Ergens in West-Tennessee, niet ver van Graceland, komen negen vrouwen – of "De 9 Nanas", zoals ze liever genoemd worden – samen in het holst van de nacht. Om vier uur 's ochtends beginnen ze aan hun dagelijkse routine – een ritueel waar niemand, zelfs hun echtgenoten niet, 30 jaar lang van wist. Ze hebben één missie en één missie alleen: geluk creëren. En het begint allemaal met gebak.
"Een van ons begint de bloem te zeven en een ander wast de eieren", legde oma Mary Ellen uit, de aangestelde woordvoerder van hun geheime genootschap. "En iemand anders zorgt ervoor dat de pannen klaar staan. We wisselen elkaar af, afhankelijk van waar we die dag zin in hebben.
"Maar zorg er wel voor dat je zegt dat Nana Pearl de leiding heeft, want zij is de oudste!" voegde ze eraan toe met een knipoog en een glimlach.
In de komende drie uur zullen de 9 Nanas (die zichzelf allemaal als zussen beschouwen, ondanks wat sommige geboorteaktes beweren) honderden pondcakes bakken, als onderdeel van een groots plan om mensen in nood te helpen. En dan, voordat iemand ze ook maar een glimp kan opvangen, verdwijnen ze weer in hun dagelijkse leven. Het enige wat misschien overblijft, is de hemelse geur van vanille, citroen en limoen, die in de lucht hangt.
Zelfs de UPS-bezorger, die honderden pakketten tegelijk ophaalt, heeft geen idee wat deze vrouwen, die in leeftijd variëren van 54 tot 72, aan het doen zijn. Hij is gewoon blij met een knuffel en een tas vol lekkers. Wat hij niet weet, is dat hij deel uitmaakt van hun masterplan. Een plan dat 35 jaar geleden begon – toen de 'zussen' samenkwamen voor hun wekelijkse kaartspel – iets wat hun echtgenoten 'Broads and Bridge' noemden.
"Pearl zegt dat het allemaal haar idee was," plaagde Mary Ellen, "maar zoals ik me herinner, zaten we samen herinneringen op te halen aan MaMaw en PaPaw en alle verschillende manieren waarop ze de gemeenschap hielpen." MaMaw en PaPaw zijn de grootouders die vier van de vrouwen, Mary Ellen incluis, opvoedden toen hun moeder overleed; en ze namen Pearl in huis toen haar ouders hulp nodig hadden.
"MaMaw Ruth las in de krant dat er iemand was overleden," herinnerde Mary Ellen zich, "en dan stuurde ze een van haar speciale pondcakes. Ze hoefde de familie niet te kennen. Ze wilde gewoon een glimlach op hun gezicht toveren. En we begonnen na te denken over wat we konden doen om zo'n verschil te maken. Wat als we een miljoen dollar hadden? Hoe zouden we het besteden?
Dus de dames begonnen te brainstormen.
Een van de zusters stelde voor dat we allemaal zelf onze was zouden gaan doen en het geld dat we bespaarden goed zouden besteden. Ik geef toe, ik protesteerde eerst. Er is gewoon iets met witwassen dat ik niet leuk vind. Maar ik was in de minderheid! Dus met z'n negenen zetten we ongeveer $400 per maand opzij en onze mannen merkten er niets van. Hun overhemden zagen er prima uit.
En toen begonnen de vrouwen te luisteren. Ze luisterden af – allemaal met goede bedoelingen, natuurlijk – bij de plaatselijke kapper of terwijl ze boodschappen deden. En als ze hoorden over een weduwe of een alleenstaande moeder die wat hulp nodig had, grepen ze in en betaalden anoniem de energierekening of kochten ze nieuwe kleren voor de kinderen.
"We wilden zoveel mogelijk helpen," zei Mary Ellen, "zonder onze eigen families te schaden, dus werden we couponknippers. En we gebruikten groene zegels. Herinner je je die nog? We gebruikten groene zegels en gingen op woensdag naar warenhuis Goldsmith's. Elke week was er een grote uitverkoop en kon je voor $ 100 aan spullen voor $ 700 naar huis gaan."
De oma's zouden uitzoeken waar die persoon woonde en een pakket sturen met een briefje waarop stond: "Iemand houdt van je". En daar zat zeker een van MaMaw Ruth's speciale cakejes bij.
Hoe meer mensen ze hielpen, hoe moediger ze werden.
"We gaven een nieuwe betekenis aan de term 'drive-by'," zei Mary Ellen opgetogen. "We reden door achterstandswijken en zochten naar huizen met ventilatoren in het raam. Dat vertelde ons dat de mensen die daar woonden geen airconditioning hadden. Of we zagen dat er 's nachts geen licht brandde, wat betekende dat de kans groot was dat hun nutsvoorzieningen waren afgesloten. Dan keerden we terug voor zonsopgang, als inbrekers, en gaven een klein pakketje af."
