Just Breathe

The elephant sits on my chest
and I tell myself
"Just breathe,
just breathe.
Get through the moment,
get through this minute,
just breathe."
And the pressure diminishes
but it never ceases.

Just breathe, just breathe.

No words

I’ve met the little girl who runs from Death;
She lives in my mother’s mind.
She used to peek out coyly with a sly comment
Or cryptic observation
But I met her
Full force
Today
When she spoke to me on the phone in her panicked high little girl’s voice
To tell me she was choking
She was dying
The nurses were out to “get her”
And no one would help her, no one would come
So I *MUST* come to her right away.
Right then - - She was dying.

And I told her
No, I can’t come right now.
You are fine, you are well, everyone understands the confusion
You are not choking, there is nothing there.
No one is mad. No one hates you.
Just take some deep breaths
And go lay down
And it will be better

(This is all in your mind, you are safe, you’re secure, loved by all)

And the hysteria in her voice tapered off as she
Acquiesced -
She would lay down
She would see
She would trust me.

My Mother is leaving me
And the scared little girl
With the frantic anxious voice
Will come again

I dread her return.

More About Hearts For Haiti

While I will still privately honor my plans for my shop, a larger effort has begun on Etsy! A new shop will be opening (http://heartsforhaiti.etsy.com ) that will contain donated items for sale with 100% of the profits being sent along to (at this time, it looks like Doctors Without Borders). I am so thrilled that Etsians are rallying to help! I will donate some of my own items and strongly encourage anyone reading this to go send even $5 to http://doctorswithoutborders.org today because the need is urgent. Medical needs are the highest priority still.

And please add http://heartsforhaiti.etsy.com to your favorites list so you can start supporting Etsyians helping Haiti when the shop is stocked!

(This is not my shop - - I will just have some items in it and suggested the name)
Thanks!

My "Hearts For Haiti" Program

I am so saddened about the devastation in Haiti due to the hurricane that I feel compelled to start a "Hearts For Haiti" program to try to help the situation. With Valentine's Day fast approaching, many people like to give each other cute small "heart" gifts to show they care; "Hearts For Haiti" will let people buy traditional hearts to give as gifts *BUT* the reach will be far greater than just to their Valentine.

For this Valentine's Day, anyone who buys a "heart" item through http://designedbylucinda.etsy.com/, their gift will count twofold because not only will they have a nice gift for their favorite Valentine but 50%of the profit from that item will be donated to help with Haiti Relief programs. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a front-line response charity that provides medical care, water treatment and nutritional care and they are already located in Haiti (although reports are that their 3 buildings are down/ unusable but the staff is staying to treat victims). I think this is the *first* charity we should help (bleeding people take priority) and after 5 days, I plan to switch the focus of my "Hearts For Haiti" program to The American Red Cross to help with the aftermath (the bleeding and surgeries should have stopped by then, so food, clothes, water, gas will take priority then). I'll run this promotion through February 14th so please buy something with a heart on it from my http://designedbylucinda.com/ shop (find the items here http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5205542&search_query=heart ). Or skip my shop and donate directly to either cause (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ and http://www.redcross.org/ ) because Haiti needs our help, one way or the other.

Have a Heart: Help Haiti.

I'll add pictures of items tomorrow but I want this up now so people can help or start their own "Hearts For Haiti" program tonight. Thank you.

Busy is GOOD! Keep the sales coming!

My eyeglass chain necklaces are flying out the door and I love it! I picked up a rush custom 9 item job by accident yesterday and got it out in under 24 hours (I don't think I could handle that every day, especially in a sleet storm). And I managed to order some games for the kids so they will have a happy Christmas :) (Eyeglass chains available at http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignedByLucinda?section_id=6247828

I am now suggesting to everyone they spend the extra $2 to go for Priority Mail to make sure their widgets get there by Christmas (link http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33050622 ); USPS says packages in the system by Monday will get there by Friday so all I can do is repeat what they say and remind my clients it is USPS's guarantee, not mine (once it leaves my hands, I can't do anything to get it there faster).

My 25% off sale has ended. I am now juggling phone calls to UPS and FedEx to find the best way to guarantee delivery by Christmas. There is still time to shop (I believe! I believe!) but if I were you, I'd make my purchases with Priority mail through Monday afternoon because it might get there a bit quicker...

I sold 7 Custom Order variations of this today (woo hoo!) More available!

Gift Certificates are available in $15, $20, $25, $50, $75 and $100 denominations (or any other Custom amount) here http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignedByLucinda?section_id=6247845 and these can get sent as late as the 25th for all of us procrastinators out here as last minute gifts!

I really love the Holiday shopping season! Happy Hannukah, Joyous Yule, Festive Solstice, Grand Festivus, Happy Kwanza, Eid, Season's Greetings and Happy New Year to you all!