A television anchor that I knew in Louisville, Dawn Gee (and by knew, I mean we attended the same charity thing a few times, not that we were buddies) She handled herself so well, she was really classy. One of the other anchors was once trying to embarrass Dawn with some very rude personal questions, and Dawn just straightened up and refused to sink to her level and made a joke of it, and it was so great. She was always nice to everyone. She was funny. And she was really polished and professional, but not stiff. I often think about how I want to be like her, and sometimes when I'm stressed or nervous in a social situation, I pretend I'm her and try to do what she would do. (OK, that sounds weird, but it really helps me cope sometimes).
Merv Aubeson, a former editor at my newspaper. He treated everyone like gold, he was so charming and sweet. He never had a cross word to say. He never got impatient or unkind. He worked as a reporter in the south when black reporters couldn't even have bylines, and he broke through a lot of barriers - just by being charming and knowing what he wanted, but not by being angry or pushy. He's sick now, and I'm so sad.
BTW - I just realized that both my heroes are African-American, and I'm not. Kind of funny, bu I guess they're more impressive than a lot of people I've known because they've had to triumph oer more shit than most people.
My Dad is kind to everyone. He makes people's day simply by being funny and outgoing. He talks to everyone. He wakes me up every morning and buys me Amy's Organic food everytime he goes shopping. He cooks and works, and does random nice things for me like cutting out coupons to my tanning salon and laying them out on my desk. He is the single person in my family that I admire aside from my Busia who survived a german labor camp in ww2 but that's another story. My dad survived cancer and never let his kids know how serious it was. Only now do I realize the strength it must have taken to endure those years. Okay, now I'm all weepy-I need to go hug my dad!
I also admire Oprah. She's the poster child for the rags to riches story. She also does so much for others and survived being abused and rising above it.
jen wrote: My Dad is kind to everyone. He makes people's day simply by being funny and outgoing. He talks to everyone. He wakes me up every morning and buys me Amy's Organic food everytime he goes shopping. He cooks and works, and does random nice things for me like cutting out coupons to my tanning salon and laying them out on my desk. He is the single person in my family that I admire aside from my Busia who survived a german labor camp in ww2 but that's another story. My dad survived cancer and never let his kids know how serious it was. Only now do I realize the strength it must have taken to endure those years. Okay, now I'm all weepy-I need to go hug my dad! I also admire Oprah. She's the poster child for the rags to riches story. She also does so much for others and survived being abused and rising above it.
Jen!! Would your dad consider adopting an "older" child?? The coupon clipping thing, awww, that makes me feel weepy. I just picture your dad reading the paper and thinking "Ohhh, that's where Jen likes to go tanning, must go find the scissors" Geez.......