a charity case...introducing "Morning Bell (a call to fund love)"

As promised, this is part deux of the "tom blog" series...and it's a very special part indeed.

Back in September I set off for what has turned into a labor day tradition - the trip to Northern Minnesota BWCA (boundary waters canoe area), but this year I carried with me something more special than even my blanky...Tom. There were many relationship-defining moments of the trip, but perhaps the most defining moment was the 30-40 ft. cliff we jumped. Hesitantly scaling the side of the cliff, we finally made it to the ledge...together. As completely exhilerating as it was, it was also a bit i'm-going-to-crap-my-pants-frightening (even I'll admit that), but I was bound and determined to be the only girl there who jumped it.

I clearly remember the feeling of nervousness (I think I may have peed my swimsuit a lil' bit) just before I jumped, coupled with an intense craving for the adrenaline rush I was about to experience. Holding hands and gazing out into the water and the unknown, we looked at each other and he gave my hand one last tight, reassuring squeeze before we jumped off...for a short time we were underwater and then we resurfaced, hungry for another challenge.

This cliff-jumping story is not too far from the premise of our relationship...and if Tom wouldn't have held my hand, squeezing tightly in reassurance, it would have been a lot more difficult to make the life-leap I've made. And, taking that leap over the edge has been the single best decision (okay, I can think of a few others too) of my life thus far.

And although the transition has been fairly smooth, I'm not going to lie - it's still difficult to be thousands of miles away from the one person on this earth that knows how you tick better than anyone else. At times it even sucks. But as much as it does suck, I don't regret the decision I've made. For the first time in a few years, I am not worrying about what is next. I feel an incredible sense of peace and happiness as I conquer these new challenges in this new place on my own...but with the love and encouragement of so many back home (thank you, all!)!

So, now for the purpose of this blog. It was my idea, as a parting gift for Tom, to set up a little travel fund for the both of us. I know what you're thinking...great time for a travel fund, smack-dab in the middle of an economic recession. ha. Just my horrible luck. This lil' travel fund will be deemed, "Morning Bell: a call to fund love" - a fitting title because we adore Radiohead, and also because I couldn't think of an alternative.

For those of you who do not know (although I am pretty sure I've divulged to you all...willingly or unwillingly:))...Tom is three years into a, hmmm, 12-year journey in medicine. Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little, but he is in year 3 of an 8-year combined MD/PHD (yes, I'm dating uber-nerd) program...from there he will tackle residency with aspirations to go into either transplant or vascular surgery...so, 7+ more years of residency and fellowship jazz later, and Tom will finally be a real doctor. Wow...what am I getting myself into? HA! This is precisely why I vowed I would never be with a med student. But alas...

So, as such, he has no money. And I - well, I live in the Czech Republic now, making less than half of what I made in the states (certainly not too upset about that, as it is nice to live a more minimalist lifestyle...i am not saying i don't miss my boutiques or luxe grocery shopping at kowalskis/the wedge, though, dammit!). And since so many of you seem interested in our lil' abroad romance, I thought I'd give you the chance to be a part of and help to sustain our freaking amazing adventure, hence the introduction of "Morning Bell (a call to fund love)". I know there are millions of other, more important things to do with your money - but I thought, "you never know if you don't try!" So, I went with my gut and created it anyway.

Morning Bell (a call to fund love) - Click on the button to the right if you'd like to fund love!

In return, we'll promise to:

_send you a postcard,

_a blog shout-out (with lots o' love) and

_chronicle our travel adventures together here on my blog (maybe we'll call it "the chronicles of praha/minni love).

(also, we'll buy you good gifts someday when Tom's no longer a faux-doctor, and I will continue to send you all really witty christmas cards...)

To donate - click on the "donate" button to the right, under "Morning Bell" heading...

Last but certainly not least, here's a song for the road...in honour of Tom and the notion of love in general (thanks to the beautiful voice of David Ford, whom I first saw in concert with Bell X1 last year, and then for a second time this year with Ingrid Michaelson)...

happy love-funding,

me

xx

p.s. if the recession aint no thang/you do have moola, and you're inclined to do a lil' more good today (or if you're just curious what the heck my bro does over here), make sure to check out my bro's blog at http://www.zachharrod.com/ ... he's doing far, far, far more amazing things in his life than I and I admire him and his mission gobs and gobs.