Big Green Pen

Paula's Perspicacity

  • Home
  • About Me
You are here: Home / Causes / Catching a Wave (A #Blogust Post)

August 24, 2014

Catching a Wave (A #Blogust Post)

 

Molly says Hi

It was a rushed moment during a tiring evening. My mother in law and I had spent an intense hour and a half at Verizon navigating the purchase of an iPhone for her. We dropped by Publix for some prescriptions she needed. I asked to stop right before entering the store to return a call to my husband. Our little party was standing there, her holding my elbow (she was blind and that is how I assisted with her mobility), clutching her new iPhone so it wouldn’t get stolen, me on my iPhone trying to explain to my husband that we were not at all done with our errands yet (he wanted food…..).

At some point a mom and her two kids walked by. One child was walking; the other was maybe 8 or 9 months old (?), sitting in a stroller. I smiled at both kids and their mom, and the baby waved at me. The mom was surprised and said to her infant, “it’s your first wave!!” She and I shared a quick silent “oh my gosh” moment — I couldn’t get off the phone and she had to concentrate on foot traffic but two moms were happy in that instant …. which all passed unceremoniously in a matter of seconds in front of Publix.

Even though I was a stranger to that child, I was still elated to witness some else’s child’s milestone and his mother’s happiness.

I am just as elated to know that children around the world can have the opportunity to hit their own milestones because of receiving access to immunizations. Although one child currently dies every 20 seconds from a disease that could be prevented from with a vaccine, Shot at Life can change that by helping children get vaccines to survive…and thrive.

Just by commenting on or sharing this post, you can help! It’s as easy as a wave …

Shot@Life-Logo_tagline lockup_vertical

During Shot@Life’s Blogust 2014—a month-long blog relay—some of North America’s most beloved online writers, photo and video bloggers and Shot@Life Champions will come together and share stories about Happy and Healthy Firsts. Every time you comment on this post and other Blogust contributions, or share them via social media on this website, Shot@Life and the United Nations Foundation pages, Walgreens will donate one vaccine (up to 60,000). Blogust is one part an overall commitment of Walgreens donating up to $1 million through its “Get a Shot. Give a Shot ®” campaign. The campaign will help provide millions of vaccines for children in need around the world.

Sign up here for a daily email so you can quickly and easily comment and share every day during Blogust! For more information, visit shotatlife.org or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Paula Kiger
Paula Kiger

Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.

Filed Under: Causes, Shot @ Life Tagged With: babies, Blindness, Blogust, Give a Shot Get a Shot, iPhone, milestones, Mother in Law, Publix, vaccines, Verizon, Walgreens

Previous Post: « The Sisters She Never Had and More
Next Post: But I’m A Runner … Why Do I Need Barre? »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lois Alter Mark says

    August 24, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    How adorable! Love that you got to witness someone’s first wave!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 24, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Thank you, Lois. I loved that moment!

      Reply
  2. Sarah Hughes says

    August 24, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    What a sweet first that you got to be a part of!!!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 24, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      I agree! Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Sisters From Another Mister says

    August 24, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    Clearly the baby recognized you as someone very special! 😉

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 24, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      Aw, thanks! 🙂

      Reply
  4. enguyen5 says

    August 24, 2014 at 5:22 pm

    Thanks for sharing this for #blogust! Every child should have healthy and happy firsts!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 24, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      I agree, and I was happy to share!

      Reply
  5. Pam Garrett says

    August 24, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    Thanks for informing me about this program. I realize that some parents are afraid of immunizations; however, the alternative is much worse to me.

    Reply
  6. Paula Kiger says

    August 24, 2014 at 9:33 pm

    Oh, I agree!! Thanks for your comment!

    Reply
  7. Felisa Hilbert says

    August 25, 2014 at 12:04 am

    Love your post and thank you for helping!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 25, 2014 at 6:23 am

      Thanks, Felisa! It has been such a fun day reading everyone’s “healthy and happy firsts” (while helping kids get immunizations!).

      Reply
  8. Nanette Schimpf says

    August 25, 2014 at 7:13 am

    Thank you for the insightful post. Very educational and much new for me to learn! More vaccinations!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 25, 2014 at 7:22 am

      Thanks for commenting, Nanette (and for your constant support!).

      Reply
  9. Rob Biesenbach (@RobBiesenbach) says

    August 25, 2014 at 8:30 am

    Great idea, Paula! Good work!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 25, 2014 at 11:26 am

      Thank you, Rob!

      Reply
  10. Kim Tackett says

    August 25, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Love that you got to witness her first wave, and that you’re doing this for other children as well.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 25, 2014 at 10:38 pm

      Thanks, Kim!

      Reply
  11. Jeff Lyle says

    August 25, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    Great story Paula! Thanks for sharing on the Champion Blogust day!

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger says

      August 25, 2014 at 10:40 pm

      Thanks, Jeff! The story happened quite a long time ago (I think a year ago) and I tucked it away — glad it helped Blogust / Shot @ Life and it brought back a memory of an evening with my mother in law who is no longer with us (she LOVED her iPhone :-)).

      Reply
  12. Elena says

    August 27, 2014 at 7:10 am

    So sweet! I think that sometimes witnessing other people’s firsts makes us appreciate ours even more.

    Reply
    • Paula Kiger (Big Green Pen) says

      August 27, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      I totally agree, Elena!!! Thank you for your comment!

      Reply
  13. Polly Palumbo says

    August 27, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    Hi Paula, love she’s a cutie for sure. Happy #Blogust!

    Reply
  14. jyl from @momitforward says

    August 28, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Love this… being part of someone’s milestone. What a great thought! I bet that was a great experience. 🙂

    Reply
  15. elenasonnino says

    August 28, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Great story Paula!!

    Reply
  16. elizabethatalay says

    August 28, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    Such a great post Paula! Well told!

    Reply
  17. nicolettespringer says

    August 28, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    What a perfect moment to share!

    Reply
  18. Linda B says

    August 29, 2015 at 9:29 am

    What a sweet story … and you illustrated such an important point … thanks for supporting the SHOT@LIFE campaign to protect children worldwide.

    Reply
  19. Lucrecer says

    August 31, 2015 at 10:48 am

    Wonderful story!

    Reply
  20. C.C. Chapman says

    August 31, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Great quote choice for a great cause.

    Reply
  21. MamiSili says

    August 31, 2015 at 2:15 pm

    Yay! I keep saying love but I really do love all the quotes being shared this year!

    Reply
  22. Julie Marsh says

    August 31, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    Aw man. That got me *right here*. #somethinginmyeye

    Now I’ve also got the Beach Boys in my head, so there’s that.

    So glad to be part of this effort with you!

    Reply
  23. Gina says

    August 31, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    LOVE this post. thank you!

    Reply
  24. allisonpetitelefant says

    August 31, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    go Blogust!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Need Help Finding Something?

Let’s Connect!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Paula Kiger

Copyright © 2025 Paula Kiger · Maintained By AGW Knapper