In which the center of the universe wakes up.

So I'm sitting at the computer this morning, getting ready for the day. Check the i-cal for appointments, check facebook for events, make a list on a post-it pad here. In my poking around online I find an album from which the proceeds go to support relief efforts in Japan. $9.99 for 38 songs. What a deal! I like the artists and it's only 10 bucks so I buy it and begin to listen to the songs. Nice. Good deal for me. (Pat self on the back.) Back to my to-do list. Only now I'm thinking about my counterpart in Japan, the mom, trying to decide what to do today. It strikes me how different our lists are. Mine includes things like this:
-Gym
-Copy of birth certificate to school
-Drop off dry cleaning
-Library
-Pray that little tickle in my throat doesn't get worse

Hers might include things like this:
-Find food
-Find uncontaminated drinking water
-Don't lose place at shelter
-See if missing relatives have been found yet
-Pray that they are not dead

It makes me weep. Literally weep. (I'm glad I keep tissues in the office.) Although I'm glad I found the great deal album with 38 songs for only $9.99, I am embarrassed that I haven't done more. Ashamed. If my biggest worries include the $25 fee for an immunization waiver for Sarah and what to serve with the smoked salmon this weekend, then I am truly blessed and have a great obligation to be more helpful. And I'm a great believer in the idea that guilt and shame are useful emotions, so I am going to make this week be about helping where I can. Not just Japan, but wherever I can. Pinch the pennies a bit more and donate financially, as well as work on putting together some hygiene kits for the church. I bet they have sent out quite a few in the 3 years since I last donated. Time to step up to the plate. It's definitely my turn. After all, I just got 38 songs for $9.99.