Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Meet Dorothy and GET A STAMP

Recently I flew to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for work. And on the way back to Atlanta I sat beside the most amazing, beautiful person I think God has ever created. Her love and passion for giving inspired me.

Dorothy Magazine lived in Pennsylvania as a child and her and four of her best friends graduated from high school and went directly into nursing school. They were due to graduate within a month and the news was that the DRAFT for the Korean War was going to come down and hit all nurses. They wanted to be in charge of their future and at least pick which branch to serve, so they all went down one Saturday afternoon and enlisted in the United States Air Force.

Dorothy served as a nurse in the AF during the Korean War and helped save many lives and help make the last moments of some better. Her heart for people is truly amazing.

She met her husband in the AF. She smiles as she tells this part because she was an officer and he was enlisted. She loved the fact that she outranked him, but says she NEVER had an argument with him that she needed to pull her rank. (How precious is she?)

They soon married and were stationed in Alaska (before it was even a state) and she became pregnant with her first son, Frank. She hid her pregnancy for as long as possible, but at 6 months, the Air Force found out and she was discharged. (At that time, you could not be pregnant and in the Air Force.)

Dorothy had three more babies and her husband and her wrapped their lives around family. Mr. Magazine and Dorothy were more in love than any two people I had ever heard about. The two older boys were the pride and joy of Mr Magazine and the girls stole his heart. Mr. Magazine made Christmas magical and spoiled Dorothy to pieces and put up enough lights for the ENTIRE neighborhood. It was his favorite time of the year.

Mr. Magazine went to work for an oil company after he retired from the AF. While in Saudi Arabia on business, he fell ill, slipped into a coma, and never recovered. This was almost 15 years ago and Dorothy still feels robbed from the love of her life.

Dorothy's health is declining and she can no longer live by herself in Pennsylvania, so she is moving to Baton Rouge with Frank. She feels like such a burden and HATES to bother Frank and his family with her presence.

I cannot imagine a family that could possibly be more blessed than a family with the honor of Dorothy living with them.

Dorothy flew back to Pennsylvania last month, sold her house, and is now lives with Frank in Baton Rouge.

When I asked her what she was gonna miss the most she said, "All the Christmas cards from my friends and some good Jewish rye bread."

Before I got off the plane, I gave Dorothy a hug and asked her address. She gave it to me and YOU BETTER BELIEVE she is getting a Christmas card from me.

But more than ANYTHING I would like to fill her mailbox with cards and her heart with love this Christmas.

If you can find the time (Like RIGHT NOW. Go get a pen I will wait...), send a Christmas card to Dorothy. You can just say...

"My friend Catherine sat beside you on your flight and told me what an absolute ANGEL you are. Thank you for you dedication to our country and the difference you have made and ARE making in the lives of so so many."

Or something like that. SMILES!

Anyhoo, send away my peeps. And if anyone is Jewish (cause I thought I was, but I'm not - but that is a story for later) and knows anything about good Jewish Rye Bread PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE mail her some. Email me the costs and I will gladly pay it for you.

So PLEASE as a favor to me, send Dorothy a card and then leave me a comment and let me know what you said to her. Trust me, she is worth the time.

Dorothy Magazine
12477 Coursey Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70816

PS I am a lover not a fighter. But so help me God if you are some weird cracko that does something evil with this address, I will track you down and make you snort glitter and slide you down a banister of razor blades into a pool of rubbing alcohol. I will still love and accept you at the end of the day, but you will pay dearly for your cruel acts. Mmmmm-Kay?

Big Pink Fuzzy Heart With Glitter,
CG

32 comments:

Sarah said...

How sweet. I don't think they could make a enough glitter to fill your huge heart. You are always thinking of others & a blessing to them. We need more big fuzzy hearted with glitter people.
Thank you for your kindness.
I've put Dorothy on our list, so there's 1 for her.

Jenn said...

I'm adding her to my address list right now - well, as soon as I'm done typing this. Because I can't multi-task THAT well. But you know what I'm sayin'. I won't send her the picture card we are sending to family, but I will make her one from all my wonderful scrapbook stuff. Homemade cards are better anyway.

Hugs!!

Jenn said...

Also - if she does manage to get back to you, see if you can find out how many of us sent her cards. This is such a sweet idea. You're the best. :)

Brandy said...

Im going on my lunch break to buy Dorthy a special card! What a great idea!!

Brandy

Dreams of a Country Girl said...

Jenn-- GREAT IDEA. I put a poll on the side bar for ppl to vote and it will showt he results. this way we can track how many cards went out.

I STILL NEED SOME JEWISH RYE BREAD PEEPS!

Dana and Daisy said...

I'm doing my cards today anyway, so I'll add miss Dorothy to my list!

~Kim said...

I can't remember how I found your blog, but I am so glad I did! This story of Ms. Dorothy melts my heart and makes me smile.

