This has caused me to view my best friend's life in Boulder, surrounded by his wealthy relatives, with a jaundiced eye. I assume everyone in his crowd lives like John and Patsy Ramsey did -- a madcap whirl of society parties and beauty pageants.
I can be an ass.
He told m
e last night about his daughters' birthday parties. They are events, as so many kids' parties are today. For example, last month his elder girl invited her friends along for a limo ride to and from a fancy restaurant in celebration of her 13th birthday. But, instead of gifts, her guests were invited to bring money -- donations to her favorite charity, an organization that buys mosquito nets for African villagers.His younger daughter, the ballerina, wants her party to benefit an animal shelter.
He's very proud of how enthusiastic they are about this, and he should be. He credits his older daughter's teacher for planting the idea, encouraging her students to make a charitable contribution in her name instead of end-of-the-schoolyear gifts.
I know how much I loved my gifts when I was a kid, and I'm not sure I would have forsaken them so willingly.
I am suitably chastened.
Good for those girls, and their teacher for putting the idea in their heads. Their dad is right to be proud.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea. And if I was a kid today, I'd be the same way... because I have everything I need.
ReplyDeleteThat is really good of them, and of their parents. I kind of see Bono and his wife making their kids do something like that.
ReplyDeleteLooks like your best friends has raised wonderful kids!
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