A Tornado, A Kid Named Leo & Never Giving Up..

Hi Again!

Well, I am writing to you live from Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's a really pretty state and the people here seem to be nice. Okay, so picture this. A girl who choose the last row and last seat in her class, a girl who would never raise her hand to speak up in front of others, in fact this girl even once had a friend write a fictitious doctors note in an effort to get out of an speaking assignment in front of the class. Let's just say she had this absolute fear of speaking in front of others. Now years later this same person is standing out on the major thoroughfare in Colorado exuberantly (okay, so I was pretending to be) waving my hands and shouting "Dollar 4 a Dream".

Let me just say that as embarrassed as I thought I would be- times that by another million or so. The first half hour or so was horrible. My hands shook and I felt as if I would pass out at any minute. Plus, the sun was hot and it seemed to be reflecting off my fluorescent green poster, and was therefore trapping all the heat into the chest area of my body.

There was a car show going on behind me and so the sidewalks were lined with people everywhere. Men, women, children even dogs, they were all out in droves for all the 4th festivities and all staring at the strange individual standing before them. At first I just stared ahead to all the people in their cars who were stopped at the light. Of course, the street I was standing on was the only way to get into town so let's just say there were a lot of people who passed, waved, shouted and honked before me. People would walk behind me and I would not talk to them I would just stare ahead to the traffic in front of me, as I figured if they wanted to give a dollar they would (bad thought). Finally, this young boy who couldn't have been more than 12 drove by on his bike and put a dollar into my bucket and never once uttered a word. I told him "thank you" and informed him he could sign my car. "Leo R" as I later came to find out was my first official customer who gave me a dollar for standing on the street.

Everyone kept walking by (other than Leo R) and just kept ignoring me. I was petrified, embarrassed and faced with the reality that I made a huge mistake by doing this trip. Well, after twenty minutes or so of basking in my own self-pity I realized that I obviously needed to change my presentation tactics. So I turned around toward the people walking behind me and as they came by I would say, "Dollar 4 a Dream." When you look at people face to face and talk to them they are a lot more willing to talk to you and find out what you are all about- and of course give you a dollar. Now two days later and a few hundred dollars closer to my dream I am in Minnesota.

Yesterday, I went to the Mall of America and set up my operation in one of the outdoor public parking lots. Roughly twenty minutes after doing so, I was told by officer "Mark" that it was illegal to solicit/promote at MOA. Well, this was just dandy. Everything is so spread out that is now hindering my ability to park anywhere that is legal. I may have to leave the car behind and just take my eccentrically decorated money pail and simply walk up people (they just won't be able to sign my car this way). This kind of work would enable to go to the ballgames/concerts as I can just go up to the crowds waiting outside, since I won't be able to catch them in the parking lot. Of course, if you have any suggestions, tips, thoughts, etc. you can email me at Stephanie@dollar4adream and let me know.

Unfortunately as I write this, a severe storm is hitting this state and all the surrounding states. Basically, I am stuck and I can't get out. The northern part of Minnesota has tornadoes warnings for this evening and all the other routes heading east is on alert because of heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, and flash flooding. Oy Vey! So until further notice I am grounded in Minneapolis, sleeping in my car. Hey, it's character building I tell you...

Well, I must run as Kinko's charges an arm and leg to use their computers (damn corporate bastards)...Before I leave I went to leave you with today's lessons. One, soliciting is illegal at Mall of America. Two, Mall of America has notices on the entrance doors stating, "No guns allowed at the Mall." Now I ask you- shouldn't this be the "norm" for all malls. I mean "duh", of course no guns should be allowed. Three, a boy named "Leo R" is my new hero. Four, Minnesota gets tornadoes. And five, Minnesota does not have paper toilet seat covers either. Am I asking for too much here folks? Just some germ protection would be nice.

Take care.
Love,
Stephanie