Irgendwo in West Tennessee, unweit von Graceland, treffen sich neun Frauen – oder „die neun Nanas“, wie sie lieber genannt werden – in der Dunkelheit der Nacht. Um vier Uhr morgens beginnen sie mit ihrer täglichen Routine – einem Ritual, von dem 30 Jahre lang niemand, nicht einmal ihre Ehemänner, etwas wusste. Sie haben nur eine einzige Mission: Glück zu schaffen. Und alles beginnt mit Backwaren.
„Einer von uns fängt an, das Mehl zu sieben, und ein anderer wäscht die Eier“, erklärte Nana Mary Ellen, die Sprecherin ihrer Geheimgesellschaft. „Und jemand anderes sorgt dafür, dass die Pfannen bereitstehen. Wir wechseln uns ab, je nachdem, worauf wir an dem Tag Lust haben.“
„Aber sagen Sie unbedingt, dass Nana Pearl das Sagen hat, denn sie ist die Älteste!“, fügte sie mit einem Augenzwinkern und einem Lächeln hinzu.
In den nächsten drei Stunden werden die neun Nanas (die sich alle für Schwestern halten, egal was auf ihren Geburtsurkunden steht) Hunderte von Sandkuchen backen, um Bedürftigen zu helfen. Und dann, bevor irgendjemand sie auch nur zu Gesicht bekommt, verschwinden sie wieder in ihrem Alltag. Der einzige Hauch, der vielleicht noch bleibt, ist der himmlische Duft von Vanille, Zitrone und Limette, der in der Luft liegt.
Selbst der UPS-Fahrer, der Hunderte von Paketen gleichzeitig abholt, hat keine Ahnung, was diese Frauen im Alter zwischen 54 und 72 Jahren tun. Er freut sich einfach über eine Umarmung und eine Tüte voller besonderer Leckereien. Was er nicht weiß: Er ist Teil ihres Masterplans. Ein Plan, der vor 35 Jahren begann – als sich die „Schwestern“ zu ihrem wöchentlichen Kartenspiel trafen – etwas, das ihre Ehemänner „Broads and Bridge“ nannten.
„Pearl sagt, es war alles ihre Idee“, neckte Mary Ellen, „aber soweit ich mich erinnere, saßen wir zusammen und schwelgten in Erinnerungen an MaMaw und PaPaw und wie sie sich auf so unterschiedliche Weise in der Gemeinde engagierten.“ MaMaw und PaPaw sind die Großeltern, die vier der Frauen, darunter Mary Ellen, großzogen, als ihre Mutter starb; und sie nahmen Pearl wie ihr eigenes Kind auf, als ihre Eltern Hilfe brauchten.
„Mama Ruth las in der Zeitung, dass jemand gestorben war“, erinnerte sich Mary Ellen, „und schickte einen ihrer besonderen Sandkuchen. Sie musste die Familie nicht kennen. Sie wollte ihnen einfach ein Lächeln ins Gesicht zaubern. Und wir begannen darüber nachzudenken, wie wir etwas bewirken könnten. Was wäre, wenn wir eine Million Dollar hätten? Wie würden wir sie ausgeben?
Also begannen die Damen mit dem Brainstorming.
Eine der Schwestern schlug vor, dass wir alle anfangen sollten, selbst zu waschen und das gesparte Geld sinnvoll einzusetzen. Ich gebe zu, ich habe zuerst protestiert. Waschen hat einfach etwas, das ich nicht mag. Aber ich war in der Unterzahl! So legten wir neun monatlich etwa 400 Dollar zurück, und unsere Männer bemerkten nichts davon. Ihre Hemden sahen immer noch gut aus.
Und dann begannen die Frauen zuzuhören. Sie lauschten – natürlich in guter Absicht – im Schönheitssalon oder beim Einkaufen. Und wenn sie von einer Witwe oder einer alleinerziehenden Mutter hörten, die Hilfe brauchte, griffen sie ein und bezahlten anonym eine Stromrechnung oder kauften neue Kleidung für die Kinder.
„Wir wollten so viel helfen wie möglich“, sagte Mary Ellen, „ohne unsere Familien zu benachteiligen, also wurden wir Coupon-Sammler. Und wir benutzten grüne Briefmarken. Erinnern Sie sich noch daran? Wir benutzten grüne Briefmarken und gingen jeden Mittwoch ins Kaufhaus Goldsmith’s. Jede Woche gab es einen großen Ausverkauf, und man konnte 100 Dollar ausgeben und Waren im Wert von 700 Dollar mit nach Hause nehmen.“
Die Nanas fanden heraus, wo die Person wohnte, und schickten ein Paket mit einer Notiz, auf der einfach stand: „Jemand hat dich lieb“ – und legten auf jeden Fall einen von MaMaw Ruths besonderen Pfundkuchen bei.
