Et sted i West Tennessee, ikke langt fra Graceland, samles ni kvinner – eller «The 9 Nanas», som de foretrekker å bli kalt – i nattens mørke. Klokken 04.00 begynner de sin daglige rutine - et ritual som ingen, ikke engang ektemennene deres, visste om på 30 år. De har ett oppdrag og bare ett oppdrag: å skape lykke. Og det hele begynner med bakevarer.
"En av oss begynner å sikte melet og en annen å vaske eggene," forklarte Nana Mary Ellen, den utnevnte talspersonen for deres hemmelige samfunn. "Og noen andre sørger for at pannene er klare. Vi slår av, avhengig av hva vi har lyst til å gjøre den dagen.
"Men sørg for å si at Nana Pearl har ansvaret, for hun er den eldste!" la hun til med et blunk og et smil.
I løpet av de neste tre timene vil The 9 Nanas (som alle anser seg selv som søstre, til tross for hva noen av fødselsattestene deres sier) piske opp hundrevis av pundkaker, som en del av en storslått plan for å hjelpe de som trenger det. Og så, før noen får så mye som et glimt av dem, vil de forsvinne tilbake i hverdagen. Det eneste hintet som kan være igjen er den himmelske duften av vanilje, sitron og lime som henger i luften.
Selv UPS-sjåføren, som henter hundrevis av pakker om gangen, har ingen anelse om hva disse kvinnene, som varierer i alder fra 54 til 72, gjør. Han er bare glad for å få en klem og en pose fylt med spesielle godbiter. Det han ikke vet er at han er en del av masterplanen deres. En plan som begynte for 35 år siden - da "søstrene" kom sammen for sitt ukentlige kortspill - noe ektemennene deres omtalte som "Broads and Bridge."
"Pearl sier at det hele var hennes idé," ertet Mary Ellen, "men slik jeg husker det, satt vi og mimret om MaMaw og PaPaw og alle de forskjellige måtene de ville hjelpe til i samfunnet." MaMaw og PaPaw er besteforeldrene som oppdro fire av kvinnene, inkludert Mary Ellen, da moren deres gikk bort; og de tok inn Pearl som sine egne, da foreldrene hennes trengte litt hjelp.
"MaMaw Ruth leste i avisen at noen hadde dødd," husket Mary Ellen, "og hun sendte avgårde en av de spesielle pundkakene sine. Hun trengte ikke å kjenne familien. Hun ville bare sette et lite smil på ansiktet deres. Og vi begynte å tenke på hva vi kunne gjøre for å gjøre en forskjell på denne måten. Hva om vi hadde en million dollar? Hvordan ville vi brukt den?
Så damene begynte å brainstorme.
"En av søstrene foreslo at vi alle skulle begynne å vaske vårt eget og bruke pengene vi sparte til god bruk. Jeg innrømmer at jeg protesterte med det første. Det er bare noe med hvitvasking jeg ikke liker. Men jeg var i undertall! Så blant de ni av oss hadde vi lagt til side rundt 400 dollar i måneden, og ektemennene våre merket aldri noe til skjortene deres."
Og så begynte kvinnene å lytte. De avlyttet – alt med gode intensjoner, selvfølgelig – på den lokale skjønnhetsbutikken eller når de hentet dagligvarer. Og når de hørte om en enke eller en alenemor som trengte litt hjelp, gikk de inn og betalte anonymt en strømregning eller kjøpte noen nye klær til barna.
"Vi ønsket å hjelpe så mye vi kunne," sa Mary Ellen, "uten å ta fra våre egne familier, så vi ble kupongklippere. Og vi brukte grønne frimerker. Husker du dem? Vi brukte grønne frimerker, og vi ville sørge for å gå til Goldsmiths varehus på onsdager. Hver uke hadde de et stort salg, og du kunne bruke $100 merchandise verdt unna."
Nanas ville finne ut hvor personen bodde og sende en pakke med en lapp som bare sa: "Somebody loves you" - og de ville være sikker på å inkludere en av MaMaw Ruths spesielle pundkaker.
Jo flere mennesker de hjalp, jo dristigere ble de.
"Vi ga ny mening til begrepet drive-by," sa Mary Ellen med glede. "Vi kjørte gjennom nabolag med lav inntekt og lette etter boliger som hadde vifter i vinduet. Det fortalte oss at menneskene som bodde der ikke hadde klimaanlegg. Eller vi så at det ikke var lys på om natten, noe som betydde en god sjanse for at verktøyene deres var slått av. Så kom vi tilbake før solen kom opp, som katteinnbruddstyver, og leverte en liten pakke."
