Larry, Norman and Harriet:
My Personal Team of Angels I looked down at the lime green pant suit I was wearing with the matching shoes. I bought it last year for $9.99 at Ross. I was on my way to speak to a group of college students at Saint Joseph's University. I doubted that my outfit was presentable. My attention was drawn outward to somebody telling me I had a nearly flat tire. Great, more money! I thought.

I was at the end of my savings and I was now relying on credit cards. It really seemed like a lot of the situations were beyond my control, such as medical expenses not covered, but this one may have been my fault. I decided to follow a dream - not impulsively but after a lot of praying for wisdom and creative ideas to make it happen.

After my talk this afternoon, I went in to a coffee shop in Haverford. I sat on a comfortable chair and closed my eyes. It overlooked a parking lot filled with expensive cars, beautiful women in Main Line, Philadelphia fashionable outfits, women with artfully applied makeup, designer sunglasses, professionally coiffed hairstyles and looking so financially secure. They would never shop at Ross and certainly not be out of season with a lime green polyester suit with a wrinkled satin bow. They probably didn't have a care in the world.

A man came over and sat across from me, in a large orange chair. He had a gaily-colored cane, with a pattern like a rattlesnake, leaning against his leg. He had red clogs on his feet, a fishing hat, sunglasses, and a nice smile. He said, "I don't want to interrupt your thoughts."

And so I ignored him, closed my eyes again, clutched my hands together, listened to the music, and lost myself in self-pity.

I was conscious of my rudeness. It seemed like a long time when I finally asked "What gets you through tough times?" Not exactly a surface conversation starter with a stranger.

Like in this expensive zip code especially, many people think it is the cars, fancy houses, prestige, jobs, savings accounts, investments, but material things don't matter when you have a brain tumor. I wear the sunglasses because the sun hurts my eyes, and the walking stick is for balance. I came over to you because that green suit fits with that chair so nicely and you radiate something.

I can't believe what you are saying because I am sitting here thinking about a project that I am doing. In a minute, I gave him the short version of my current life and all of the money I had spent on the Angels Along the Way Goodwill Tour.

He smiled. You are doing good for humanity. You are helping others. It doesn't have to make sense when you follow your heart. People around here have the same problems as everyone else - kids with addictions, spouses on dialysis, estranged from loved ones, bills, and life problems. Don't give up on this. Your angel pins are renewing people who feel defeated.

His friend Norman joined us; then his mother Harriet. She said, "Your green suit is lovely."

Harriet, Norman and Larry were the Team of Angels I needed. So glad that Larry sat across from me with his rattlesnake patterned cane! I guess I will keep that polyester green suit after all.