Je mehr Menschen sie halfen, desto mutiger wurden sie.
„Wir haben dem Begriff ‚Vorbeifahren‘ eine neue Bedeutung gegeben“, sagte Mary Ellen begeistert. „Wir fuhren durch ärmere Viertel und suchten nach Häusern mit Ventilatoren im Fenster. Das verriet uns, dass die Bewohner dort keine Klimaanlage hatten. Oder wir sahen, dass nachts kein Licht brannte, was bedeutete, dass die Stromleitungen wahrscheinlich abgestellt waren. Dann kehrten wir vor Sonnenaufgang zurück, wie Einbrecher, und hinterließen ein kleines Care-Paket.“
Drei Jahrzehnte lang blieben die guten Taten der Damen unentdeckt – bis Mary Ellens Ehemann, den sie liebevoll „Southern Charmer“ nennt, vor fünf Jahren bemerkte, dass das Auto mehr Kilometer fuhr und große Geldbeträge von ihrem Sparkonto abgehoben wurden.
„Er holte Kontoauszüge hervor, und die waren hervorgehoben!“, sagte Mary Ellen und erinnerte sich an ihr Entsetzen. „Ich versuchte zu erklären, dass ich ein paar Sachen gekauft hatte, aber er hatte einen Gesichtsausdruck, den ich noch nie zuvor gesehen hatte – und mir wurde klar, was er gedacht haben musste. Ich rief die Schwestern an und sagte: ‚Ihr müsst alle sofort herkommen.‘“
Dreißig Jahre nach Beginn ihrer geheimen Mission versammelten sich die neun Nanas und ihre Ehemänner in Mary Ellens Wohnzimmer, und die Schwestern packten aus. Sie erzählten den Ehemännern von der Wäsche und dem Lauschen – sogar von den vorbeifahrenden Autos. Und genau hier wird ihre Geschichte noch besser – denn die Ehemänner boten ihre Hilfe an.
Sie waren erstaunt, dass wir das machten, und noch mehr erstaunt, dass sie nichts davon wussten. Wir können ein Geheimnis gut für uns behalten! Bis auf drei sind alle von ihnen im Ruhestand und begleiten uns deshalb manchmal auf unseren Fahrten. In unserer Gegend reicht eine Adresse, um die Stromrechnung zu bezahlen. Deshalb halten wir die Männer damit beschäftigt, Nummern aufzuschreiben.
Es dauerte nicht lange, bis die Paare beschlossen, es auch ihren erwachsenen Kindern zu erzählen. Und damit begann das Glück noch größer zu werden. Die Kinder ermutigten ihre Mütter, MaMaw Ruths Pfundkuchen online zu verkaufen, um Geld zu sammeln und noch mehr Menschen zu helfen. Und es dauerte nicht lange, bis sie täglich über 100 Bestellungen erhielten.
„Als wir die Bestellungen zum ersten Mal eintrudelten, sind wir vor Freude in die Luft gesprungen“, erzählt Mary Ellen lachend. „Wir waren so aufgeregt, dass wir gleich Ringelreihen gespielt haben! Dann haben wir alle Kinder zusammengerufen und gefragt: ‚Was machen wir als Nächstes?‘“
Daraufhin verlegten die neun Nanas ihre geheime Bäckerei aus ihren Häusern in die Großküche eines Restaurants, das einem ihrer Söhne gehört. Dort können sie sich vor Sonnenaufgang hineinschleichen und wieder hinaus, bevor das Personal kommt. Sie stellten sogar eine „Glückskoordinatorin“ ein (deren Codename natürlich „Sunny“ ist). Auch ihre Identität muss geheim bleiben, damit sie beim Lauschen helfen kann.
Wir haben sie zur Verschwiegenheit verpflichtet – ihre Eltern glauben, sie arbeitet im Marketing. Und mal ehrlich: Sie macht Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und verbringt viel Zeit damit, im Supermarkt nach Aushilfen zu suchen!
Dank ihres Online-Erfolgs können die 9 Nanas heute noch größere Projekte in Angriff nehmen. Kürzlich spendeten sie Kissen, Bettwäsche und Körperpflegeprodukte im Wert von über 5.000 Dollar an ein Heim für Opfer häuslicher Gewalt. Und diesen August feiern sie ihren zweiten „Happiness Happens Month“ in Folge, indem sie in jedem Bundesstaat ein Zeichen ihrer Wertschätzung an eine Person senden, die in ihrer Gemeinde etwas bewirkt hat.
