Good Money After Bad: Operation Field Trips!

Every once in a while I have a session or experience that doesn’t go very well. Whatever Tribute I get from it, as a result, always feels tainted. I get really weird about putting that “bad energy” into my account.

Back when I was starting out, I’d spend the money frivolously. My first pairs of Manolo Blahniks were bought during a difficult trip out West. I’ve had a few lengthy, indulgent massages, as well, courtesy of a badly screened client or two. More recently, I’ve been setting aside yuck money to fund my IRA contributions, figuring getting it might hurt now, but this way it can help a lot later. Earlier this week, I had a pretty awful experience with a client that left me rather wrecked; afterwards, I sealed his payment in an envelope and set it aside while I decided what I wanted to do with it.

I arrived in Georgia today. My sister, a schoolteacher, lives here. This past school year, many of my clients generously donated Amazon and Barnes & Noble gift cards as well as books to her class so that she could build up her library for her students. The project was a phenomenal success. Tonight, I saw her school’s yearbook and again was just so impressed by how much she gives of herself to her students and how much they seem to appreciate it.

My sister and I had talked about what to do for the 2008-09 school year. She said that one thing that’s frustrated her as a teacher has been wanting to do activities with her students outside the school, but finding very little funding available for field trips. I watched her eyes light up as she described all the things she wanted to do with her students, many of whom have never been to a movie theater, much less a museum, aquarium, planetarium, or even a dance or theater performance.

So now I know what my little sealed envelope will be used for: I’m officially launching “Operation Field Trips” for my sister’s school. My goal is to raise enough money so that every student at her school will be able to go on at least one field trip this year. If you’d like to donate, send me an email and I’ll give you instructions on how to do it. I’ll also keep you posted here on our progress.

I think this is the start of something good.

If you would like to send a donation in the mail, you can address your envelope to:

If you’re writing a check or money order, make it payable to: “CIE” and in the memo put “CC Field Trip Fund.” I suggest cash be sent with a delivery confirmation.

If you include an email address, your gift will be acknowledged with a discreet personal note.