the beginning of my slippery slide.  It  is not having Tony and David home for their birthdays, then moving on to Joe's birthday and the anniversary of his death.   But honestly this year may be better than the ones in the past.  We are moving on to making Joedance Film Festival a Nonprofit.  Tony and David are finding their way and shedding the burden of their grief.  Knowing that this will always be home, but with a price of unhappy memories, we will always gather in Charlotte, at least for the next couple of years.

But for now I am grateful to all of those who gave us their love when it was most needed and for those who are giving us their support  for Joedance.