Message Board Celebrity Of The Day (Part I) - papalovesmambo- Page 108

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:17pm

Not all, dear. Not all.

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:19pm

Mamie - beautiful, wonderful, fabulous, etc.

How can someone find information/contact this organization?

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:20pm

Mamie - that is a great story - thanks.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:21pm

Getting your kicks on Route 66, Mamie?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:21pm

Mamie, thank you for sharing that story with us.

If there had been ChemoAngels when I was sick I know it would have made a huge difference.

Your buddies have been blessed to have your presence in their lives. And, the gifts that you give have come back to you ten-fold.

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:23pm

ChemoAngels

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:25pm

Mamie that WAS a beautiful story...and DG thanks for posted the link.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:26pm

I just want to add that it's a VERY serious commitment.

If you are interested in joining, think very carefully about your ability to be there every step of the way. It's not a program for everyone. Read through the information on the website carefully.

Updated On: 2/1/06 at 02:26 PM

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:26pm

Great story, mamie. It's amazing how much a loving note can help someone through a serious/difficult time like that. One should never underestimate the strength of a kind word.

Mamie... a woman after my own heart. I didn't quite get the referene to Tod and Buzz (I didn't grow up in this country after all) but ever since I was a kid, I've always loved Red Corvettes.

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:27pm

I figured Mamie would have done it, but on her celebrity day, she should sit back and let others take care of things!

Although, I am worried about the kitty

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:30pm

I was just getting ready to post their site, DG.

If you read a little about them you'll see that you can get as involved with them as little or as much as you want. There's card angels who do exactly that - send a card, in the mail (NOT ECARDS!) once a week. Then there are the angels who send a small gift every week or two. And the special angels. And the senior angels. I'm seriously considering the senior angels. I think the old folks get forgotten way too often. Unfortunately most of these patients live in nursing homes and it's hard for them to get (and KEEP) gifts. But cards and notes are always welcome. There are other angels who only work with children. I imagine the reward here is tremendous - I just don't think I could handle it.

And they really need more men to angel male patients. Always a shortage there.

Updated On: 2/1/06 at 02:30 PM

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:34pm

Mamie - the one and only time I worked with AIDS patients, I worked with children. The gifts I received changed my perspective on what life is and can be about. Such clarity, unhindered by years of conditioning and fear.

Dealing with the traumatized parents, on the other hand, was the hardest thing I've ever tried to do in my life - and I can't say I was very good at it. But it is where I learned to hug like you mean it.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:36pm

You're absolutely right, Addy. It's a very serious commitment. You absolutely MUST stay with your buddy right through to the end. Can you imagine what it would be like to go through the worst time of your life and suddenly be deserted by the person who's supposed to be there to help you? My buddies have gone through surgery and radiation and chemotherapy and many times, they have to go through it more than once. Eventually, God willing, you celebrate with them when they're officially declared to be cancer free. (This is all done through the chemo treatment center and the ChemoAngels organization. You are officially notified when they've received their final 'clearance' from the center.) But until that happens, you're joined at the hip!

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:40pm

Are you sure it's the car you liked, Mamie?

[beacon1]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:42pm

Mamie...

I am in awe of you. What a fabulous inspiration you are. It is an honor to know more about you.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:44pm

Mazel Tov, Mamie!

[Plum]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:44pm

Mamie, thank you for that story. I guess I'm an inadverdant "chemo angel" right now, and hearing from someone who helped people make it past treatment is really gratifying.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:44pm

Mamie..what are you the most pround of in your life?

Updated On: 2/1/06 at 02:44 PM

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:45pm

Thanks beacon - but believe me, I did it more for me. I was so depressed and this helped TREMENDOUSLY! After that I started buying a bagel in the morning for a homeless lady I'd see on the corner and then serving Thanksgiving day meals at the "So Others Can Eat" organization. There are so many incredibly wonderful ways out there to pick up your spirits!

[Plum]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 2:47pm

Now I'm thinking of "The Money Song".

Avenue Q, not Cabaret.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:02pm

Proudest moment came back in my working days. I was the head of the payroll department and I had 42 young people working for me - almost all of them at their first jobs since getting out of school. When I left that job I went to support a field office as their senior budget officer. The first thing I heard when I got there was how lousy their pay tech was because all of their people were paid late or incorrectly. They quite seriously talked about taking action to have this young man fired. I knew if they tried it, they'd never succeed because almost all of their problems stemmed from their own mistakes or delay in action. Only they didn't understand how the system worked - so they were MAJORLY distressed. My primary concern was with the young man. Wouldn't that have been a horrible thing to do to a young person - on their first job? They needed encouragement - not ignorant slams like this! I started educating the people in the new office on how the process worked. I used a 'gentle' form of educating them. Everytime they complained, I offered to help solve the problem and then added something like "of course, you know that if he'd been told that a few days earlier, it wouldn't have happened", etc. etc. Anyway, the long and short of it was that I went on vacation to Las Vegas. One day I felt the earth move under my feet. I figured they were doing underground testing at the bomb site. I was wrong. That office had presented a special achievement award in the amount of $1,000 to their PAYROLL TECH! The same fellow that they had wanted to fire only a month earlier! I've never been so proud of ANYTHING that I've done since then.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:07pm

*standing ovation for Mamie*

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:16pm

Mamie, what was your first Broadway show? What was that experience like?

Updated On: 2/1/06 at 03:16 PM

[Sing a Song With Me]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:23pm

Mamie, I do not know you, but reading about you today has been a blessing and an inspiration.
Kudos to you.

[DG]

Posted: 2/1/06 at 3:26pm

"I do not know you, but reading about you today has been a blessing and an inspiration."

I LOVE THIS THREAD!!!!!!!