Einhvers staðar í Vestur-Tennessee, ekki langt frá Graceland, safnast níu konur – eða „The 9 Nanas,“ eins og þær kjósa að vera kallaðar – saman í næturmyrkri. Klukkan 04:00 byrja þeir daglega rútínu sína - helgisiði sem enginn, ekki einu sinni eiginmenn þeirra, vissi um í 30 ár. Þeir hafa eitt verkefni og aðeins eitt verkefni: að skapa hamingju. Og þetta byrjar allt með bakkelsi.
„Eitt okkar byrjar að sigta hveitið og annað að þvo eggin,“ útskýrði Nana Mary Ellen, skipaður talsmaður leynifélagsins þeirra. „Og einhver annar sér til þess að pönnurnar séu allar tilbúnar. Við slökkva á því, allt eftir því hvað okkur langar að gera þann daginn.
„En þú vertu viss um að segja að Nana Pearl sé við stjórnvölinn, því hún er elst! bætti hún við með blikk og brosi.
Á næstu þremur klukkutímum munu The 9 Nanas (sem allar telja sig systur, þrátt fyrir það sem sum af fæðingarvottorðum þeirra segja) þeyta saman hundruð punda kökur, sem hluti af stórkostlegu skipulagi til að hjálpa þeim sem þurfa á þeim að halda. Og svo, áður en einhver fær eins mikið og innsýn í þá, hverfa þeir aftur inn í daglegt líf sitt. Eina vísbendingin sem gæti verið eftir er himneskur ilmur af vanillu, sítrónu og lime, sem situr eftir í loftinu.
Jafnvel UPS bílstjórinn, sem tekur upp hundruð pakka í einu, hefur ekki hugmynd um hvað þessar konur, sem eru á aldrinum 54 til 72 ára, eru að gera. Hann er bara ánægður með að fá faðmlag og poka fulla af sérstökum góðgæti. Það sem hann veit ekki er að hann er hluti af aðalskipulagi þeirra. Áætlun sem hófst fyrir 35 árum - þegar „systurnar“ komu saman í vikulega kortaleik þeirra -- eitthvað sem eiginmenn þeirra kölluðu „Broads and Bridge“.
„Pearl segir að þetta hafi allt verið hennar hugmynd,“ stríddi Mary Ellen, „en eins og ég man eftir henni sátum við og rifjuðum upp MaMaw og PaPaw og allar mismunandi leiðir sem þeir myndu hjálpa til í samfélaginu. MaMaw og PaPaw eru ömmur og afar sem ólu upp fjórar af konunum, Mary Ellen þar á meðal, þegar móðir þeirra lést; og þau tóku Pearl að sér, þegar foreldrar hennar þurftu á aðstoð að halda.
"MaMaw Ruth las í blaðinu að einhver hefði dáið," sagði Mary Ellen, "og hún sendi frá sér eina af sérstöku pundskökunum sínum. Hún þurfti ekki að þekkja fjölskylduna. Hún vildi bara setja smá bros á andlit þeirra. Og við fórum að hugsa um hvað við gætum gert til að breyta svona. Hvað ef við ættum milljón dollara? Hvernig myndum við eyða því?
Svo fóru dömurnar að hugleiða.
"Ein systranna stakk upp á því að við ættum öll að byrja að þvo okkar eigin þvott og nýta peningana sem við söfnuðum að góðum notum. Ég viðurkenni að ég mótmælti fyrst. Það er bara eitthvað við þvott sem mér líkar ekki við. En ég var fleiri! Þannig að meðal okkar níu lögðum við til hliðar um 400 dollara á mánuði og eiginmenn okkar tóku aldrei eftir neinu. Skyrturnar þeirra voru bara fínar."
Og svo fóru konurnar að hlusta. Þeir myndu hlera - allt með góðum ásetningi, auðvitað - í snyrtistofu á staðnum eða þegar þeir voru að sækja matvörur. Og þegar þau fréttu af ekkju eða einstæðri mömmu sem vantaði smá hjálp, gripu þau inn og borguðu nafnlaust neyslureikning eða keyptu ný föt á börnin.
„Við vildum hjálpa eins mikið og við gátum,“ sagði Mary Ellen, „án þess að taka frá okkar eigin fjölskyldum, svo við urðum afsláttarmiðaklipparar. Og við myndum nota græna stimpla. Manstu eftir þeim? Við notuðum græna frímerki og við myndum ganga úr skugga um að fara í stórverslun Goldsmith's á miðvikudögum. Í hverri viku voru þau með mikla útsölu og þú gætir eytt $100 varningi og gengin í burtu.“
Nana-hjónin myndu komast að því hvar manneskjan bjó og senda pakka með miða sem sagði einfaldlega: "Einhver elskar þig" - og þeir myndu vera viss um að láta eina af sérstökum pundkökum MaMaw Ruth fylgja með.
Því fleiri sem þeir hjálpuðu, því djarfari urðu þeir.
