Life changes quickly (a call for help for a friend in need)…

These photos were taken a few weeks ago, on a day that had me feeling a bit frazzled.  I'd previously had a long work day and a late night.  I woke up extra early to get to babysitting on time, but when I arrived, they weren't expecting me.  I'd written down the wrong date.  

I'd not had time to pack my lunch and had another late night ahead of me. 

When I finished sitting (they let me stay, even though they didn't really need me) and got to work, I discovered that I'd put all my makeup on except for mascara.  

I was really frustrated (even after taking a quick 10 minute chill out/photo sesh with these hay bales)

… and then I heard about something that happened back home in Chicago to someone with whom I am personally acquainted and it really put my life in perspective.   This is also a call for help, because gosh knows, this girl has got a long road ahead of her and can use it!   

Tierney lived down the street.  I was on high school dance team with her older sisters and when she'd come to competitions, we joked that she was MY little sister because we were both super blonde and her older sisters weren't.  When I graduated, we lost touch, but I knew that like her sisters, she was a dancer and on a trip home from college I saw her perform in a high school show and she was AMAZING!  And I'm a dance teacher now… if I say she's amazing, it's cos the girl has talent.  

Anyway, a few weeks ago, while waiting at Chicago O'Hare Airport with her mom and younger sister for her dad to pick them up, the weather turned bad and they had to shelter in one of those metal inclement weather shelter thingers.  The wind got so strong it blew the thing over right on top of Tierney, and her family.  She was pinned to the ground with her legs under her and when they managed to get the shelter off of her, she couldn't move her legs.  Tests at the hospital showed that she'd severed her spinal cord and is now paralyzed from the waist down.  

Seriously, y'all, I was up all night thinking about this.  I thought I had it rough with my knee problems limiting my motion and making dancing difficult, but I have no words.  I cannot imagine what Tierney is going through right now.  She and her family are suing the city of Chicago, after an investigation found that the shelter was rusted and missing many of the bolts that should have held the structure safely to the ground.  This was a totally preventable incident and now her life will never be the same.  

If you want to read more about the story, click here for one of the better news articles I've found… and if you have any spare pocket change/latte money that you can donate to help her with rehabilitation/adaptive changes to her living space as she moves forward with this new phase in her life, please click here to do so! 

… if nothing else, please walk away from this post with the realization that the most constant thing in life is change and that appreciation of all the little things (like these here hay bales on a lovely summer day) can make a huge difference. 

Tank ℅ New Dress

Palazzos ℅ Deb

Ring ℅ Marisa Diane Designs

Sunglasses ℅ Emblem Eyewear