The one memory from those years I count as my favorite occurred when my father lost his job right before Christmas. I think I was about thirteen or so.  With even less money than usual for gifts, my mother and I spent our time in the basement: sewing pajamas, aprons, and other garments. My younger siblings drew pictures and made potholders out of rag strips. My older siblings gave up their Christmas gifts so the children could still believe in Santa. Even so, our stockings were filled with nuts and fruit. There were no toys under the tree that year. In fact, our Christmas tree was what came to be known as “the poor tree,” a twenty-year-old pink and silver artificial shrub my parents had had stuffed in the attic since the early days of their marriage. Charlie Brown’s little tree could put it to shame.

Why am I reminiscing about a Christmas that occurred more than thirty years ago when the current calendar is about to flip to February? Because that year I learned a lesson that has stayed with me ever since–a lesson I’ve passed on to my own children. Two nights before that Christmas, friends and neighbors presented my family with a tremendous basket filled with fruit, candy, small toys, and food for our holiday dinner. I’m not sure how all those people knew of our circumstances–my parents were extremely proud and not prone to discuss such trials with outsiders.  But the bounty of that gift, the warmth of generosity that enfolded us, made an extremely difficult time one of joy for my parents, my siblings, and me.

That was when I truly learned the value of giving.

My children know the feeling well: I remember my then ten-year-old daughter selling handmade items to raise money for the victims of 9/11; my now twelve-year-old son recently turned over three weeks’ worth of his allowance to buy care packages for American soldiers fighting overseas. Now both have decided to pool resources to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Neither my daughter nor my son ever told me of their intentions before donating their hard-earned money. They do so because they truly know how blessed they are with their lives, their homes, and their family. And because there is no greater feeling in the world than the warmth that overflows your heart when you know you’ve given someone less fortunate a chance to smile–even for a day.

Until today, I’ve never shared this particular memory with my fellow chaptermates of Dunes & Dreams. I do so now for a very good reason. Recently, I began the planning for this year’s Multi-Author Booksigning to benefit Literacy Suffolk. According to their website, one in seven adults in Suffolk County are functionally illiterate, 75% of unemployed adults do not read, and nearly 45% of those below the poverty level don’t possess the reading and writing skills necessary to improve their lives or the lives of their families.

These are hard times for everyone. Unemployment is up, the housing market is dying, and we’re all tying our belts a little tighter.  The authors who’ve volunteered to participate in this event do not do so for accolades, publicity, or for undying gratitude from the masses. We do so because it’s a chance to give back to the communities that have been so good to us. It’s a chance to revitalize our floundering neighborhoods. It’s a chance to provide readers and writers for the future generations.

If you’re an author, consider joining us behind the tables. If you’re a reader, perhaps you’ll consider buying a book or two at the event. A few dollars, a few signatures, and a few hours could benefit us all in the long run.

This year’s event will take place at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic on Saturday, May 8 from 12-3 pm. Join us. A simple gesture could have long-reaching results.

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For two hours, we chatted romance, sold our books and enjoyed the company of not just Dunes and Dreams members, but the book-buying public. YES, Long Island loves romance novels! How do we know? In those two short hours, under a cloudy sky, the constant threat of rain and on Father’s Day – we raised $381 for our local charity of choice!

I am so proud to a part of this dynamic group of women! The support for all our members and our genre – in any published form – is incredible and genuine. Our first event was such an overwhelming success, that Pindar Vineyards has invited us back next year – this time Mother’s Day!

For me, this event was also inspirational. The excitement of signing one of your books is such a rush, I have challenged myself to have another book on the signing table of my own at next year’s signing…a challenge I pose to every member of Dunes and Dreams (and really any writer out there!) Now is the time to get down to business and get that book written, now is the time to reap the rewards and the knowledge of a fantastic writing group (and if you don’t get the guidance and support you need from your current group, or if you are looking for a group, check us out!)

So, ladies of Dunes and Dreams, I salute you! We should all be proud of our donation!

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