Wendie Malick

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Cathing Up With Carol by Carol Silva A World of Difference It’s September and eight year old Annisa is back in school, just like thousands of kids on Long Island. This year Annisa is in second grade - again. Annisa is a Fresh Air Fund kid from a low income apartment in Staten Island that she shares with her mother and three sisters. Last summer, Annisa was only seven years old when her mother put her on a bus so she could travel a few hours and spend a week with total strangers. Elle and Jack are from Long Island, but for the time being Jack’s job has taken them to a pretty nice home in Massachusetts. It’s more expensive than the Long Island houses either of them grew up in, although they’ll tell you their childhood homes were rich in love. Knowing how fortunate they were then and are now, Elle and Jack wanted to give back somehow, but they thought writing a check was too easy. They wanted to do something “hands on.” They loved parenting their 3 kids who are now college age, so it just seemed right to love another child. Jack went to work that first day. Elle and Annisa went to Build a Bear. That night Annisa was glued to Elle’s side. She wouldn’t talk to Jack. But her new bear Sylvia would. And Sylvia the Bear told Jack, “Sylvia doesn’t like you. She thinks you’re going to get drunk tonight and then get angry.” Jack gently told her, “We don’t drink here. We don’t even have alcohol in Elle and Jack wanted to give back somehow, but they thought writing a check was too easy. this house. And I don’t get angry like that.” Over the next few days Annisa witnessed gentle love. She saw how Jack treated his wife, and even their little dog. She saw how proud Jack was of the letter her mother had instructed her to write to her father during the week’s vacation. Annisa had brought a stamped envelope for the letter, addressed to the prison where her father was. And she felt how gently Jack held her little seven year old hand when she finally agreed to take walks along the shore of a Massachussets lake. After she left, Annisa, Elle and Jack talked during the year. They sent presents for Christmas, Valentines Day and Easter. And she came back this summer. There’s no mention of Annisa’s Dad these days, and Elle didn’t want to ask. Annisa’s mom did ask for a favor - to help get her now eight-year old on a normal sleep schedule. Annisa’s single mom works a lot of hours, and sometimes lets her girls stay up all night watching DVDs so when she’s home in the day they can all sleep a few hours. This summer Elle got some books for Annisa, and a little journal with a lock she wanted. Elle is a Special Education teacher and hopes her experience can help. Annisa can’t read, so she has to repeat second grade. In fact, this winter they’ll be writing letters. Maybe that will help too. And that should help them plan for next summer. Annisa plans to come back next year. She told me, “It’s because Elle and Jack are fun.” And Elle and Jack will be there waiting for her. Elle says, “We were really trying to do something more than just dropping a check in the mail – and giving back to one child has made a world of difference.” To everyone, I’m sure. ● News 12’s Carol Silva has been bringing Long Islanders their local news for more than 20 years. Watch her weekday mornings at 5:30AM on News 12 Long Island. 18 • LONG ISLAND WOMAN • September 2011 To advertise: 516-505-0555 x1 or ads@liwomanonline.com
Column Headline copy. ● This is where the pull quote get placed to draw readers in to read the column. X • LONG ISLAND WOMAN • September 2011 To advertise: 516-505-0555 x1 or ads@liwomanonline.com To advertise: 516-505-0555 x1 or ads@liwomanonline.com September 2011 • LONG ISLAND WOMAN • X
Page 1 and 2: www.liwomanonline.com September 201
Page 3 and 4: VOTED One Of The BEST Cosmetic Surg
Page 5 and 6: A Woman Knows… Cosmetic Surgery p
Page 7 and 8: Most women in the U.S. have heard o
Page 9 and 10: LOVE IS A GREAT MATCH FOR FAMILIES
Page 11 and 12: Feel Younger Again… End Urinary I
Page 13 and 14: Time forSchool…Time forYOU! Buy 1
Page 15 and 16: North Shore Medical Spa Wave goodby
Page 17: “Now, more than ever, everyone ne
Page 21 and 22: Book Corner by Debbi Honorof Surviv
Page 23 and 24: Book Corner Independent Book Stores
Page 25 and 26: Decorating Den Interiors Presents..
Page 27 and 28: Trouble Sleeping Trouble Waking Up
Page 29 and 30: Happenings September John T. Mather
Page 31 and 32: Support Groups •Divorced & Separa
Page 33: Ultra High Field Siemens Skyra

Wendie Malick

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?