Eric Tapley

This autumn I’m fortunate to be involved with three great events working for the greater good. I’d like your support if any of these are aligned with causes you believe in either by donating time, money, becoming a corporate sponsor, or just spreading the word.

• · Colitis Walk for a Cure (Oct 14)
• · Art beCAUSE Art + Wine Gala (Oct 24)
• · American Red Cross: Salute to Our Community Heroes (Mar 20)

Please don’t feel obligated by this request - I realize we each work to make a difference in our own ways - but if you want to help I’d appreciate your support of these causes and know it would make a tremendous difference.

GUTS + GLORY | Walk For a Cure for Colitis

I’ve suffered from Colitis since 2002. Thanks to the support of my wife Kate, family, friends, amazing doctors, and three surgeries I’m mostly well and my future remains bright. This isn’t the case for millions of others.

On October 14th Kate will be walking with hundreds of others (and our baby!) to help find a cure for Colitis. As a thank you she’s going to mail out signed photos of Baby Sam to all who make a donation, so this is both an opportunity to support a great cause and obtain some baby cuteness.

Kate has raised $300 toward her goal of $750. You can help by pledging online at: https://www.kintera.org/

ART BECAUSE | Art + Wine Gala

Art beCAUSE is committed to funding research dedicated to eradicating the environmental causes of breast cancer (another c-word I’m really not fond of). I’m a new Board member and am proud that 3000k was able to donate our design talent to the save the date cards, invitations, and other event materials.

On October 24th we’re hosting our 5th annual gala to honor pioneering scientists and announce this year’s Seed the Scientist grants. We’ll provide the art show, dinner, and wine - but we need you to bring the good time!

More info and gala registration: http://www.artbecause.org/artbecause/abweb/wineabout.asp

AMERICAN RED CROSS | Saluting Our Community Heroes

Our local Red Cross chapter has recognized and honored local heroes who’ve risen to uncommon challenges for years (among the many other incredible things our chapter does). Once again this March we’re celebrating people who make Central Massachusetts such a great place to live.

We’re looking for hero nominations, corporate sponsors, donations, and starting in January will be selling tickets to the event.

Nominate a hero: http://www.redcrossworcester.org/hero-application.php

Become a corporate or event sponsor: http://www.redcrossworcester.org/corp_partners/

Donate online: https://www.redcrossworcester.org/donate/online.html

Become a volunteer (lend your flair to make this a great event!): http://www.redcrossworcester.org/volunteer/apply.html

Thanks for your consideration of the Colitis Walk, Art + Wine Gala, and Heroes Salute. Please lend your support, join us at one of the events, learn more about these organizations, and pass the word along (this is a good chance to blog about a local event, hint, hint).

Or continue doing good in your own fashion, and have a better day knowing more about the great things ordinary people are doing for one another and our community!

My Great-Great-Uncle Paul passed away yesterday. He was 93 years old, lived a long and fruitful life, and suffered little before his death.

Uncle Paul was the “cool guy” in the family when I was young. I poignantly remember him from one Thanksgiving at my Grandmother’s house. The whole family had gathered and finished our meal; we sat around laughing, joking, telling stories, and enjoying the warmth of the fire.

“Who wants dessert?” my Grandmother asked. Everyone, of course, wanted to know about the options. Grammy listed off the choices: pumpkin pie, apple pie, lemon meringue pie, pudding, and, of course, a few flavors of ice cream.

“Hell, Rose, I don’t know, bring me a little bit of everything,” Uncle Paul joked. He must have thought she’d pick something and bring it out, not bring a full spread of dessert, but indeed Uncle Paul’s was a plate full of each dessert, generous helpings, while the rest of us had our choice.

At every Thanksgiving after that Uncle Paul, without asking, would get the full selection of desserts. Sometimes one of us would yell out that we wanted “A little bit of everything,” just like Uncle Paul.

Uncle Paul was always a bit of a maverick to me, he was the one who lived as he wished, ate however much dessert he wanted, and who always stood up to others in my family when he believed in something. He spoke with the authority of years and made a great impression on me in my youth.

He was also the last connection I had to Papa and Nana, my Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother, two people who helped tremendously in raising my brother and I after my Dad left and my mom was on her own. They were, in many respects, a second set of parents.

I miss them all.

Last night Sam enjoyed a few minutes of the second Patriots preseason game. He was happy with the rout of the Cardinals and, as you can see in the photo below, is already mesmerized by our world champs. (I refuse to admit it’s just the sound and color and movement on the TV that caught his eye.)

To Mike, Sam’s godfather:

This is for you my friend. The first of many such games, I promise. We’re raising a Pats fan!

Wow, Sam said his first word!

Kate and I just returned from a friend’s wedding. Sam was a little fussy (it’s after his bedtime and we were in the car for a while, plus he’s hungry). Once inside he looked up at Kate and said “mama”.

Surprised, she looked down. Maybe he was just murmuring syllables, a habit he’s started lately as he learns to vocalize. But no, he looked at her again, more insistent this time, and repeated himself: “Mama!”

Wow. Sam’s first word! I’m overwhelmed.

So, I’ve just finished working with Kate to tweak a WordPress theme and make a blog for Baby Sam. We’re going to use this as a place to post stories about him, add photos, and in general keep friends and family up to date on everything going on in the little guy’s world.

Check it out: Sam Tapley and, if you could, tell us what you think.