In Michigan, there are always people calling our home asking for money. We've made it on to their call list because Mom gave them money at some point (in many cases, more than one point).
For a variety of reasons, I've tried to fill Mom's shoes on her charitable giving. It makes me feel closer to her. A part of her lives on in the world. And I can try to keep the world from becoming an even worse place without Mom.
There were obvious choices for me to give to. ASPCA was one of Mom's favorite charities. Mom made a donation to Heifer International every year at Christmas on my behalf. This year, when I was reading up on charities, I found that there is some debate about whether what Heifer International does is good for the region or not. Ultimately I decided that I couldn't make that determination, and I would follow my heart and keep the tradition alive. And finally I added a new charity to the list: Against Malaria Foundation. They are the top recommended charity of www.givewell.org, and I wanted to put money some place effective that I thought Mom would support.
After I had made my donations in Mom's honor, Mom's absence felt striking. I wanted to talk to her about Heifer International and Against Malaria Foundation. I wanted her to know that a part of her spirit would live on. That she was still helping the world. But it felt like she was impossibly far away.
Maybe next year I'll know how to find her.