Peace, Love and Healing - Part Two

You'll remember that I recently sent out a plea asking my writer friends for autographed books for the silent auction being held at this event for our friend and neighbor Mary Anne Maier. Mary Anne was seriously injured in a car accident on July 19, leaving her with severe injuries that required fourteen surgeries and a lengthy stay at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.  She'll be going back to Baptist Medical next week for another surgery, with still more to come.  And I have to say - not many of us would be going through all this with the positive, upbeat manner that she is.  She is, without a doubt, my newest hero.

I promised you an update - so here 'tis ! !

 

The organizers are to be congratulated.  


And congratulated again.


And again!


WHAT a fantastic job they did.  I can't even begin to imagine the amount of work it took to get all this pulled together, and it was all done beautifully.

As promised, there was music,

Performances also included one of my all-time favorite entertainers - Boone's own incredible Melissa Reaves (who I did not get a picture of because we had to leave before her performance - waahh.  But, here's a video for your viewing and listening pleasure).

There was lots of good food -

a large turn-out of neighbors, family and friends - 

And a silent auction and door prizes. These photos are only a small sampling of what was donated to be auctioned -

 

The silent auction included books sent to me by:

Bronson L. Parker, Shelley Costa Bloomfield, Nancy Means Wright, Mark de Castrique, Bill Crider, Debra Ginsberg, Reed Farrel Coleman, Chris Grabenstein, Lillian Stewart Carl, Sandra Parshall, Jamie Freveletti, Meredith Cole, Alafair Burke, Clea Simon, Rosemary Stevens, Julie Hyzy, Jill McCorkle, Andrew Grant, Tasha Alexander, Beth Anderson, Megan Abbott, Gerry Ferris Finger, Jeffrey Marks, Alan Cook, Lisa Lutz, Denise Hamilton, Carl Brookins, Harley Jane Kozak, Joyce & Jim Lavene, Joanna Campbell Slan, Beth Hoffman and Vicki Lane.  I just know I've missed someone - forgive me!!!! My thanks to all of you, from the bottom of my heart.

I would have to say the event was a huge success.  My heartfelt thanks to all of you who helped either with a donation or with your thoughts and prayers.  

I do not know how much money was raised, but I don't think there was a single auction item that was not bid on, and the donation jar was looking awfully healthy when we left.

The spirit of community is alive and well - and it feels lovely.

you may have noticed.  There's not one picture of Mary Anne!!  Not one!   Except the one on the poster at the beginning of the blog.  Every picture I have of her from the benefit is only a piece of her - as she's being hugged by all of us wanting to wish her well.  I'm hoping someone out there has a picture of ALL of her so I can add it.  Anyone???