Can I Help You?

Today I was at TAR-JEY (Target).

And while I was sitting in the parking lot, reading a book about religion (I'm currently on Hinduism) - as Chase only naps in the car now so I've started reading again - I was contemplating how noble it is to seek to attain perfect unselfishness, perfect mental peace, and detachment from worldly desires (yes, right before going shopping) - a big (huge) truck pulls up, parks diagonally across two spaces. A man and woman get out like they own the world (bad karma, dude).

After Chase woke up (an hour later), we headed into the store.

So at one point, I was looking through the shoes, and along came a sales lady, who said, "can I help you?" I said, "yes, I'm looking for these shoes in a size 7." She said, "oh, everything we have it out." But she didn't offer to help me look. So I said, "I think it's just going to take time to look through these shoes." Still no offer to help.

I wanted to say, "how, exactly can you help someone if you're not willing to help?"

But instead I kept my mouth shut and tried to focus on attaining perfect mental peace.

Christmas Is Coming: Charitable Giving

Today's Christmas activity was charitable giving.
So we bundled-up and delivered our donation to the zoo.

As Chase spends so much time there, and loves it SO much, I have decided it will be her charity of choice, until she is old enough to make the decision on her own. I have talked to the Director of Development there, about starting a running tally for Chase, so that friends and family can donate in her honor - over the holiday season - and for her birthday - in lieu of gifts. The end goal, to ultimately donate a bench in her honor - near the giraffes - she loves them and always insists on climbing on the nearest bench and having a snack. The bench costs $2,500 - a noble goal for a 20-month-old.














I'm still waiting to discuss how I can make small donations over a period of time go towards the bench - so I'll post the details when I know them.

In the meantime, I thought posting the details on the different funds would be interesting to some readers. And I would ask - again - that over this holiday season -and for Chase's birthday, to please consider making a donation in her honor (if all goes well, you will be supporting the zoo and helping to secure a bench in her honor).

Conservation Fund
Denver Zoo is actively involved in over 60 field projects in 26 countries, including the U.S., and another 12 projects within the Zoo itself. Much of our research focuses on conserving large ecosystems as a means to preserve endangered species.

Red Apple Fund For Lifelong Learning
This scholarship fund has since provided nearly 70,000 children and families with access to the Zoo.

Asian Tropics Fund

The next major phase in building the "new" Denver Zoo, Asian Tropics will be a ten acre series of exhibits dedicated to rare and endangered Asian elephants, rhinos, tapirs, leopards and numerous birds and reptiles. Gifts to Asian Tropics are matched dollar for dollar by a Zoo Improvement Bond, thereby doubling your gift!

The link to the Denver Zoo: http://www.denverzoo.org/donations/donations.asp