K C F

The Kaiden referred to in this piece of writing is the not-quite-one-year-old son of Jamal Andrews, who was taken from us an indescribably long time ago.  We cannot go back, but we can certainly look ahead.

K C F

The subject of Kaiden’s College Fund comes up incessantly, and I have been giving the matter some thought.  A lot of thought.  I am not sure exactly what the status is, but I think this is an admirable time to clarify things.  I am a huge fan of the clarifying question.

There are undoubtedly some people who will simply open up their wallets, and peel off the Ben Franklins, until their wallets are empty.  Man down!  There is nothing wrong with that step, per se, as long as long as someone helps that downed man get back on his feet.  When the wallets empty out, then I think we need to get a process in place, where we set out to methodically hammer away at the projected college fund, for a young man, who is slated to begin his college career, in the year 2030.

It will cost a lot more in 2030, to attend four-make that five-years of college, at the university of his choice.  We are not going to be able to net that in a bake-sale out in front of Geiger’s.  How about a huge auction?  We could scour the hills for trinkets to display, and ask people to bid on these trinkets, with all proceeds going to Kaiden’s College Fund.  

[There are those words again that just keep gyrating in my head.  Kaiden’s College Fund.  They will NOT desist.  You’ve heard of KFC?  Almost the same:  KCF.  Kind of catchy.   K.C.F.         K.C.F.      I fear  hope and pray those words will not desist until we have that aforementioned figure.  By the way, I added that fifth year in there, because it’s better to have the loot and not need it, then need it, and not have it.  That would be the presence of Pauline, my revered mother, in me, hollering out.]

OK, that’s fine too.  But one auction?  Maybe more than one?  Maybe a huge annual auction, until we hit the goal?  I don’t know.  I am just thinking aloud, which is the next step after talking aloud to myself.  After that, you’re still talking, but the microphone is turned off.

I can feel all of those intellects out there kicking into gear.  After all, this is not diagramming sentences.  Now I posted a funny little snippet on FaceBook today, centered around my favorite coffee shop, Poor Girls, right here in Laytonville, and it got me thinking.  There are a few of you out there who sat through novel after novel, as I read to you.  Maybe one or two would like to relive that experience for a 47-minute period of time, while I read something aloud.  I am not presumptuous enough to suggest something I have written, but there are an awfully lot of selections, from which to choose.

Now, obviously, I am not interested in charging money, for what would amount to a pleasurable experience, but we might place a “hat” at the entrance of Harwood Hall, should someone feel that a contribution to Kaiden’s College Fund  is in order.  

So that’s what I have for you.  If people just sat down and gave it some thought, I bet we could generate a lot of enthusiasm for this cause.  All I have to do is see a picture of Kaiden, in Jamal’s arms, to get me all pumped up.  How about you?