You’re gonna miss her when she’s gone.

Fortunately, she isn’t going anywhere for a long, long time.

Dear allergies. You are like the flu's invisible twin. You make me feel just as bad but nobody understands. #AllergyProblems—
Carlos Whittaker (@loswhit) May 09, 2013

I understand.

“@mattdantodd: Voting ends TOMORROW! Please help us get 3,000 votes for this wheelchair-accessible van! ow.ly/kSUgc”—
Leilan McNally (@LeilanMcNally) May 09, 2013

Thanks again to everyone who shared and voted during our campaign! In case you missed the news, here’s where we stood in the voting.

Why did the stormtrooper buy an iPhone?

He couldn't find the Droid he was looking for.—
Darth Vader (@DepressedDarth) May 10, 2013

Question of the day..if Kentucky gets the Wiggins kid do the have enough to advance to the 2nd round of the NIT?—
Dan Dakich (@dandakich) May 13, 2013

I think KY fan’s reaction to this statement was almost as funny as the tweet itself.

"God is bigger than your problems. Whatever worries press upon you today, put them in God's hands and leave them there."Billy Graham—
Tom Crean (@TomCrean) May 13, 2013

While this is an important reminder every day, it’s pretty fitting for today.

If we were half as concerned about our own sin as we are everyone else's sin there would be far less sin in the church.—
Pete Wilson (@pwilson) May 15, 2013

Ramos with a grand slam in the 10th. You have to be kidding me. Hoosiers 3 outs from their first Big Ten title since Harry Truman was Prez.—
Indiana Baseball (@IUBaseballNews) May 18, 2013

First Big Ten title since 1949. Seniors win games and Michael Basil carried his troops tonight. Hoosiers are now 39-13 overall, 16-7 B1G—
Indiana Baseball (@IUBaseballNews) May 18, 2013

Congratulations, Hoosiers!

Read Nighttime Ninja by @barbaradacosta to my class this week. Huge hit with my amazing sound effects. Got requests for 2nd and 3rd repeats!—
Liz Todd (@LizTodd6032) May 18, 2013

Welcome to Twitterville, @LizTodd3032! Kick your shoes off. Stay awhile.

So we saw "The Great Gatsby" last night. It was alright, but they kind of lost me when they tried to work "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" into 1922.—
Angie Six (@AngieSix) May 19, 2013

My friend, Mark, also reviewed The Great Gatsby. He’s quite thorough.

Who left the theater after the first Fast and Furious 12 years ago and said "You know, society really needs five more of these?" Anyone?—
Ivan Renko (@Ivan_Renko) May 19, 2013

#beattheheat #Pacers—
Aaron Beasley (@the_beasman) May 19, 2013

“@stephenasmith: I'm DEPRESSED right now. Not going to lie. Can't sleep. Won't eat”~ Best cure to that is to stop talking for 365 days.—
Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 19, 2013

Well said, Boomstick.

PSA courtesy of @BgKahuna: Beware of people trying to lick your face at the track ~~> ow.ly/lcK1T—
Brian Groce (@naptownbuzz) May 20, 2013

I can’t…I don’t….Wow. Just wow.

Now, THIS is a Star Wars/Disney concept I can get behind! starwars.com/news/new-anima… #StarWars #Rebels #AWESOME—
Tony Troxell (@IndianaGeeking) May 20, 2013

MRI tech: "We've got Pandora. What music do u want on while ur in there?" Me: "Gungor" Him: "Sounds like a disease." Me: "It is contagious"—
Ben Cachiaras (@BenCachiaras) May 20, 2013

Our second season starts today. #sectionals #blackhawksoftball #blackhawknation—
sara louise ♥ (@SaraaLouu22) May 21, 2013

Knock ‘em dead, Sara! Deep down, my kids will always be Blackhawks.

Today in 1881 Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. Happy birthday. Pray for them as they help the folks in OK & other states.—
Rich Teske (@RichTeske1) May 21, 2013

Feel free to donate to the Red Cross here.

This trailer for Ragamuffin, the story about Rich Mullins, was released this week. I cannot wait for this movie. Yes, I’m more excited about this movie than I am about Star Trek and Iron Man.

