Today I witnessed a TV commercial for St. Jude Hospital, or as Memphians call it St. Jude’s.  The sad music and slow motion shots of bald white children reminds me of the starving-African-children charity commercials from the early 90s.  Back when things like terrorism and daily suffering happened on other continents.  A submissive male voice sadly recounts the vague premise, “Cancer sucks – We try to make it suck less hard.”  I slowly realize the advertisement is meant to pluck at heart strings.

I’ve probably donated more to St. Jude Children’s Hospital than any other non-profit, cumulatively.  There was a period of time in Memphis when every other purchase I made donated some reciprocal amount to the hospital.  The only pride I could have in Memphis resided in the cancer research done in that facility.  My dark side also relishes the fundamental structure of the experiments – if you offer us your child’s tragedy we’ll give a free lodging and a slice of hope.  It’s a win-win from where I’m standing.  I gave money to them because there was real progress being made.

Seattle feels as far away from Memphis as Memphis does from sub-Saharan Africa.  I suppose it isn’t really that strange.  I just wonder how many people here donate something to St. Jude versus the locals donating to the Seattle Children’s Hospital.  The research St. Jude does is impressive but all sick kids are sad.  Even the curable ones.  I’ve spent most of my recent charity on the service industry recently.  In the coming years I hope to reinvest all my charity in myself.  I guess that means my ultimate goal is to be a good investment.  I think I’ve already found some people who believe that’s true.