I was really touched by all the comments. All the different suggestions as to how I could raise the money. And “A Friend”‘s comment about adding a paypal button asking for contributions. I asked NK and he already thinks I am crazy and people who blog and people who read blogs are weird.
I asked my sisters and they were like its up to you. Do what you feel is right.
I chatted with a friend and she said, If people do give it, its because they like you and want to help. She also warned me about others passing judgement and whether I have a thick enough skin to bear stuff friends, frenemies might throw at me.
I posted on my BIO board and got some sensible suggestions.
This is what I plan to do. If you WANT to give money to help fund airfare for Samar, I am deeply humbled and touched. Click on the blue suitcase—-> in right sidebar. It will bring you to Paypal login. No amount is too small.
I will take down the suitcase on Nov 1st. By then, I should have purchased my tickets and would have had enough money(through other means) to travel.
If for some reason I am not able to travel(say NK is laid off, a child is sick knock on wood), the money that I collected through the suitcase will go to India Helps.
Sounds sensible? Am I being greedy? Am I presenting myself as a charity case? I dont know. I have never done this. If this was a run I was doing, there was a fundraising requirement, I wouldnt even hesitate a bit. But to ask people to give for airfare when so many others are lacking seems superficial. I have to hit publish or else my courage would fail me and I would take everything down.
You know what? First I was like this does not sound very right but when u compared it to raising money for a marathon etc it all fell into place for me. Go Sunita I am a 100% with this plan. We all would hate to miss our sisters’ wedding u know. It breaks my heart to imagine my sis might marry without me!
Me: You know Shilpa, I am still debating this whole thing. Whether it is “right”. I was googling the paypal donations stuff and I found a blog asking for donations towards a tummy tuck
So I have lurked and lurked and lurked
And I think it is pretty awesome how you manage all that you do !
Me: Yay. I love de-lurkers
Also its totally cool how honest you are.
*
Contributing not too much for the travel fund and crossing fingers that you get to go!
* lowly out of work grad student that I am
Me:Thank you thank you
How come yr paypal doesnt show like how much ppl have contributed?
Anyways, i will get sanju to donate to yr paypal acc..he has money in it..
Me: He already working so hard right? Ask him to save. I didnt do the widget that shows the total.
Is so great if u r coming..Thanks to yr fan base..*Sobs, Sobs*
All 4 of us will be together during the wedding..*Sobs, Sobs*
Oh btw, mum cant didnt believe when we told her yr plans..
She thinks we r lying to her…I dun noe wat we get by lying..
Me: Mum funny lah. I know right. Leave me coming, I cannot believe Renu is getting married.!!!
You are one brave woman. This should be an interesting experiment.
Hope all of you get to go to the wedding.
Me: Thanks AJ.
The more I read you, the more I admire you for your courage, forthrightness and just YOU!!!!!
Way to go girl !!!
Superb plan. Hugs and all the very best. i am sure it will work out. It HAS to!!
good luck!
and pls tell ashwina the bracelets are very nice.
Good luck girl.. hope things work out for you and you get to go to the wedding.. as well as get some money for India helps!!
Hey I admire your honesty as others said… I really hope things turn out your way!!!
i agree with all the above… u brave woman…
all the best it will happen
i hope you do get to go…all the best!
and loved the header…
ashwina, the bracelets are very pretty
good luck dear
I think what will be better if if you add adsense to your blog. I mean this is fine and great for people who can donate, but people like me who can not and want to help really badly don’t mind clicking a few ad pages everyday! do try that, if you can! I volunteer to click every single ad on your page a couple of times
Me: You are very nice. I will look into this
Your blog is evidently a major part of your life now, huh? I can’t contribute, sorry, but good luck with it all! You certainly have a supportive band of regular commentors. That’s something to feel good about, no matter what happens with the paypal plan and no matter how detractors might criticize you. It took guts to write/do this.
Me: Hmm..is it a major part? I dont know. I seem to be doing it now than I have ever done, even moreso than when I first started. I share alot of things on my blog but things which only affect me and my small family. You know what is my biggest search query, Weight Loss Pictures
Good luck!!!! I think its awesome that you’re going!:-)
good luck, Sunita. Hope it works out. enjoyed following your blog and have a lot of respect for you. i paypalled u what i can afford last night, with the thought that every bit will help.
Me: Thanks and lips sealed.
You are awesome..you know that right?
I have come to love and admire you so much..can’t even begin to tell you how much.
All the best..:)
and yayyyyyyy you are going!!!
Me:Thanks Trish
There is no harm in trying I say!
Wow Sraikh, I truly admire what you’re doing here. Seriously takes a lot of guts to do this. I am sorry I can’t help on the money front. I’m myself surviving on measely student pocket money.
But you have my best wishes and I really pray that you do get to attend your sister’s wedding this year.
Me: Dont worry about the not giving part. See, this is the part where it feels screwy, that the people who read me feel bad they are not giving it. Please dont!
Our husbands have similar views on blogs. If this experiment works,It will either make blogging weirder in his(my husband’s) eyes or get his respect but he can’t stay indifferent.
Anyways, why don’t you tell the readers how many unique hits you get and if say 20% of those people contribute X amount, where you will be in terms of the ticket.
When I am told at the daughter’s school that they can meet their goal if everyone contributed 10 bucks, I neither feel ashamed nor guilty to shell out just 1o bucks when I can’t afford to do more.
Anyways regarding this one, I will have to watch from the sidelines if I don’t want to risk divorce, even for a small amount because he will totally assume I am crazy.
But when the moment gains momentum, I will slowly start telling him that so many people can’t be crazy. Till then I offer to be your cheerleader
I get 5 unique hits but I can blog about it and link you if that helps.
Me: rofl. I get about 1000 page views and 200-300 unique hits.(am lazy to go log into my statcounter a/c. The graph in WP’sgraph is anywhere from 800-1100? per day, weekend are slow 300-400?)You are the analyst. You analyze the data.:)
However I want to add that it takes a lot of courage to be honest in a blog. This is what probably makes ur blog more endearing.
Cheers!
V
Wow, that must take a lot of courage ..and I admire you for that..and the open honesty
Truly hope that you attend your sisters wedding along with Samar and have a great time while there.
{{Hugs}}
All the best! Hope everything works out.
You are a sweet lady.
Admire your courage to go ahead. All the best. and will say it anyway…sorry I can’t contribute, but am very sure you’ll raise what you need…after all, as I said, am a big fan of The Secret…ask and you shall receive:)
i agree with the above comments and appreciate your honesty..
all the best and I would love to see you going for wedding as well as some good amount going to India helps
cheers!