I had one of those periodic blogging hiatuses (is that a word?). You can always tell when my life gets a tad too hectic… the blogging ceases. This was going to be my big come back week and as you can see, it’s Tuesday and I’m finally getting this sucker out to you. Sheesh!
This Monday(-ish) I have chosen Pink Floyd’s “On The Turning Away” from their 1987 album A Momentary Loss of Reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DODKTN3O2s
This song seemed appropriate because over the weekend my family and I, along with some good friends were able to work with a wonderful group of people who are special in their single-minded purpose: they want to build bikes for kids at Christmas. People who saw a problem and, instead of turning away, decided to face it.
I wrote about this group once before. You can read that blog by clicking here. The organization is called Turning Wheels For Kids. It was started in 2003 by Sue Runsvold who recognized the inherent potential for pathos in the question, “what did you get for Christmas?” For a child in hard times, how lonely and even harder must Christmas be? So this group tackles the problem one child, one bike at a time. Here is a link to their site. They spend all year raising money for this bike build, so it is already time to think about 2013!
http://turningwheelsforkids.org/#&panel1-1
Here is a glimpse of what we did last Saturday as volunteers built 2500 bicycles!
Because I love this song’s poignant message, here are the lyrics to “On The Turning Away.”
On the turning away
From the pale and downtrodden
And the words they say
Which we won’t understand
“Don’t accept that what’s happening
Is just a case of others’ suffering
Or you’ll find that you’re joining in
The turning away”
It’s a sin that somehow
Light is changing to shadow
And casting its shroud
Over all we have known
Unaware how the ranks have grown
Driven on by a heart of stone
We could find that we’re all alone
In the dream of the proud
On the wings of the night
As the daytime is stirring
Where the speechless unite
In a silent accord
Using words you will find are strange
And mesmerised as they light the flame
Feel the new wind of change
On the wings of the night
No more turning away
From the weak and the weary
No more turning away
From the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
It’s not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that there’ll be
No more turning away?
Never heard that song but I do think what you did over the weekend was next to wonderful. Here in New Jersey, there are lots of people who are in bad circumstances because of the hurricane. Some of those bikes would probably be appreciated by kids who lost theirs to the Atlantic Ocean. I hope someone has organized something like that…I know there are toy drives. It gladdens the heart to know people can be so generous!
Erika, sorry again for the “off topic”… but I was trying to reach you regarding a photo you posted on your blog, of the 49ers team. Try as I might, I can’t find one to buy… could you tell me where you got that, or if you took it yourself? Thank you in advance for your help!
Best regards,
Scott Crandall
No worries, Scott. I tried to email you at your listed email on your comment, but I guess you didn’t get it. I did not take the photo, nor do I have any rights over it. I found it on Google. I would imagine the best place to buy such a team photo would be on the 49er’s official website or there is always eBay. Good luck- happy to have “met” another Niner fan!
Completely awesome activity and tie in to music.
Great song pick! There are so many things a person can do to help that doesn’t take a lot of money but your time. Turning Wheels for Kids is such a wonderful organization! My son and I had a great time building the bikes. It is especially important for us as parents to teach our kids to help others by example.