Ellen Osborn: Guest Blogger, Customer, & An Incredible Fearless Female

While I am not exactly a "girl of the Giving Tree," by employment or proximity, I am most certainly a girly-girl and by the contents of my jewelry box, you'd think that I was. I guess that qualified me to contribute to this blog. Rachel and I have certainly had our share of early morning e-mails, long phone calls, kamikaze care packages and long distance pep talks. I can even say I've been grocery shopping with her and we've never even met (okay, okay, it was via Bluetooth!)

One of the things that I know I am qualified to say is that when you get a box from the Giving Tree, you can expect something special. It starts with the beautiful presentation of the gift box itself; you quiver with excitement to open to the treasure you find inside - whether it is from someone special or even to someone very special - YOU (it's not a bad vice to have!). As always, you can expect the other fringe benefits that come from a group of gals with a huge heart at its inner core: be it the initial selection of the finest, hippest, sweetest pieces of art to wear or the integrity, talent and vision of the artists represented in their collection. I'd be hard pressed to find someone who really looked at the website or in the Gallery and DIDN'T find a piece they COULDN'T IMAGINE being without. . .or at a least a wish list a mile long.

Last year, I found a few other amazing treasures with my experience at the Giving Tree - all the way out here in Indiana. Last year, Rachel generously offered to help me raise money for the walk I do each year to raise money for education and awareness about Multiple Sclerosis. . .a condition with which I have been afflicted for several years. First, she challenged me with picking several of my favorite pieces and justifying my answers. Statistics in my Masters program? A passing thought. Entrance examinations for my Ph.D? A BREEZE in comparison to selecting six or eight pieces with barely discernible degrees of varying perfection! Generously, Rachel and Judith shared much of the proceeds of the purchase of these selected pieces with my monetary goal I had set for the MS Walk. With their help, a lot of work, a wonderful walk supported literally and figuratively by my husband, my miniature dachshund and my closest family and friends, we qualified for the Tour of Champions in San Diego this January.

During this entire experience, however, Rachel had sent out some information about little old me to some former and current Giving Tree patrons and likewise encouraged them to e-mail me. I received many e-mails from many fabulous people (with common taste in jewelry, how could they NOT be fabulous?) but one couple left not only a mark on my heart - they left a tattoo. Throughout the year, we became closer and closer - supporting one another during job searches, lay offs, surgeries, awesome dog tricks - until it was mutually felt as though we'd known one another for lifetimes,

While we were in San Diego this January, having hugged for the first time only twenty minutes before, my husband and I knew we'd found not only friends for life. . .but an extension of our own spiritual family. We sat by the water for hours and talked and had big plans to go out that night until a stomach bug left two of us feeling less than our usual selves. So there the four of us sat in our hotel room - shoes off, curled up telling stories for hours trying not to catch glimpses of the clock that reminded us of an early flight the next day. Just today, my dear friend said: "Seeing each other in 3-D in San Diego was so great. It's like we've known each other all our lives. I will never forget the feeling of just hanging out by the water sitting and laughing and talking -- and in the hotel room as well. You forget the crummy feelings, and remember just the love."

We remember the love indeed and it sustains us as we plan our next visit.

I told you, you are ALWAYS going to get something special in a box from the Giving Tree. Rachel and Judith and all the girls of the Giving Tree make that happen whether the purchase is an affordable "pick me up" or a "blow the bank because I'm SO worth it" piece...and it always helps you remember the love.

Ellen Osborn