Holy cow! If you were not at the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, benefiting the Idaho Epilepsy Foundation, you missed one of the most inspirational nights so far this year.
The crowd there was absolutely amazing and fun. Some were there because their lives have been or are touched by epilepsy, some were there because they're huge mountain climbing fans and wanted to hear from Greg Mortenson and Jim Wickwire, but all were there because they have huge hearts and wanted to join in glow of the evening.
If you want a night where you can bring out that stunning gown or dress you never get to wear, make sure to put this event on your calendar for next year. Glitz and sparkle abounded (including a gorgeous blue gown worn by Karen Havey, Chair of the Idaho Epilepsy Foundation Board of Directors), and everyone just seemed to shine.
Almost every auction has one very special item to offer, and the Massacre was no exception - in fact, they had at least 3 very special items! In honor of Mr. Mortenson's work building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Ten Thousand Villages donated a breathtaking hand-made rug that I believe had 400 stitches per inch. 400. The patterns and colors in this rug were just astonishing, making it a just work of art. It went for the highest amount that night, spurred on by the great words of a local junior in high school who is a refugee from Afghanistan and was able to talk about the rug and what Mr. Mortenson's work has meant for his former home.
If you are a guitar fan, they had a duo of fun treats - two hand-painted Gibson Les Paul Junior guitars! Dr. Robert Wechsler provided the fun background of these and helped get the bidding started. Actor Greg Grunberg from NBC's "Heroes" has become a spokesman for those living with epilepsy, including his son, Jake. To help the cause, Mr. Grunberg asked some of his friends to use a Gibson Les Paul Junior as a canvas, and they created some beautiful instruments. Two of these masterpieces were auctioned off, raising much needed funds for the Idaho Epilepsy Foundation.
So we've mentioned inspiration in this post, and you might be wondering where it was. It was all around the room - from those who live with epilepsy every day and educate others about the condition, to those who fight to make sure medications are available to all of our friends and neighbors with epilepsy, to the neurologists who provide loving care to their patients, and to the keynote speaker, Greg Mortenson, whose sister passed away due to complications of epilepsy, and who has devoted his life to promoting peace and education.
You may be familiar with the bestselling book, Three Cups of Tea, which chronicles Mr. Mortenson's journey in building nearly 70 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and funding over 30 more. If you have time to read only one book this year, this surely must be it. From it, you can learn a huge amount about geopolitics and the cultures of Pakistan and Afghanistan, but more than that, what is made clear is that no matter what our perceived differences, all of us want peace and a better life for our children.
More so, you learn of the difference you can make in the world. Perhaps it won't be quite as overwhelming a task as creating 60 schools in some of the most desolate parts of the globe, but whatever you can contribute creates a huge, lasting effect that makes our entire community an even better place to live.
Keep the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in mind for great events you can attend for next year!
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