Und die Million Dollar, die sie sich einst gewünscht haben? Sie sind fast da. In den letzten 35 Jahren haben die neun Nanas ihrer Gemeinde fast 900.000 Dollar Glück gebracht.
Das heißt aber nicht, dass sie zu beschäftigt sind, um weiterhin die kleinen Dinge zu tun, die das Leben ein bisschen schöner machen. Manchmal zücken sie einfach das Telefonbuch und schicken Sandkuchen an wildfremde Menschen. Und wenn die Nanas im Supermarkt jemanden sehen, der scheinbar ein wenig Hilfe braucht, ist es nicht ungewöhnlich, dass sie anfangen, den Einkaufswagen eines Fremden zu füllen.
„Nicht jeder hat so viel Glück wie wir, dass sich Mama und Papa um sie kümmern und all die Dinge in Ordnung bringen, die nicht funktionieren.
„Das ist unsere Art, etwas zurückzugeben“, sagte Mary Ellen. „Wir möchten, dass die Menschen wissen, dass es da draußen jemanden gibt, der sich so sehr für sie einsetzt, dass er etwas tut. Wir möchten dafür sorgen, dass Glück entsteht.“
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Thank you for sharing☺️☺️☺️
I am the bread lady of my neighborhood... take to those who are sick, sad, or just need something homemade to warm their heart. I also teach others ( in their home or mine..but they bring all the ingredients so they know what to purchase the next time!). I am amazed how much fun they have going home with their own bread, cinnamon buns or whatever fun thing they want to make. The kneading is such a great stress reducer they soon learn! The little kids in the neighborhood call it Missjody toast....cinnamon bread . I use coffee cans for bread pans.
It is just a little way to help. I love the process, the smells and the ability to make another smile! I give it all away.
mentioned your wonderful story in my blog post "Love Will Win In the End
http://www.ahhthesimplelife...
Thanks!
How clueless are these reliant husbands? LOL.
Wow, what a great story.. There's still some wonderful people out here.. Thank God.
I didn't read all of the comments, just enough to see the thread take a left turn.
Awesome work to the 9 Nanas here, and their families that stood behind their efforts. There is so much malice and condemnation these days. Stories like this give me hope.
PO Box 7189, Tacoma, WA. LOL. I love these women and their dedication to community...their love of life, and their whimsy!
How did such a cute story all of a sudden become a bickering match over the value of pets and people?! Wow. Thank you for such a great story that highlights that there is still much good in this world. That there are people who want to give to their communities. Thank you!
I think everyone is missing the point here. You're all arguing about M's comment, left a YEAR ago, which by the way was quite nice. Obviously these strangers wanted to help regardless of cost and I find that rather noble. But more importantly why is no one saying what a wonderful thing these 9 Nanas did? These women are awesome. Stop bickering and pay it forward. Sheesh.
This brought tears to my eyes. I myself am a mother of twin 6yr old daughters and I had them when I was 17. I have been through so much in the last 6 years. If it wasn't for people like the 9 nana's I am not sure what I would have done. There was a time I was living from couch to couch. By the grace of god I am now in my own home. I work and go to school full time. It gives me faith in humanity to know that there are fantastic people like them in this world.
Imagine everyday, feeling so good about yourself because of something you've done. Great job ladies and gentlemen! You inspire me! Now I will sit here and think about what I can do. Anonymously of course. =) God bless you all!
This is one of the most heart lifting articles I have ever read. Kudos to the 9 Nana's and all their efforts! If only more people could understand that we don't do good by others for the credit, we do it for the happiness! Every time I am able to help some one else, I will think of these amazing women and their supportive families and the happy community they have been caring for! <3
Wow, you all get so touchy when it comes to pets. Grown adults bickering like children.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that the story is touching. We don't know what the pet meant to this person, and for these women to step up and help up is admirable. However. If your pet helped you through the toughest parts of your life, when no one else cared, and you want to spend $3000 to get your pet the help s/he needs, do it. At that point, your pet is irreplaceable, because it's honestly become more than. But let's say this isn't the case, and you have children, and your young child ALSO needs an operation, for example, who would get priority? Your pet, or your child?
How awesome is this what a testament you you all.
Nice thought, but once again...Is it wise to eat homemade food from complete strangers? Would you do it?
Get out there and volunteer, people!
