For the last several Saturdays a group of folks has gathered to do what is affectionately called an MLV-K. The make-up of the group changes from week to week based on who is around but the mission is always the same - walk a 3.2 mile loop from the neighborhood elementary school, passing the home of friend MLV twice. Who is MLV? She’s a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She also happens to be in a fierce battle with metastatic breast cancer.
When things took a turn in the spring, MLV’s friends got together and decided to move beyond roast chickens and ziti casseroles. They made plans to meet up twice a week. On Tuesdays there’s a garden party. For thirty minutes folks convene on MLV’s lawn and chat. Drinks are shared, stories are told. Love flows. On Saturdays, they walk.
This Saturday was a little different. The goal was to gather the largest crowd yet - 48 friends to celebrate MLV’s upcoming 48th birthday. It rained, as the saying goes, like cats and dogs but people still showed up, umbrellas and raincoats in hand.
In all, more than 50 of us set out from school, the same school where MLV built many of these friendships and volunteers for just about any job. We traipsed through the neighborhood, making our way to house number 35 where we stopped and sang happy birthday in the rain as MLV and her family watched from the porch. If they ever wondered about their daughter’s, sister’s, wife’s or mother’s place in the world, they shouldn’t. Just as rain fell from the clouds yesterday morning, love flowed from our hearts.
Some days it seems like the world is devoid of kindness. Not on Tuesdays and Saturdays, though. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, kindness is bountiful as we gather for MLV and her family. On Tuesdays and Saturdays we gather for love.
LIFE IS RANDOM LOVE IS NOTTM
LIFE IS RANDOM LOVE IS NOTTM
