The Story Of The Van Fund

First off, the humorous photos you see on this site are NOT of my grandmother. My Grandma has teeth, thank you very much. They’re up there because we wanted to add a little humor to the site, but also for another reason. My grandmother values her privacy, especially when it comes to financial matters. She did an amazing thing for me with the unexpected loan to make the van happen, and the least I can do is respect that. She’s also a modest person, and wouldn’t much care for having her face splashed all over the front of a web site. Hence, the humorous granny photos. And hence, her name will not be used in here. I will, however, sneak a few select photos into this section, hoping she won’t mind (as opposed to not minding the toothless photo).

 

Grandma back in the day, with my late grandfather

 

My grandmother is in her eighties, and has produced six kids, too many grandchildren for me to count here without a family tree available, and some great-grandkids that have started to pop up. For every family, there is a foundation. Or there should be. Some don’t always have one, and you can see the results of that—relatives that never see each other, family gatherings once every couple of decades when half the people don’t show, etc. This has never been the case with the O’Connell family. Because we’ve always had Grandma.

 

Grandma, me and Grandpa after my high school graduation

 

No matter where our lives have taken us (and they’ve taken us some interesting places), the center of the O’Connell universe has always been her. Her home has always been the safe haven, the warm familiar place where you can come and just be accepted. My childhood, the interesting adventure that is was, was filled with memories of Christmases, Thanksgivings and Easters there. Of unwrapping gifts and coloring eggs, of catching up with cousins, of playing games on Grandma’s fake Atari (anyone remember the Sears knockoff? Same system, just with the Sears name on it?), of learning important life lessons and the meaning of family and keeping them close.

 

Grandma and the Aunts. Not to be confused with "Adam and the Ants". Totally different band.

 

No matter how many of us grandchildren sprung up, Grandma has always been there…for every graduation, every play, every recital, and to always send that birthday check in its very Grandma card (I still get them to this day). She’s always gone out of her way to do special things for us, like taking us to different events (be it the Music Circus or ball games or the Nutcracker), the family tea party (that tradition started after I was past tea party age. Hey, but I still took the birthday checks…), but most importantly has taught us from her unending store of no-nonsense wisdom.

 

The fam that Gram built

 

Grandma sees it like it is, and she tells is like it is. You always know where you stand with her, and you can always count on her to be honest with you, even if you’d sometimes rather hear the lie. She is warm, she is caring, she is generous, she is strong, she is the example every one of us deserves to have in life, a model of how to stand firm and deal with the world and whatever it throws at us. At the center of the man I have become, there is the work of my Grandmother in me. That alone is enough for my undying gratitude to her and my unending affection for her.

And then she went and got me a van.

I was doing my part. I had put up the web page, lost as to any other avenues to raise the money for the thing I so desperately needed. And it did fantastically…and would have done more so had not time been such a factor. The page and all the people who found it and reached out to me took me so, so far…but there was still so far to go. And then, in the midst of it, Grandma called and asked to drop by my place for lunch. She wanted to have a talk with me. That talk was about my van, and how she wanted to help me realize my goal. She stepped in and offered a loan for the remaining amount that would make the van mine. I really shouldn’t have been surprised. It was a gesture so in line with the many times she’s been there for me my entire life. But this was a big one. A very big one. Because of her, I was able to get on that plane to L.A., meet with the van people, get the rig customized for my needs, buy it, and drive it away. And it wouldn’t have happened without Grandma. It is because of her that I now drive to work without fear, and drive home without waiting for one of the many disturbing noises the old van put out to manifest into yet another spectacular breakdown (a couple of which could have literally killed me over the years). My independence and my livelihood are again secure.

Thanks to Grandma.

And I do SO wish I had the means to pay her back right away, but I’m afraid I just don’t. I can do the best I can, but it’s going to take a long while. Longer that I’d like it to take to put her finances back where they were. And it’s for this reason that this page is now picking up where the “I Need a Van” page left off. Now, I have a van. But I have a long way to go to paying for that spectacular blessing.

So once more I’m telling my story to the world, and seeing if the citizens of the web might be willing to lend a hand to get my Grandma her money back. If you’re one of those that would like to, there’s a link (or an address) that will let you. I would be very, very grateful…not for myself this time, but for my Grandma, a wonderful lady who did a wonderful thing. Thank you in advance if you can help out. If you’re lucky, maybe Grandma will invite you over for a tea party. Or send you a check on your birthday.

 

 

Paying Back Grandma

My Grandma stepped in when I was about to miss my only chance to stay mobile and working.

If she hadn't, I would be looking at unemployment and not being able to get around.

She put herself into debt to the tune of $30k just for me. I'd like to pay her back.

Although I work, it isn't exactly a highly paid job. If you can help me, and my Grandma, with a small donation, I would appreciate it very much indeed.

Thank you.