웨스트 테네시 어딘가, 그레이스랜드에서 멀지 않은 곳에 아홉 명의 여성, 혹은 "나나 9인조"라고 불리는 이들이 어둠 속에 모였습니다. 새벽 4시, 그들은 일상을 시작합니다. 30년 동안 아무도, 심지어 그들의 남편들조차 알지 못했던 의식이었습니다. 그들의 사명은 단 하나, 오직 하나, 행복을 창조하는 것입니다. 그리고 이 모든 것은 제빵류에서 시작됩니다.
"우리 중 한 명은 밀가루를 체 치고 다른 한 명은 계란을 씻습니다."라고 그들의 비밀 모임의 대변인으로 임명된 나나 메리 엘렌이 설명했다. "그리고 다른 한 명은 팬이 다 준비되었는지 확인합니다. 그날 기분에 따라 교대로 작업합니다.
"하지만 나나 펄이 책임자라고 꼭 말해야 해. 그녀가 제일 나이가 많으니까!" 그녀는 눈짓과 미소를 지으며 덧붙였다.
앞으로 3시간 동안, 9명의 나나(출생증명서에 적힌 내용과는 달리 모두 스스로를 자매라고 여깁니다)는 도움이 필요한 사람들을 돕기 위한 원대한 계획의 일환으로 수백 개의 파운드 케이크를 만들 것입니다. 그리고 아무도 그들을 보기도 전에, 그들은 다시 일상으로 돌아갈 것입니다. 유일하게 남아 있는 단서는 공기 중에 맴도는 바닐라, 레몬, 라임의 천상의 향기뿐입니다.
한 번에 수백 개의 소포를 수거하는 UPS 배달원조차도 54세에서 72세에 이르는 이 여성들이 무엇을 하는지 전혀 알지 못합니다. 그는 그저 포옹과 특별한 간식이 가득 든 가방을 받는 것에 행복해할 뿐입니다. 그가 모르는 것은 자신이 그들의 거대한 계획의 일부라는 것입니다. 35년 전, "자매"들이 매주 카드 게임을 하러 모였을 때부터 시작된 계획입니다. 그들의 남편들은 이를 "브로드 앤 브리지"라고 불렀습니다.
"펄은 다 자기 생각이었다고 하던데." 메리 엘렌이 농담처럼 말했다. "하지만 내 기억으로는, 우리는 마모와 파파, 그리고 그들이 지역 사회에 도움을 주었던 다양한 방식들에 대해 이야기하며 앉아 있었어." 마모와 파파는 어머니가 돌아가셨을 때 메리 엘렌을 포함한 네 명의 여성을 키워준 조부모였고, 펄의 부모님이 도움이 필요했을 때 펄을 자기 자식처럼 돌봐주었다.
"루스 할머니는 신문에서 누군가 세상을 떠났다는 기사를 읽으시곤 했어요." 메리 엘렌이 회상했다. "그러면 할머니는 특별한 파운드 케이크를 보내시곤 했어요. 그 가족을 꼭 알 필요는 없었죠. 그저 그들의 얼굴에 작은 미소를 지어주고 싶었을 뿐이었죠. 그래서 우리는 그런 변화를 만들기 위해 무엇을 할 수 있을지 생각하기 시작했어요. 만약 우리에게 백만 달러가 있다면 어떻게 쓸까? 어떻게 쓸까?
그래서 여성들은 브레인스토밍을 시작했습니다.
자매 중 한 명이 우리 모두 각자 빨래를 하고, 모아둔 돈을 유용하게 쓰자고 제안했어요. 사실 처음에는 반대했죠. 빨래하는 게 뭔가 마음에 안 들더라고요. 하지만 수가 너무 많았어요! 그래서 우리 아홉 명은 한 달에 400달러 정도씩 모아두었는데, 남편들은 전혀 눈치채지 못했어요. 셔츠도 아주 멀쩡해 보였고요.
그러자 여자들이 귀를 기울이기 시작했습니다. 동네 미용실이나 장을 볼 때, 물론 좋은 의도로 엿듣곤 했습니다. 그리고 도움이 필요한 미망인이나 싱글맘의 이야기를 들으면, 익명으로 공과금을 내주거나 아이들에게 새 옷을 사주기도 했습니다.
"저희는 최대한 돕고 싶었지만, 저희 가족의 생계를 해치지 않으려고 쿠폰을 깎는 일을 시작했습니다. 그리고 녹색 우표를 사용했죠. 기억하시죠? 녹색 우표를 사용하고 수요일마다 골드스미스 백화점에 갔죠. 매주 대대적인 세일을 해서 100달러만 써도 700달러어치의 상품을 살 수 있었거든요." 메리 엘렌이 말했다.
나나 가족은 그 사람이 사는 곳을 알아내고, "누군가가 당신을 사랑합니다"라고 간단히 쓴 메모와 함께 패키지를 보냈습니다. 그리고 그 패키지에는 마모 루스의 특별한 파운드 케이크도 꼭 포함되었습니다.
더 많은 사람을 도울수록 그들은 더욱 대담해졌습니다.
"드라이브 바이(drive-by)라는 말에 새로운 의미를 부여했어요." 메리 엘런이 기쁨에 차서 말했다. "저소득층 동네를 차로 돌아다니면서 창문에 선풍기가 있는 집을 찾아다녔죠. 그걸 보면 거기 사는 사람들이 에어컨이 없다는 걸 알 수 있었어요. 아니면 밤에 불이 안 켜져 있는 걸 보면 전기가 끊겼을 가능성이 크다는 걸 알 수 있었죠. 그러고는 해가 뜨기 전에 도둑처럼 돌아와 작은 위문품 꾸러미를 내려놓곤 했어요."
