Last night I called a French friend of mine from Lehigh University that is now living in Toronto, Veronique, to wish her and her fiancé, Wesley, the very best for their wedding since I won’t be able to attend. They are growing and flourishing in downtown Toronto, and are looking forward to their three weddings (parties, really, as Vero says) in Toronto, France, and Trinidad and Tobago, for their respective families and homes. While talking, she casually mentioned that they’d decided to give half of all donations of their wedding in Toronto to the D.R.E.A.M. Ride! No use of having too much money, she said. I’m amazed at this generosity of them both, especially on such a personal occasion. I’ve never met Wesley. While listening, I thought I heard her incorrectly, and asked her again what she’d said, since Vero spoke blithely.
But indeed you read, and I heard, correctly. They’re giving away half of all the money they get in Trinidad and Tobago to a local charity, too, and I didn’t ask about France, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to do the same there. This seems to me one of the most selfless decisions I’ve experienced for some time. Combining enjoying a fulfilling life with values that incorporate friends and relatives, at such a personal level, seems how more of us should live. Vero and Wesley, vraiment merci beaucoup! !
Eamon
