Last Thursday, I received a phone call from my friend, Lily, a San Francisco native halfway through her kindergarten year. In truth, we are more than friends. We married in an unofficial ceremony during the summer of 2008, and over a few brief hours of marital bliss and several cups of imaginary tea, we were blessed with four or five children, one of whom resembled a furry red monster. But alas, the marriage could not survive the age and geographical distances. We drifted apart. Lily claims not to remember the wedding, and the kids are stuffed in a box somewhere.

But Lily and I remain friends. When she called on Thursday, Lily got to straight to the point in her typical businesslike fashion. She was raising money for earthquake victims. Would I pledge $5? I would. Then I offered a counter-proposal. If Lily were to produce a fund-raising video, I would post it on my blog. Lily came through. Here's the video, with a special cameo by her sister Fiona.

Please help the suffering Haitians by matching my $5 donation and forwarding this video to friends and family.