30년 동안 이 여인들의 선행은 알려지지 않았습니다. 그러나 5년 전, 메리 엘렌의 남편이 그녀가 애정을 담아 "남부의 매력적인 남자"라고 부르는 차의 주행 거리가 늘어나고 저축 계좌에서 많은 돈이 인출되는 것을 알아차리기 시작했습니다.
"그가 은행 명세서를 꺼내더니 눈에 띄더라고요!" 메리 엘렌은 그때의 공포를 떠올리며 말했다. "뭔가를 샀다고 설명하려고 했는데, 전에는 본 적도 없는 표정이었어요. 무슨 생각을 하고 있었을지 짐작이 갔죠. 자매들에게 전화해서 '지금 당장 여기로 와야 해.'라고 말했어요."
비밀 임무를 시작한 지 30년이 지난 지금, 아홉 명의 나나와 그 남편들은 메리 엘렌의 거실에 모였고, 자매들은 사실을 털어놓았습니다. 그들은 남편들에게 세탁과 도청, 심지어 차를 타고 지나가는 사람들에 대해서도 이야기했습니다. 그리고 바로 그때 그들의 이야기는 더욱 흥미진진해집니다. 남편들이 도와주겠다고 나섰기 때문입니다.
"그들은 우리가 이런 일을 한다는 사실에 놀랐고, 그들이 전혀 몰랐다는 사실에 더 놀랐습니다. 우리는 좋은 비밀을 지킬 수 있죠! 세 명을 제외하고는 모두 은퇴하셨기 때문에 가끔씩 우리와 함께 차를 몰고 다니기도 합니다. 우리 지역에서는 누군가의 공과금을 내려면 주소만 있으면 되기 때문에, 우리는 직원들이 번호를 적어두느라 바쁘게 지냅니다."
얼마 지나지 않아 부부는 다 큰 아이들에게도 이 사실을 알려줘야겠다고 결심했습니다. 그리고 그때부터 행복은 더욱 크게 찾아오기 시작했습니다. 아이들은 엄마들에게 MaMaw Ruth의 파운드 케이크를 온라인에서 판매해 더 많은 사람들을 도울 수 있는 기금을 마련하자고 권했습니다. 그리고 얼마 지나지 않아 하루에 100건이 넘는 주문이 들어오기 시작했습니다.
"처음으로 그런 주문들이 들어오는 걸 봤을 때, 정말 펄쩍펄쩍 뛰었어요." 메리 엘렌이 웃으며 말했다. "너무 신나서 로지(장미꽃)를 두 바퀴 돌았어요! 그러고 나서 아이들을 모두 불러서 '다음엔 뭘 해야 할까?'라고 물었죠."
그때 아홉 명의 나나들은 비밀리에 운영하던 베이킹 작업을 집에서 벗어나 아들 중 한 명이 운영하는 식당의 상업용 주방으로 옮겼습니다. 그곳에서 해 뜨기 전에 몰래 들어가고, 직원들이 오기 전에 빠져나올 수 있었습니다. 심지어 "행복 코디네이터"(코드명은 당연히 "써니")도 고용했습니다. 그녀의 신원도 비밀로 해야 도청을 도울 수 있습니다.
"우리는 그녀에게 비밀을 지키라고 맹세했어요. 부모님은 그녀가 마케팅 분야에서 일한다고 생각하시거든요. 그리고 사실, 생각해 보세요. 그녀는 홍보 일을 하면서 슈퍼마켓에서 일할 사람을 찾는 데 많은 시간을 쓰고 있잖아요!"
요즘 나나스(The 9 Nanas)는 온라인에서의 성공 덕분에 더 큰 프로젝트들을 진행할 수 있게 되었습니다. 최근에는 가정 폭력 생존자 쉼터에 5천 달러가 넘는 베개, 침구, 개인 위생 용품을 기부했습니다. 그리고 이번 8월에는 두 번째 연속된 "행복은 이루어진다(Happiness Happens Month)"를 기념하여 각 주에서 지역 사회에 긍정적인 영향을 미친 한 명에게 감사의 마음을 전할 예정입니다.
그리고 그들이 한때 바랐던 백만 달러? 이제 거의 다 됐습니다. 지난 35년 동안 9명의 나나들은 지역 사회에 거의 90만 달러에 달하는 행복을 기여했습니다.
하지만 그렇다고 해서 삶을 조금 더 행복하게 만들어주는 작은 일들을 계속하기에는 너무 바쁘다는 뜻은 아닙니다. 가끔은 전화번호부를 꺼내 낯선 사람들에게 파운드 케이크를 보내기도 합니다. 그리고 나나들이 마트에서 누군가 도움이 필요한 것 같으면, 낯선 사람의 카트를 채워주는 것도 드문 일이 아닙니다.
"모든 사람이 우리처럼 MaMaw와 PaPaw가 있어서 잘못된 것을 모두 고쳐주고 돌봐주는 행운을 누리는 것은 아닙니다.
"이게 바로 우리가 보답하는 방식이에요." 메리 엘렌이 말했다. "우리는 사람들이 저 밖에 있는 누군가가 우리를 위해 무언가를 할 만큼 진심으로 우리를 사랑한다는 것을 알게 해주고 싶어요. 우리는 사람들이 행복해지도록 돕고 싶어요."
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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!