I have mine addressed and signed. Off to buy stamps and away it will be.

What a true blessing....one that I needed to read today! THANK YOU!

~Kim

Hair Bows & Guitar Picks said...

I am so gonna mail her a card today! Thank you so much for sharing.

Linda said...

CG, there is a very special place in Heaven for you. You truely are a blessing and an inspiration to the rest of us. Thank you for sharing. I'll be sending Dorothy a card today:)

Hilary said...

I've never left a comment but I found your blog through Beki's blog. You truly are an amazing person. I hope I can be like you one day. You inspire me each day. There will be a card in the mail to this dear lady this afternoon. Thank you for having such a big heart.

Hilary

Anonymous said...

I have a card ready to go out in the mail tomorrow morning! What a sweet lady! I hope she gets so many that her mail box overflows! Wish I knew something about Jewish Rye bread, can make some great homemade white thou! Thanks for telling her story, I love doing things like this!

~Mad said...

I have a card signed and stamped and ready to go in the mailbox for the postman to pick up this afternoon.
Since she was going to miss hearing from her friends, I asked her to consider me a friend.

~Mad(elyn) in Alabama
www.xanga.com/madewyn

Linda said...

P.S. I hope we don't freak her out!

Cindy said...

What a wonderful, loving thing to do for someone. Consider it done. Big, pink, fuzzy hearts to you, CG!

Sara Jane said...

I thought the same thing as Linda...did you warn her about your big pink fuzzy heartness? You are an angel for doing this for her..of course I added her to my list. Thanks for helping us to share a little Christmas Spirit.
Lots of love from Montana.

Tracie said...

I bought a box of Christmas cards for my blog buds, and this seems like a perfect use and much like God's work through an Angel! (YOU)

Vaquerogirl said...

You are my Reindeer! I am playing the Reindeer Game via Meg Ryans Mom blog- The ninth person in my blog roll, and then the ninth person in her blog roll. I was going to say that you are the lucky one(or nine) but then I stopped. Actually I am the lucky one! What a nice post to drop into ! A sweetheart seated next to you on a conveyance! I always get the little old ladies that talk incessantly about their medical problems or their horrible grandchildren... Sounds like Dorothy is an Angel. I will add her to my card list too.
Hope to drop in and see you again soon!

Perfectly Unperfect said...

I added this sweet lady to my Christmas card list. More amazing, I actually mailed all of my Christmas cards this year, today in fact. Ms. Dorothy has a card on her way from me!!

Anonymous said...

I'm sending one out tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

I'm sending one out tomorrow!

Cristie said...

What a great idea! I will be sending out a card filled with X's and O's. I love the military. I had a gal come through my line today and tell me that her military hubby was coming home in 11 days and he hasn't met their 6 week old baby yet. I almost started crying. It really tugs at my heartstrings that people are so willing to serve our country. God Bless America! You rock Country Girl for doing this for Dorothy!

sulli said...

I too have the card all set to go out in tomarrows mail.
What a wonderful way to show us the Christmas Spirit CG!

P.S. I am also concerned about freaking Miss Dorothy out, but also, what will Frank think?

Chris said...

I'll send her a card. It's, umm, the only card I'm sending this Christmas.

Lo said...

She's on my list. I don't know of any good jewish rye bread places but I can bake a mean loaf of bread. I think I may just try to make some, do a taste test with my friends and if it's up to par (at least to me and my totally typical WASP friends ;P) then I'll send some her way. Love your blog and you are just one of the neatest people I've had the pleasure to "meet".

The Kelso-Winter Family said...

i'm a big letterwriter so she'll get one from me!

Cathy said...

I am at work and I just turned to grab my Christmas cards and it hit me that I left the bag at home today so tonight I will get right on this mission.

Lo said...

hehehehe. even tho it's not funny? snorting glitter? totally made me laugh :)

i'm not even sending cards this year but you bet your bottom dollar that i am going to pick her up a card.

Anonymous said...

Mailing the card today! Amazing story. You have such a good heart! ::)

Molly said...

Hi Catherine!! I have been a blog "stalker" for the past few months. I love. love. love your blog. You are so funny and always crack me up when I'm feeling blue. I love that you have an adoptive daughter, my brother and sister are adopted and I love them like they were my flesh and blood. You are so thoughtful and genuine ( hope I spelled that right, always thinking of others. I will definatley send Dorothy a Christmas card, because like her my granny was a 1st Leuitinant army nurse and met my granddaddy while he was in the hospital, I wonder if they know each other hmmm. Thanks so much for making me become a blog "stalker" HEHE, and for making my days!!! Have a fabulous weekend and a Merry Christmas!!

~ Molly P

feather k said...

signed, sealed and sent!

feather k said...

oh...forgot to say with glitter too!

Kimberly said...

I'm just now sending out my cards but I have you addressed to Dorothy. Better late than never, eh?