Balloons

I am intimately involved in Lititz's annual July 4th Celebration.  Each member of the committee as well as 100's of volunteers come together for a common cause - to raise money for the Lititz Springs Park.  Collectively, we plan this family-friendly, annual event for the citizens of Lititz and the surrounding area.  July 4th in Lititz has become part of our identifier.  It's in our fabric.  It epitomizes small town Americana.
 
The admission fee for the day's event is $10.00 for adults - kids are free.  Many of the families who come to the celebration are not rich and honestly, it is probably a hardship for them to pay the $10.00.  
 
This past July, I spent two hours during the celebration handing out balloons to kids.  No fanfare.  Just the way I like it. No one from the
committee knew I did this.
  
I wandered throughout the park with a fist full of balloons in hand
looking for children who may want a balloon.  My heart melted when I handed a bright, red helium filled balloon to a particular three year old in a wheelchair, who looked like he came from a needy family.  Although he didn't speak, the look in his eyes said thank you.

I performed these simple acts of kindness throughout the park.  Some parents offered me money for balloons.  Others asked for balloons for all of their children.  I turned no one away.

As I consider whether or not to run for Congress in 2014, I am reminded of those faces I saw on July 4, 2013.  They came from rich families.  They came
from poor ones.  They may have been living with a single mom or from divorced parents or as part of a gay family.  It didn't matter to me.  I just wanted to help bring a little ray of hope to them and to show them that there still are people out there in society who genuinely care about people no matter where they land in the social-economic scale.

I may not have the political experience that the establishment seeks in
candidates.  However, I have the drive and desire to listen and help as many people as I can. Because I am a regular person who has experienced many highs and lows in my life, I can identify with the constituents. The only promise that I will ever make is the promise that I will work hard serving everyone.

Should I run, balloons will always be a part of my campaign.  They will serve as a representation that a simple act of kindness is a start in building trust again in our politicians.