The last two weeks have been pretty amazing. I’ve learned a great deal about my community, about the human spirit and about myself.

The benefit last night went very well. We think we raised roughly $10,000 for the Stewman. Final tallies aren’t in, but that’s what I was told last night. It could run a bit less or a bit more.

I was thinking about all of this as I was drinking my coffee this morning. I talked to some folks last night that have been impacted by the devastation of cancer and how they gave back. In this world, money is important, but there are other things that help our neighbors and friends.

You know, sometimes the money is just part of it. God knows it helps and is necessary but there were other things I learned last night that were such a wonderful example of the human spirit.

—-To the woman who gave her hair to Locks of Love. She didn’t have any money, but she had something to give, and give she did.

—-To the artists who called me and said I only have my work to offer. Is that enough? Jeez, yes. YES. It’s more than enough. You gave yourself.

—-To the two people that worked on the event during their off time dealing with their own health issues, I am awed and humbled to just be in your presence and you know who you are.

—-To Chris Brinkley’s son, who fell asleep during the auction and looked so completely and utterly beautiful as he was being carried out. Who gave his time as well, as his father worked diligently to raise money for his friend.

—-To the people in the blogosphere who have left comments on The Stewman’s blog and let him know that you were thinking of him. Those kind words mean a whole lot more than you think they do. As the Great Ivy told me once, getting a comment is like getting a $20 bill. Those comments mean a great deal. Communication, even with those people that you don’t know, is so very important.

—- To those of you who donated financially to the event to a man you do not know, I thank you.

—- A special thank you to Holly, who drove an hour and stayed with Scout, taking money for T-shirts, DVDs and CDs who stayed much later than I even expected her to. (And had to be back at school at 7:30 a.m this morning.) If you do not know Holly and Scout, you should. They are lovely people who gave a most valuable commodity and that is their time. They live-blogged the event, and they were really funny and utterly charming. And yes, I did go into the bathroom with a dude. Completely and purely innocent, I assure you.

—-To the guy that sat down with me who gave me a break for a few minutes where we talked about politics. (Imagine that.)

I have two favorite quotes and I put one over at The Friends of The Stewman blog yesterday.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

“Well-behaved women rarely make history”

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

The last quote I just like.

So thanks.

Now back to your regularly scheduled Newscoma.

Hi campers. Today is the day that Newscoma pulls her hair out due to an impossible schedule, but I wanted to thank everyone out there who have been so wonderful in assisting with the Friends of the Stewman benefit. Special thanks to Melissa Kent of Clear Channel, Christian Grantham, Sharon Cobb and Kathy T. for their donations to the event. If anyone is wanting to make a donation, you can go through Pay Pal and make a donation through friendsofthestewman at yahoo dot com. Let me know if you do!

Melissa works for WSIX and 107.5 The River in Nashville and she heard about all of this and has thrown in her support. She is from here and used to work for me when I owned a magazine called “our town” where we starved together in the early days of our career. Much love is being sent to Melissa right now.

Other props are being sent to singer Tracy Lawrence through Melissa who has sent some donations including a signed cowboy hat to be auctioned off. Woot. Thanks Tracy.

For all of you who have linked to the Stewman’s blog and posted the benefit which is next Monday night, we all wanted to say thanks. Special props to Michael Silence and Bad, Bad Ivy for keeping you guys up to date on the event as well.

I talked to the Stewman last night. He had his big chemo treatment yesterday and although he is sick as a dog, he’s in good spirits. When I say big chemo, it’s the one where he sits on an IV drip for about 7 and 1/2 hours.

Needless to say, it isn’t fun.

I am honored to be part of this community. All of you are just wonderful.

(Update: I wanted to add the lovely and amazing Holly Wynne will be selling T-shirts Monday night at the event and will be driving in for the event. THANKS HOLLY!)