„Við gáfum hugtakinu keyrsla nýja merkingu,“ sagði Mary Ellen með ánægju. „Við keyrðum í gegnum lágtekjuhverfi og leituðum að heimilum sem voru með viftur í glugganum. Það sagði okkur að fólkið sem bjó þar væri ekki með loftkælingu. Eða við myndum sjá að engin ljós voru kveikt á nóttunni, sem þýddi að það væri góð möguleiki á að slökkt hefði verið á tólum þeirra. Síðan kæmum við aftur áður en sólin kom upp, eins og kattarinnbrotsþjófar, og skiluðum pakka.“
Í þrjá áratugi voru góðverk kvennanna óuppgötvuð - það er, þar til fyrir fimm árum, þegar eiginmaður Mary Ellen, sem hún kallar ástúðlega „Southern Charmer“, byrjaði að taka eftir auka kílómetrafjölda á bílnum og stórar upphæðir af peningum voru teknar af sparireikningi þeirra.
„Hann dró fram bankayfirlit og þau voru auðkennd! sagði Mary Ellen og rifjaði upp skelfinguna sem hún fann til. „Ég reyndi að útskýra að ég hefði keypt nokkra hluti, en hann var með þennan svip á andlitinu sem ég hafði aldrei séð áður - og ég áttaði mig á því hvað hann hlýtur að hafa verið að hugsa. Ég hringdi í systurnar og sagði: „Þið þurfið öll að komast hingað strax.““
Svo þegar 30 ár voru liðin af leynilegu verkefni sínu komu hinar 9 Nana og eiginmenn þeirra saman í stofu Mary Ellen og systurnar komu hreinar. Þeir sögðu eiginmönnum frá þvottinum og hleruninni - jafnvel akstursleiðunum. Og þar verður saga þeirra enn betri - vegna þess að eiginmennirnir buðust til að hjálpa.
"Þeir voru undrandi yfir því að við værum að gera þetta og enn meira undrandi yfir því að þeir vissu aldrei. Við getum haldið góðu leyndarmáli! Allir nema þrír þeirra eru komnir á eftirlaun núna, svo stundum koma þeir með okkur á akstrinum okkar. Á okkar svæði þarftu bara heimilisfang til að borga rafmagnsreikning einhvers, svo við höldum mönnunum uppteknum við að skrifa niður númer."
Það leið ekki á löngu þar til hjónin ákváðu að það væri líka kominn tími til að segja fullorðnum börnum sínum frá. Og það var þegar hamingjan byrjaði að gerast á enn stærri hátt. Börnin hvöttu mæður sínar til að byrja að selja MaMaw Ruth's punda kökur á netinu, svo þær gætu safnað peningum til að hjálpa enn fleirum. Og það leið ekki á löngu þar til þeir voru að fá meira en 100 pantanir á einum degi.
„Í fyrsta skipti sem við sáum þessar pantanir berast inn, vorum við að hoppa upp og niður,“ sagði Mary Ellen og hló. „Við vorum svo spennt að við gerðum hring-í kringum-rósíuna! Síðan hringdum við í öll börnin og sögðum: „Hvað gerum við næst?“
Það var þegar hinar 9 Nana fluttu leynilegar bökunarstarfsemi sína út af heimilum sínum og inn í verslunareldhús veitingastaðar í eigu eins sonar þeirra, þar sem þeir geta laumast inn fyrir sólarupprás og laumast út áður en starfsfólkið kemur inn. Þeir réðu meira að segja „hamingjustjóra“ (sem heitir „Sunny“ að sjálfsögðu). Sjálfsmynd hennar þarf líka að vera leyndarmál, svo hún geti hjálpað til við að hlera.
„Við sórnum henni leyndarheit -- foreldrar hennar halda að hún vinni í markaðssetningu. Og í raun og veru, ef þú hugsar um það, þá er hún að sinna almannatengslum og eyðir miklum tíma í að leita að fólki til að hjálpa í matvörubúðinni!“
Þessa dagana geta The 9 Nanas tekið að sér enn stærri verkefni, miðað við árangur þeirra á netinu. Nýlega gáfu þeir meira en $5.000 af púðum og rúmfötum og persónulegum umhirðuvörum til skjóls fyrir eftirlifendur heimilisofbeldis. Og nú í ágúst munu þeir fagna öðrum „hamingjumánuði“ í röð með því að senda þakklætisvott til einnar manneskju í hverju ríki sem hefur skipt sköpum í sínu eigin samfélagi.
Og þessi milljón dollara sem þeir óskuðu sér einu sinni í? Þeir eru næstum því komnir. Á síðustu 35 árum hafa 9 Nanas lagt nærri 900.000 dollara af hamingju til nærsamfélagsins.
En það þýðir ekki að þeir séu of uppteknir til að halda áfram að gera litlu hlutina sem gera lífið aðeins hamingjusamara. Stundum draga þeir bara upp símaskrána og senda punda kökur til algjörlega ókunnugra. Og ef Nana-hjónin koma auga á einhvern í matvöruversluninni sem virðist þurfa smá hjálp, þá er ekki óvenjulegt að þau fari að fylla körfu ókunnugra.
„Það eru ekki allir eins heppnir og við að hafa MaMaw og PaPaw til að sjá um þá, til að laga allt sem er að.
„Svo þetta er leið okkar til að gefa til baka,“ sagði Mary Ellen. "Við viljum að fólk viti að einhverjum þarna úti er nógu annt um að gera eitthvað. Við viljum tryggja að hamingjan gerist."
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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!