barb dwyer

All went ... amazing, actually.

I think it was because of the 'holiday' landing on a MONDAY ..
but something happened I wanted to share.

During the parade, there was a rather big group of 'Mariah's kids.'
When I saw them - on the news -
I thought about you - my friends here on SR.
Don't be ridiculous - I'm not in any place to be attending any parades - yet.

Last October, I don't know how many of you were on the site - but a girl here in Butte was run over and killed by another teen - driving drunk. Just starting the school year, walking with her friends, in her subdivision, ... the girl was killed instantly, her two friends were injured & hospitalized. This boy now faces (something like eighteen years old or something like that) vehicular homicide charges... (and the whole 'ruined lives before they even get started') cycle goes without saying.

When I was in early recovery, Spirit told me,
"We are as stones, cast into a still pond..."

ok, fast forward to present day -
WIthout any 'parental prompting' ....
two kids sitting in the back of their math class came up with an idea for St. Patricks day -
one of the largest holiday celebrations in Montana that occurs in Butte-
some years -
in the Northwest.

They put together Sober St. Paddys...
and the local YMCA got involved.
In less than a week.

TELL ME a Power Greater than them wasn't at work.

They put out flyers -
this was for local high school kids to have a place to go that was fun, but sober - absolutely NO alcohol tolerated. They expected MAYBE a hundred kids to show up.

FOUR HUNDRED KIDS CAME TO THE PARTY!!!!!
ok - they lost count at three -
but more came so they're saying four.
*I* am saqying FOUR...


They marched in the parade -
they've created a website -
called it 'Mariah's Challenge -
not even calling it 'dont' drink -
just don't DRIVE ...
they were placed in the parade so they weren't beside in front of or behind people like the high school band or the Edmunton Bagpipers
(Edmonton?) I'm sorry for mispelling it!
(who are wonderful every year) ...
I'm told it was AMAZING ...
in person...
what happened....

the
entire
crowd
went
silent.

As they passed by.

They carried a banner,
showing Mariah's picture,
asking simply
to remember what happened to Mariah
and please
not to drink and drive.
No matter what your age.

Nothing more than that.

IT was all so very simple.
Child like.
Innocent.

Perfection.

Brings tears to my eyes just writing it.

And it all happened just two blocks from my little house.
I'm so PROUD of these kids here!

NO adult prompting.
NO adult 'coaching' or 'guiding' or ANYTHING.
They didn't have to be.
They had a guide.
(I think)

Well - I'm told there was some MAJOR SCRAMBLING for video games/cubes/boxes/cables and protable televisions to be brought to the 'Y' ASAFP ya know - there was FOUR HUNDRED KIDS there for a party. Free swimming ... Free pizza .. Dominos just basically DROPPED everything ... and donated a good bit of it. Parents too busy - kids were give n Free cab rides to the 'Y' ... amazing.

I live .. in a COMMUNITY.
AND THAT ... is why I love Butte.

They set up those games you jump around with ...
dunno what those are but the kids love 'em....
people didn't even know whose game was whose -
just hook 'em up and play...
no fights, three rival schools all hung out together.
And had a good time.

Is the INFINITE the BEST, or WHAT ???????

No preaching...
no 'you shoulds'
no 'if only you woulds'
only 'how can we' ...
no other agendas ...
just swimming, pizza...

ok and a few angels.

THAT .. is why I live here.