True, the man playing Rich doesn’t have Rich’s voice. Not sure anyone has a speaking voice like his. But he captures his speech pattern and accent pretty well. As I watched this trailer, I couldn’t help but remember my one-on-one encounter with Rich Mullins oh so many years ago…

The Summer of ’97 was the year I stuck around at Milligan and took summer classes. I was walking into the Student Union Building (commonly referred to as the SUB…I know – creative, isn’t it?) for a reason that I can’t recall. I do remember that it was hot and I had on my Chewbacca t-shirt. As I walked in, I saw Rich walking with someone else (I had no idea who the other guy was…still don’t). Rich had on some jeans and a plain white t-shirt. He walked by me and said, “Hey, nice shirt!”

All I could muster was, “Thanks,” as he walked out the building. I’ll never wash this shirt again, I thought to myself. Then I kicked myself for not grabbing him and thanking him for the influence his music had been in my life.

The story doesn’t end there, though. If you haven’t read it, you have to read what happens next.

I remember when I was a young’un in the house we lived in before my parents’ current home. I was heartbroken because some crazy educational show on PBS that involved a woman and a green puppet – I think it was a green puppet. I remember it as a green puppet. I think they were on Mars. And they had to leave for the summer. I bawled my eyes out as their rocket took off and I had to say goodbye. I remember tugging on mom’s leg while she was on the phone. She had to get off the phone because I was in hysterics: Because I had to say goodbye to the Martian puppet for the Summer. I honestly don’t remember if that show ever came on again.

Goodbyes can be tough. They’re part of life, though. Everyone goes through it. At its core, the art of storytelling is the art of dealing with the human experience. I guess I love series finales because when they’re done right, they can be the perfect example of great storytelling. And as you know, I love a good story. A final story told well can tug at the heartstrings. It can resolve conflict. It can leave some tension unresolved. It can make you wish you didn’t have to say goodbye. It can make you want more.

Some of the finales I’ve watched do this really, really well. Others? Not so much.

With all of this talk about tonight’s series finale of The Office, I’ve been thinking a lot about the memorable series finales I’ve seen and why they’re so memorable. 

M*A*S*H

Image via TampaBay.com

I was seven when they aired the M*A*S*H finale. I have no idea if we watched it that night. While I have a pretty vivid memory of my childhood, this is something I just have no recollection of whatsoever. That probably means I didn’t watch it, but you never know, I guess.

I have, however, watched the finale since its initial airing. Holy cow. What an ending. In my mind, this still sets the standard for television series finales. I have never really had a strong attachment to the 4077th – it was probably just a little bit before my time – but even so, I still find myself tearing up as the helicopter flies away for the last time.

Friends

We watched Friends pretty religiously in college. I was living off-campus when Ross flubbed his wedding vows and you could hear screams all throughout the apartment complex. It was pretty crazy.

I was disappointed when I had to work during the series finale. I really wanted to be curled up on the couch with Christy while we watched. Instead, I was busy delivering pizzas. It turned out that I didn’t actually watch the finale until almost ten years later.

Seinfeld 

A bunch of my college buddies and I gathered together at a friend’s house for one of our last hurrahs before everyone graduated. We had high expectations for this finale.

It was underwhelming. That’s about all I can say.

The Wonder Years

Christy’s still mad about this series finale. That was twenty (!!!) years ago this week. I guess you could say that time doesn’t heal all wounds. She happened to watch this episode again a few months ago. She was depressed for weeks. I don’t think she can watch any episode of The Wonder Years ever again because she’s still so angry/depressed about how they ended the story.

She’s convinced Kevin and Winnie should’ve gotten married. I, however, think it’s better that they didn’t. After all: how many people actually marry their high school sweethearts? I didn’t. Christy didn’t. I’m pretty OK with that.

Boy Meets World

I think some of that emotional bitterness that Christy experiences with Kevin and Winnie’s breakup has been eased by the finale of Boy Meets World. The fact that Cory and Topanga actually got married and appear to be living happily ever after is a bit of a healing salve.

Cheers

Man. What a great finale. I think it’s my favorite. It’s another finale that aired twenty years ago this month.

What season finales stick out as your most memorable? Which one’s your favorite? Do you have a least-favorite?

we’ve got some good news about the van contest. There’s also some not-so-good news about the van contest. They say you should start with the bad news when you have both good and bad news so you can end things on a positive note. I’ll buy that.  So here goes…

The Bad News

It’s really not unexpected news, to be honest. It’s really something we should have expected, since we started the campaign so late. We have found out that we did not advance to the next round in our quest to get a wheelchair-accessible van. The top 5% vote-earners have been announced and we are not on that list. We fell significantly short. By our best estimates, we would have needed ten times more votes than we received.