OK,EVERYONE LOVES THEIR PETS !!! THIS WHOLE STORY TURNED FROM THE THE NANAS TO ,LETS GO BACK AND FORTH ABOUT OUR PETS ,AND THEIR WORTH,MOVE FOWARD!! THIS WAS A GREAT STORY. PLEASE READ IT AGAIN,THEN IF YOU SEE SOMEONE THAT NEEDS YOUR HELP " HELP THEM". IF YOU CAN!! :)
You are missing the message here. It is about WHO YOU ARE. Some folks can and will help. Some folks understand love in many ways, some folks have "their" priorities right, others don't.
I was a single mom and raised 2 children alone. We had pets who were family members. The pets and children had medical as well as all the other necessary comforts. We did not live extravagantly, we lived with "Faith". My daughter and I now have an animal sanctuary with some 60 plus dog, cats and farm animals. Our lives are RICH in love, respect, honor and reverence. WHO ARE YOU? Are you RICH?
What's w/ the website? Happiness-happens.com link takes you to a page w/ 1 sentence & nothing else - no links or anything to click through...
The point of this whole story was about the GOOD THINGS these nine women and their families did, not a debate over people's feelings toward their pets!
Y'all are missing the point.
Create happiness, don't pick at each other! ♡
Just read the thread below in respect to the value of pets and it seems obvious to me that the arguement is about how rich one is. If you can afford to pay for your dogs cats surgery one will irrespective of the cost. If you are wealthy and still put your animal to sleep then you should nt of had a pet. Its called responsibility of care. I d rather keep my dog alive at the cost of $3000 than blow it on a holiday or buy a new 50 inch flat screen TV. Its about priorities surely?
Daily Good: "News that Inspires" and a bickering comments thread that make you realise why the World is the way it is #irony
wonderful wonderful wonderful!
i am literally bawling right now. i've never heard such a beautiful and heartwarming story of hope, love, and selflessness. This is so inspiring. i've always wanted to do more and be more for people but i've been sick since i was 7 years old. In the last few years after i was finally diagnosed with Cushing's Disease and Acromegaly. i had two brain surgeries and had my adrenal glands removed (in order for me to stay alive - long story) It's been almost 4 months now and i'm the healthiest i've never been so well in my life. As i continue to get better i want to more than anything to help my community and bring smiles to the faces of as many people as i can. i want to spread God's love, as He loved me. i am a servant at heart, but my body wouldn't let me serve because i was too sick. i'm very happy to be able to begin to do what God called me to do, serve. Thank you with all of my heart for doing God's work and sharing this story with the world. Alicia
Wow such a great story taken over by the great pet debates, spend your money how you want and these ladies showed where their priorities were. Helping others is its own reward. So forget about what you would or wouldn't do for a pet and realize its people who where helped.
I love animals. Don't take me wrong for saying: " Is their love really unconditional?" Don't they love us for feeding them and taking care of them? Just saying...
I tried going to the website but all that showed up was a white screen with the words "Folks as young as two and as old as ninety-two want to know they matter". I was really looking forward to seeing their website or even ordering a pound cake. What gives?
Barnabas 19:11
Thou shall not hesitate to give, neither shalt thou murmur when
giving, but thou shalt know who is the good paymaster of thy reward.
....
These women were doing the work of God by secretly giving all of those years.
Why is this feed ALL about pets? My goodness. I would just like a moment to celebrate the 9 Nanas. Let's all think of what we can do to be like them!
Oh My goodness people. Pet bickering isn't the point of this beautiful article! Why limit your love? If someone wants to help an animal in need that is wonderful! If someone wants to help animals in need that is wonderful! Generosity and love for animals and/or humans is not what is hurting people! People being mean and unkind is what is harmful. Here is a challenge: Let's all turn off our bloody computers and do a random act of kindness for someone today or tomorrow. These women are an inspiration--not cause for arguing over what is worth loving!
I always find it very interesting when people argue over whether they would or wouldn't pay to save a pet. It's easy to see who does or doesn't have a soul.
It's juvenile and rude to tell others that what they do with their pet(s) is wrong. Just because you talk the loudest or the most doesn't make you right.
We've paid thousands upon thousands of dollars, many times, for vet bills, surgeries, and general care for our greyhounds. Greyhounds that we SAVED after their racing careers were over and they would've been killed. Our dogs live lives better than a lot of people, because they deserve it and because we love them. One dog had a $9000 surgery just a few months after we adopted her. This same dog lived for 16 years (almost unheard of for a grey) and in those years we spent enough to put a child through college.
We've had 7 greyhounds and they're worth EVERY CENT we've spent on them. There's nothing we won't do for them and fortunately, we're able to do so.