Dertig jaar lang bleven de goede daden van de dames onopgemerkt. Totdat Mary Ellens echtgenoot, die ze liefkozend 'Southern Charmer' noemt, vijf jaar geleden merkte dat de auto meer kilometers op de teller had staan en dat er grote bedragen van hun spaarrekening werden opgenomen.
"Hij haalde bankafschriften tevoorschijn en die waren gemarkeerd!", zei Mary Ellen, terwijl ze zich de afschuw herinnerde die ze voelde. "Ik probeerde uit te leggen dat ik wat dingen had gekocht, maar hij had een blik op zijn gezicht die ik nog nooit eerder had gezien – en ik besefte wat hij gedacht moest hebben. Ik belde de zusters en zei: 'Jullie moeten allemaal meteen hierheen komen.'"
Dus 30 jaar na het begin van hun geheime missie verzamelden de 9 oma's en hun echtgenoten zich in de woonkamer van Mary Ellen en kwamen de zussen bekentenis afleggen. Ze vertelden de echtgenoten over de was en het afluisteren – zelfs over de drive-bys. En daar wordt hun verhaal nog beter – want de echtgenoten boden hun hulp aan.
Ze waren verbaasd dat we dit deden en nog verbaasder dat ze het nooit wisten. We kunnen een goed geheim bewaren! Op drie na zijn ze nu allemaal gepensioneerd, dus soms rijden ze met ons mee op onze autoritten. In onze regio heb je alleen een adres nodig om iemands energierekening te betalen, dus houden we de mannen bezig met het noteren van cijfers.
Het duurde niet lang voordat de stellen besloten dat het ook tijd was om het aan hun volwassen kinderen te vertellen. En toen begon het geluk nog groter te worden. De kinderen moedigden hun moeders aan om de pondcakes van MaMaw Ruth online te verkopen, zodat ze geld konden inzamelen om nog meer mensen te helpen. En het duurde niet lang voordat ze meer dan 100 bestellingen per dag ontvingen.
"Toen we de eerste bestellingen binnen zagen stromen, stonden we te springen," zei Mary Ellen lachend. "We waren zo enthousiast dat we een rondje om de roos hebben gedaan! Toen hebben we alle kinderen gebeld en gevraagd: 'Wat gaan we nu doen?'"
Toen verhuisden de 9 Nanas hun geheime bakkerij van hun huizen naar de professionele keuken van een restaurant dat eigendom is van een van hun zonen, waar ze voor zonsopgang naar binnen kunnen glippen en weer weg kunnen glippen voordat het personeel arriveert. Ze huurden zelfs een 'gelukscoördinator' in (die natuurlijk 'Sunny' heet). Haar identiteit moet ook geheim blijven, zodat ze kan helpen met het afluisteren.
We hebben haar tot geheimhouding verplicht – haar ouders denken dat ze in de marketing werkt. En als je erover nadenkt, doet ze eigenlijk public relations en besteedt ze veel tijd aan het zoeken naar mensen die haar kunnen helpen in de supermarkt!
Dankzij hun online succes kunnen The 9 Nanas tegenwoordig nog grotere projecten aan. Onlangs doneerden ze meer dan $ 5.000 aan kussens, linnengoed en verzorgingsproducten aan een opvangcentrum voor slachtoffers van huiselijk geweld. En deze augustus vieren ze hun tweede opeenvolgende "Happiness Happens Month" door in elke staat een blijk van waardering te sturen naar iemand die een verschil heeft gemaakt in hun eigen gemeenschap.
En die miljoen dollar waar ze ooit naar verlangden? Die is er bijna. In de afgelopen 35 jaar hebben de 9 Nanas bijna $ 900.000 aan geluk bijgedragen aan hun lokale gemeenschap.
Maar dat betekent niet dat ze het te druk hebben om door te gaan met de kleine dingen die het leven een beetje leuker maken. Soms pakken ze gewoon het telefoonboek erbij en sturen ze cakejes naar volslagen vreemden. En als de oma's iemand in de supermarkt zien die hulp nodig lijkt te hebben, is het niet ongebruikelijk dat ze het winkelwagentje van een vreemde vullen.
“Niet iedereen heeft zoveel geluk als wij, want we hebben MaMaw en PaPaw die voor ze zorgen en al die dingen die mis zijn, oplossen.
"Dit is onze manier om iets terug te doen," zei Mary Ellen. "We willen mensen laten weten dat er iemand is die genoeg om iets geeft om iets te doen. We willen ervoor zorgen dat geluk ontstaat."
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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!