Thank you, again, for all your support and for helping to get so many people to vote!

The Good News

There’s two parts to this good news. And it’s very good news:

1.) Three families are still receiving wheelchair-accessible vans.

While we aren’t one of those families, I’m happy that three other families will have access to this life-changing piece of equipment. In reading through many of the stories shared during the campaign, I was moved by all of them. I wished every family could win and receive a van. And while that’s not possible at this time, at least we can celebrate that three people will have their lives changed.

2.) We’re not done.

We have a year to plan for another voting effort (assuming they do it again next year). Unless we somehow have an opportunity to gain access to a wheelchair-accessible van through some other means between now and then, we’ll be submitting our story again next year. We’re down but not out. We’ll be back.

I don’t think I can say this enough: thank you for helping us out. We’re humbled by the outpouring of support. Now isn’t the time to be sad. It’s time to celebrate. It’s time to regroup. It’s time to knock this thing out of the park next year.

Three thousand votes in just three weeks. That’s an average of more than 140 votes a day. That’s pretty amazing. You’re pretty amazing. Thank you for voting. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for caring enough about our little girl that you want to see her have every opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for being awesome.

“I didn’t know…”

Through the conversations that have come up because of this voting campaign, several people mentioned that they didn’t know that Mihret couldn’t walk. I guess I can’t really blame you for not knowing. Other than a few references to physical therapists and the occasional glimpse of her pink wheelchair in a photo or two, I really haven’t talked about Mihret’s physical challenges that come from her coordination issues due to her lack of much of a cerebellum. It’s not that I’ve been trying to hide it. Just didn’t really feel the need to blog about it at that time.

I also don’t want to become the guy who introduces himself by saying, “Hi. I’m Matt. My daughter’s adopted. And she’s in a wheelchair. How are you?” That just doesn’t feel right on many, many levels.  I promise  I wasn’t trying to keep anyone in the dark about this and I’m certainly not trying to hide the fact that my beautiful daughter happens to use a wheelchair. If you’ve spent any time around her at all, you’d know that she doesn’t believe she has any limitations, even if her body doesn’t always agree with her. We’d kind of like for her attitude to stay that way. She’s surprised doctors and therapists over and over and over again because she refuses to quit. The girl has spunk. I pray it never goes away.

In the few short years that we’ve had the wheelchair, my eyes have been opened to how the world treats people with Special Needs – especially physical needs. Let me tell you, some of it isn’t very pretty – even in some churches (unfortunately). Maybe it’s time for me to start using this blog to highlight some of that from time to time. I guess you’ll have to come back on occasion to find out, huh?

So now what?

The big question now that the voting is over is “What happens next?” Well, the sponsors of the contest are running the numbers and figuring out who the finalists are. The top 5% vote-earners will go before a panel. That list is supposed to be announced sometime this week ( 5/13-20). The panel will choose three winners from this group of top vote-earners.

While we certainly hope we’re one of the three nominees who are chosen to win the van, we’ll be celebrating with all of the winners – even if we aren’t chosen. I wish each and every candidate could be given a wheelchair-accessible van. I know it will be life-changing for whoever is selected.

Thank you!

We are kind of shocked and quite humbled at the response we have had during this vote campaign. Mihret received an average of 142 votes a day. That’s a lot of votes. That’s a lot of dedication. We cannot thank you enough for helping us gain so many votes in such a short time. ThankyouThankyouThankyou!

You get two votes by answering the question first!

Seriously: it only takes about 30 seconds or less to vote. You can vote once per day per IP address. But that doesn’t mean you can’t vote from other locations. Vote early, vote often!

We are so close to having 3,000 votes. While having that many votes doesn’t guarantee anything, it sure makes a nice round number. Please help us out by voting for Mihret today!

Thank you very much!

Don’t expect this to become a feature every week, but expect #TwitterTuesday to make an appearance from time to time.

Enjoy.

3months ago @KaddyLeigh made a video, today the students are headed to IU for a tour!! sullysbasementgame.blogspot.com/2013/01/beyond… @ChronicHoosier @insidethehall—
Steven Sullivan (@HoosierSully16) April 25, 2013

You remember the video - right? Such a cool story!