I tre tiår ble damenes gode gjerninger uoppdaget - det vil si inntil for fem år siden, da Mary Ellens ektemann, som hun kjærlig kaller "Southern Charmer", begynte å legge merke til ekstra kjørelengde på bilen og store mengder kontanter som ble trukket fra sparekontoen deres.
"Han tok frem kontoutskrifter og de ble fremhevet!" sa Mary Ellen og husket redselen hun følte. "Jeg prøvde å forklare at jeg hadde kjøpt noen ting, men han hadde dette ansiktsuttrykket som jeg aldri hadde sett før - og jeg skjønte hva han må ha tenkt. Jeg ringte søstrene og sa: 'Dere må alle komme hit med en gang'."
Så 30 år inn i deres hemmelige oppdrag, samlet de 9 Nanas og deres ektemenn seg i Mary Ellens stue og søstrene kom rene. De fortalte ektemennene om klesvasken og avlyttingen - til og med kjøreturene. Og det er der historien deres blir enda bedre - fordi ektemennene tilbød seg å hjelpe.
"De var forbløffet over at vi gjorde dette og enda mer overrasket over at de aldri visste det. Vi kan holde på en god hemmelighet! Alle unntatt tre av dem er nå pensjonert, så noen ganger blir de med oss på kjøreturene våre. I området vårt trenger du bare en adresse for å betale noens strømregning, så vi holder mennene opptatt med å skrive ned tall."
Det tok ikke lang tid før parene bestemte at det også var på tide å fortelle det til sine voksne barn. Og det var da lykke begynte å skje på en enda større måte. Barna oppmuntret mødrene sine til å begynne å selge MaMaw Ruths pundkaker på nettet, slik at de kunne samle inn penger for å hjelpe enda flere mennesker. Og det tok ikke lang tid før de mottok mer enn 100 bestillinger på en dag.
"Første gang vi så disse ordrene rulle inn, hoppet vi opp og ned," sa Mary Ellen med en latter. "Vi var så spente at vi gjorde en ring-rundt-rosie! Så ringte vi alle barna og sa: 'Hva gjør vi videre?'"
Det var da de 9 Nanas flyttet sin skjulte bakeoperasjon ut av hjemmene sine og inn på storkjøkkenet på en restaurant som eies av en av sønnene deres, hvor de kan snike seg inn før soloppgang og snike seg ut før personalet kommer inn. De ansatte til og med en «lykkekoordinator» (som kodenavnet er «Sunny», selvfølgelig). Identiteten hennes må også være en hemmelighet, så hun kan hjelpe til med avlyttingen.
"Vi sverget henne til hemmelighold -- foreldrene hennes tror hun jobber med markedsføring. Og egentlig, hvis du tenker på det, driver hun med PR og bruker mye tid på å lete etter folk som kan hjelpe på supermarkedet!"
I disse dager er The 9 Nanas i stand til å ta på seg enda større prosjekter, gitt deres online suksess. Nylig donerte de mer enn $5000 med puter og sengetøy og produkter til personlig pleie til et krisesenter for overlevende etter vold i hjemmet. Og i august vil de feire sin andre påfølgende «Lykke skjer-måned» ved å sende tegn på sin takknemlighet til én person i hver stat som har gjort en forskjell i sitt eget samfunn.
Og den millionen de en gang ønsket seg? De er nesten der. I løpet av de siste 35 årene har de 9 nanaene bidratt med nesten 900 000 dollar i lykke til lokalsamfunnet.
Men det betyr ikke at de er for opptatt til å fortsette å gjøre de små tingene som gjør livet litt lykkeligere. Noen ganger trekker de bare frem telefonboken og sender pundkaker til helt fremmede. Og hvis Nanas ser noen i matbutikken som ser ut til å trenge litt hjelp, er det ikke uvanlig at de begynner å fylle en fremmeds vogn.
"Ikke alle er like heldige som vi var å ha MaMaw og PaPaw til å ta vare på dem, for å fikse alle de tingene som er gale.
"Så dette er vår måte å gi tilbake," sa Mary Ellen. "Vi vil at folk skal vite at noen der ute bryr seg nok til å gjøre noe. Vi vil sørge for at lykke skjer."
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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!