Humbled to my core, and grateful with every fiber of my being

I received a phone call from rowangolightly last night that left Mom and I in tears and on our knees with gratitude. Apparently, ya'll are sneaky folk, because I had no idea what she was about to hit me with. She had spearheaded a fund raising campaign in the name of yours truly, and it's looking like, with the help of her generous friends list (many of whom I am grateful to count as friends as well, but some who I haven't had the pleasure of meeting), they've managed to raise a pretty hefty chunk of money toward the repair of my car.

To say that I am moved and humbled would be an understatement. I wanted to come on here and say thank you last night, but I was so emotional that typing was simply beyond me. I slept better last night than I have in almost a week, knowing that I was no longer facing an impossible challenge alone. I'm so used to just "bootstrapping up", tightening the already tight belt and going it alone that it never dawned on me to ask for help from a friends list who I knew were equally strapped for cash right now. Thankfully, I have friends who look past my stubborn independent streak and help me whether I know I need it or not.

To everyone who has contributed: Thank you, thank you, thank you! If you will allow me to pay it back, I certainly will find a way to do so. If not, please, be assured that it will be paid forward multifold. At the very least, I beg of you to allow rowangolightly to release your names to me when this is all said and done so I can send you a personal note of appreciation.

To those who wanted to contribute and were unable, but have sent your good thoughts: My thanks as well. I have been in that particular situation more often than not myself, and hope you know your good thoughts and prayers mean the world to me.

May you all be blessed as you have blessed me, and tenfold more.

(And now I have to go cry some more, but out of thanks instead of frustration for a change.)

rowangolightly, please feel free to cross post this on your journal so that those I may not have on my friends list can see it!

Only because several people have asked:

And I feel really weird doing this, but if you have the means to throw a couple of bucks into the "Keeping Bob mobile/ relatively sane" kitty, rowangolightly's Paypal address is:

rowangolightly (at) gmail (dot) com

or my Paypal address is

leaghasybil (at) yahoo (dot) com

Either way works.

Please, don't feel obligated or put yourself in a financial bind to contribute, but if you have it to spare, know that I will gladly pay it back or pay it forward, as you request.

Thanks for asking and wanting to help, and know that I appreciate it more than mere words can ever express.

I'll keep people posted as I hear more from the garage.