I’m not sure if any of you have ever noticed, but the air conditioning is cold. After more than 15 years with a protective face covering, it was a bit of a shock to feel a cool breeze touch my chin.
Granted, shaving off my beard and my hair for the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals was a bit of a shock, too. But the incredible support I received during my campaign – My Fur for Theirs – by far outweighed any drama I felt at the loss of my beautiful, Samson-power-giving-like mop. It’s not like a wept silently as I saw what looked like an Ewok’s fur ball laying on the floor beneath my feet, or pondered life as a grotesque gargoyle.
The Transformation
With the help of friends, colleagues and a few strangers, I was able to raise $1,000 for the Association. This money is going to save lives – actually. $1,000 is enough to build at least two beaver dam flow-devices, a long-term, alternative and sustainable solution for municipalities considering trapping and killing the families. It’s enough to send the Association’s representatives to dozens of schools to talk about the importance of protecting wildlife. It’s enough to get the Association to Council meetings where culls are being considered. It’s enough, in short, to make a difference.
While my beauty may have faded (and/or fallen onto the floor then swept outside for birds to use in building gorgeous, flowing brown nests), my spirit is buoyed by this experience.
Thank you to everyone who helped me give my fur for theirs.
