Dolly

CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA - I’ve just finished speaking at Kathies Christmas store (have you ever been to that place? Stunning. I highly recommend. Ok, back to the story…) and Dolly comes over to me. She hugs me – I have to bend way over as she is not 6’ tall and I decided to wear heels. Not my smartest move. She whispers in my ear: "I have fallen in love with you. And since your mama has passed, you can be a part of my family now." Now THAT is the way to greet someone, let me tell you.

We then spent the better part of the next hour visiting, hugging, crying and showing each other photos of our new extended families. Dolly is a survivor, a sweetie and a huge Vera Bradley fan. Her daughters are kind, successful and generous (and now I'll call them sisters). 

Dolly is one of the reasons it is worth it for me to do what I do. I meet people who need to know that they aren’t alone. That there is hope, a connection, camaraderie. That there are companies like mine that don’t just slather everything in pink and pretend that it might help – they focus their giving on a specific issue and then just work like crazy to make a change for all of us. 

Here is to you, my Dolly. It was nice to meet you, and I hope to see you again next year. I do think, however, that our hearts have known each other for quite a long time.  xoxo