[Hide Full Comment]People don't even want a stranger to breathe on them these days, yet they will eat a random cake? Really???
This is just awesome! To think they could keep this secret for so long and just think of the thousands of people they helped or brought a smiles to.
So where can I buy one of these pound cakes???
What an amazing set of ladies.
their website doesn't work. :(
Wow amazing! Each time I lose faith in humanity it is people like this that make me get it back.
You all are missing the point of the story. Yes, there are varying views about pets and the Church that can be raised, but you're missing how much good these ladies have put forth in their communities--not for themselves.
I spent $4000 on my dog at the Vet and the only thing I asked of her was to give me 4 more years of love and devotion. She lived about 4.5 years and got cancer. She was worth every penny of it. And I never regretted it. We are just avg. people who paid $100 a month until it was paid in full. Don't tell me she wasn't worth it missy!!!!!
I had me a Blue Healer about 20 yes ago that came down with a cough that wouldn,t quit so I took her to my vet who proceeded to tell me that it can,t posebly be lung worms as there aren,t any fox in the hood and he turned a deaf ear when I told him that we take her camping with us all the time. So a grand later at my request or should I say I demanded that he check her for lung worms,because a dog can only get lung worms by eating the feces of a fox. So low and behold the test come back positive and he says the cattle wormer he has to give her will kill her or cure her and she has to spend a couple nights there so I said do it she,s gonna die for sure if you do nothing, 2 grand later I have my piece of family and my happy back. Now I don,t have much money but money isn,t what makes me happy, my dogs make me happy and I would have paid 3 times that amount. Now Sydney died of cancer at the age of 7 nothing I could do about that curse, and I,m never without a couple of dogs in my life. I live on 2 acres and great full for it and have lived here for 25 yrs so I have my own pet semetary of which I am honored to have. So Jennifer if you can,t put as much love into an animal as you would say yourself or family then I wouldn,t own an animal.
[Hide Full Comment]Thank you for sharing this story. It is people like this that give me hope for humanity and inspire me to be better than I am.
Remarkable!! If only...
I read articles like this, and being the skeptic that I am, while I applaud charitable efforts, I wonder if these stories aren't being published to distract people from the very real issues related to poverty and hardship that we seem to just refuse to eradicate, and blame on the poor themselves. It looks to me like an easy way to justify eliminating the few government supports we have in our social safety net, in favour of private charity.
If we collected the Just Rent of the products of Nature equally, then we would have a ready source of wealth with which to fund an unconditional Universal Basic Income. Maybe we should think about being less distracted from the real issues by tasty cakes.
I tried to go to the website to buy a cake but the site isnt working :( these are amazing ladies!
1. I always hear my wife getting up at 4.
2. This IS media hype.
3. Call me skeptical, sorry.
This is such a marvelous story. Okay, Oprah, this one needs to be made into a film. How about it?
Every community should have a group of "Nanas". I know ours sure needs one.
Thank YOU!!!!!! Nanas!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't read to much into this just say thank you!!!!
The link happiness-happens.com no longer works. Since this article is over a year old, have they stopped or gone out of business?
I loved the story of the 9 nanas- I am the type who would love to help all the world, although I am a middle income homemaker. Keep up the great work and the love as long as you can. Kudos to those great hubbys.
Why don't stories like this get features on every major outlet? These are the kinds of things people need to see over and over. Think of the other person first (regardless of religion, background or whatever).
It's a lovely gift of sharing and kindness.
Why it is necessary to ferret out who they are?
Accept that there are many who help others and prefer anonymity.
They help those who really need a rainbow in their day!
It doesn't get any better than that.
great story we could all learn a little from. Shame our leader don't share their vision
This sounds like the backbone for one amazing book! Someone needs to write a book/novel about these women! Honestly though...well done. I can only hope that I, along with my generation, can aspire to do such great things as you women do.
I have something in my eye. -sniffle-
You ladies are just plain awesome, if i lived close enough I would keep the secret and have many years volunteering:)
These women are certainly commendable, but when I tried to access their website, I only got a simple one line quote. Are they real?
That the husbands "didn't know?"
Not buying it. And it's a shame: that fib casts doubt on the rest of it.
My Great Aunt Rose (who also lived in West Tennessee oddly enough) used to do something similar. So inspiring. http://techguerilla.com/the...
I am wanting to order pound cakes to help support them, but the when I click the website link it take me to a page with a quote and nothing more. Is this happening to anyone else?
This is the true joy of giving, when the giver does not even get to see the reaction of the receiver, nor expect or receive praise! What wonderful women!
Wow this made me cry!