Diptychs from Dottie and I. I bet you can tell whose is whose.
An interesting day in the classroom with the craftpunks. One of them informed me that tooth fairies use teeth for money instead of money money. They also apparently use teeth in place of bricks to build houses, whole cities even.
A person could work for years, a lifetime even, with grown-ups and never learn half the things you can learn from a kid.
Many people read and responded to the LA Times article I spoke of yesterday. I was so relieved to get this email from the reporter:
Hi Mary Ann — Thanks for your note. Things have changed dramatically
since Friday’s story about Bessie Mae Berger and her sons was published.
It prompted responses by agencies from the city, the county and the
state that are now looking for long-term solutions to their situation.
For the short-term, a privately funded nonprofit organization has found
temporary housing for the three in an assisted-living facility. No
fund has been established to benefit them, although operators of a
Venice center have set up a mailing address for those interested in
directly contacting Bessie and her sons. It is:
Larry Wilkerson, c/o Westside Center for Independent Living, 12901 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, Ca. 90066. We will publish a follow-up story in The Times. Thanks
again, – Bob
I know the plight of the homeless here in LA is dire and solutions are complex and frustrating. A donation to this family isn’t going to solve that problem, but l’m going to do it anyway. You can too if you’re pulled in that direction. Either way I know you’ll be rooting for Bessie and her boys. Last night when I was getting ready for bed I imagined the Berger family somewhere in the gleaming metropolis putting on their pajamas and tucking each other in for the night. This is one story that’s on its way to a happy ending.
Great work, Mary Ann.
‘Last week they had a spaghetti dinner.’ Isn’t that enough to make all of us feel humbled?
I just saw a report with the family in their new home and things seemed quite positive. I am so thankful that the proper agencies stepped up. So rarely do these kinds of stories have a happy ending.
Hey Mary Ann…so glad you provided us with the updates on Besse and her Boys…I’ve been busy with wedding preparations and the out-of-town guests have started to arrive so I haven’t been able to read my blogs :{ So trying to catch the important ones for a quiet minute this morning. So frustrating that people keep falling through the cracks in our government systems. This family isn’t asking for a hand-out, they just want to stay together and take care of one-another…that should be rewarded…not penalized. Thanks again for sharing and getting involved. Fondly, Roberta
Gosh Mary Ann, that sort of puts things in perspective. I used to drive a big old 1972 Pontiac Catalina that I loved. I would jokingly say that I could live in it if I ever needed to. Thankfully, that has never evolved and this story serves as a reminder to me to look at my life/world with eyes that can see more clearly what’s important and what is truly the little stuff. Thanks for the reminder!
Thank you.
Thanks Mary Ann, for the follow up report. Yesterday I forwarded the video to several people. Last night I got actual phone calls (as opposed to e-ms)from 3 of them, very touched and asking how they could help. Yes, this could be any one of us in this type of situation. Nice thought, Bessie and her boys being comfortable for a change, and hope it leads to a permanent change for them.
You did so good, writing to the paper and getting the update and an address. Few people go the whole way, and you did.
I wish every homeless person could get a Times write up and get rescued. And that everyone could have a good night’s sleep in a warm bed with comfy pjs.
Thanks, Mary Ann.
Thanks Mary Ann, great post. My grandmother lived in Richmond and had 6 boys. This could have been her. There but for the grace…….I will donate too. And I always love your reports from the world of the craft monkeys. Such insight those little people have!
Hi Mary Ann,
thank you for bringing this to our attention. I’m so glad things are looking up for them.
*Thank you* Mary Ann. 😉