There's no outsmarting a pack-n-play.—
Pete G (@indydadblogger) April 25, 2013

…and all the people said, “A to the men!“

The coolest gift I have ever received. You'll be in my heart forever, @slingshotseo family instagram.com/p/YitDdLCHqi/—
Steven Shattuck (@StevenShattuck) April 25, 2013

You will be missed, Steven. In fact, you already are. Blessings on your new endeavor.

@BgKahuna The people have spoken and you appear to be the biggest Speedway pizza fan! You've given us something to think about…—
  (@Speedway) April 26, 2013

I do believe it can be said that Kahuna has, in fact, arrived.

Friends, Can you help @mattdantodd in a contest to win a HC accessible van so his family can help his kid become more mobile?—
Leilan Mc. (@BgKahuna) April 27, 2013

Have you voted today? Why not? You can vote once per day per IP address and the voting ends this week! 

Go do it now! I’ll wait…

[still waiting....]

[waiting...]

Done? Good. Thank you so much!

My kid & @mattdantodd's kid comparing boo-boos…er, um, I mean battle scars😉 http://t.co/Es8OrEnnrq—
Jessica Cabiness (@jcabiness) April 29, 2013

I’m pretty sure she was showing off her boo-boo. We never found out how it happened, exactly. But we sure heard about it. All. week. long.

RT @mattdantodd: Help the Todd family win a wheelchair accessible van ow.ly/kwSPh *Hope, luck and prayers, Matt!!*—
Julie Anne Lindsey (@JulieALindsey) April 29, 2013

Thanks for sharing, Julie!

Banta Milk cupcakes! Make them for #StarWars Day! justjennrecipes.com/blue-milk-cupc… #MayThe4thBeWithYou @StarWars—
justJENN (@justjenn) April 29, 2013

We made something similar. They were fabulous.

Few things make me cringe more than a missed free throw.—
Abby Maci (@abbymaci) April 30, 2013

Agreed. Just reading this tweet makes me cringe.

This is Aedan reading the final pages of Lawhead's BYZANTIUM, the book he was named after. instagram.com/p/YvnZHdzSQH/—
Andrew Peterson (@AndrewPeterson) April 30, 2013

Using rolls and chicken nuggets to make sandwiches #tasty—
Andrew Todd (@TheRussian97) May 02, 2013

My cousin speaks truth.

@starwars My groomsmen photo shoot got out of hand real fast #rebelalliance #StarWars #Hoth #Maythe4thBeWithYou http://t.co/ywH5MlJYRc—
David (@Cacciotti12) May 03, 2013

Dear Christy: Can we do this with our next family portrait?

You know she's a visitor when she yells "Bingo!" after the last blank on the sermon outline.—
Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) May 05, 2013

Oh, Church Curmudgeon….you make me laugh. Probably because I have been in churches where I’ve heard people say very similar things. I don’t think I could’ve laughed then. I sure can now.

Feel like a kid on the first day of school! Even got a nice surprise at the office from janiemehaffey.… instagram.com/p/Y-NIE1HjaL/—
DaddyMatt (@mattmehaffey) May 06, 2013

So excited for you and your family, Matt. Looking forward to seeing what God does through you and North Terrace Church of Christ!

Since its the anniversary of the 8pts, maybe I walk by Spike tonight and give him the choke sign for old times sake…jk jk, I'm an ANGEL..—
Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) May 07, 2013

“Reg-gie! Reg-gie! Reg-gie!”

Well, that’s all for today, kids. Keep your eyes peeled for the next installment of the trend that’s sure to be sweeping the nation very very soon: #TwitterTuesday!

Since its the anniversary of the 8pts, maybe I walk by Spike tonight and give him the choke sign for old times sake…jk jk, I'm an ANGEL..—
Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) May 07, 2013

Hoping the Pacers have just as stellar of a night tonight as Reggie did on May 7, 1995.

It’s only fitting that the Hicks are playing the Knicks tonight. And Reggie and Spike are both in the building. It would be fabulous if the Blue and Gold could steal another win from New York tonight.

Happy Star Wars Day! May the Fourth be with you!

I hope you have a fabulous day full of lightsaber duels, Jedi Mind Tricks, and blue milk cupcakes!