This is not that easy.

Some of you may have caught, I gave up social media for a while. I’m happy to report I don’t miss following the day in and day out of other people’s lives. It’s actually been nice to connect with friends in “real life person” and not follow conversations with, “oh, I saw that on Facebook.” This time away has actually now afforded me the time to work on projects I’ve been meaning to get to.

That’s crazy when I think about it, yet an indicator of how much scrolling I actually did.

Just two weeks out I’m noticing that my mind is more clear, I’m freed of excessive judgement and impulse shopping has come to a halt. In short, this feels like winning.

All that being said, professionally speaking it has created a bit of a challenge. While I fully anticipated the challenge would come by way of content and missing out on community events, it’s actually quite different.

Turns out it’s actually affecting this column space and my inspiration. This space is designated to be my “Musing.” Often times those thoughts or musings come after seeing some thought, questioned or shared via social media.

My kids are 18 and 21 now, after all, so the day in, day out of musing about the mom life looks a lot different than it did a decade ago.

What keeps circling my brain this week is my intense pride in this community, which feels a bit like a broken record.

February marked 24 years that I’ve been reporting on this community. It is officially the longest job I’ve ever had. During the past 24 years a lot has changed in our community. The size has doubled, we have more stoplights, as well as an additional elementary school, even our office is a different location from the one I initially walked into.

Amidst all these visible changes one thing remains the same, the heart and giving of this community remains the best of the best. Two dozen years later, I can honestly say I still don’t have accurate words for it.

Saturday, February 28 as I sat in the Bianchi Community Center for the second Charlotte’s Cure Dinner I found myself once again dumbfounded and gob smacked.

A longtime friend of the family and personal fan of Charlotte’s mom Courtney, I was more than happy to attend last year. The feeling I left with in 2025 was pure magic, as the community gathered to remind the family they were not alone in their journey. Attendees both opened their hearts, as well as their wallets for the family to help with expenses as the family began its journey.

Their now four-year-old daughter Charlotte has Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T). A-T is a rare, neurodegenerative genetic condition that is caused by mutations in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene. Charlotte is one of the few nationwide diagnosed with A-T.

This year, approaching the venue, I expected more of the same. This town after all is big on annual events and often times that’s the opportunity to see the people you see each and every year as they continue their support. The Charlotte’s Cure Dinner proved very quickly to be different.

Once again a sold out event, I quickly realized it was a whole different energy than the year before. Many of the faces were familiar, yet there were others in attendance for the first time. As I looked around the room, I was caught off guard by the lengthy line at the raffle table and then again at the bar. Quickly it became clear, this crowd came to spend money.

Not to be confused, the 2025 crowd did their fair share of spending and the family was able to create an account strictly for Charlotte’s medical needs (current and future) as a result.

Somehow this group was able to top that and the magic started in 2025, just went to another level.

As auctioneer Travis Johnson took to the stage and led the live auction on desserts, I quickly had to accept my sweet tooth would go unsatisfied.

Our family loves a dessert auction. I always go with a budget on what we’re able to spend on some goodies, Saturday however I was out of my league. I think the cannoli went for $900, maybe more, Travis talks so fast I couldn’t keep up. The peanut butter bars we thought we’d share as a table, $750. As Travis worked his magic the 400-person crowd quickly responded. The craziness went on, all in the name of supporting Charlotte and her family.

Of course as a mommy, my eyes didn’t stay dry during the video presentation of Charlotte and her wonderful life. I thought of my friend Courtney, Charlotte’s mom and the special bond between mother and daughter. I prayed her memories with her precious girl would continue to be as love filled and magical as mine had been with my mini me.

The love which filled the room Saturday night, one truly can’t explain. As I looked around at so many familiar faces I couldn’t help but be filled with pride. In that moment our community truly shined in a way one can only understand if they are a part of it.

The mission of the night was simple, support a local family who needed a little help and love on them in a way that left them better than we started.

From the volunteers who put in countless hours preparing for the night, to the people and businesses who donated items, the volunteers who gathered Saturday to execute the magic and the loyal Oakdale Lions Club who always seems to show up in their vests to serve – I can honestly say – Mission Accomplished. Well done Oakdale.

Teresa Hammond is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. She may be reached at thammond@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.