Maggie Mae Pup Reporter: Doggie Love
“Nobody will ever love you as much as your dog does,” writes Jean Craighead George in her book, How to Talk to Your Dog. I have been thinking about that line since I interviewed her last year. What better month than February and the love issue of Inside Chappaqua to explore the way my canine friends and I express our love.
I’m always happy when my owner comes home. I wag my tail, run to her and then scurry to see what she has brought into the house. My friend Bear, a big Akita/Shepherd blend, howls to welcome his owners Dan and Sheila when they walk through front door. Coco and Jules, two mixed breed rescue dogs, jump on their owners Dave and Celine giving them lots of licks. “We follow them around the house because we want to be near them,” says Coco who also loves to cuddle with the family cats.
Another way I show my love to my owner is to curl up on her bed. I roll over so she can rub my belly. Coco and Jules love to nestle in bed with their owners too. “My favorite morning moment is to jump in the bed and snuggle,” says Coco. “And Jules loves to kiss his daddy’s shiny bald head when he does his sit ups!”
The sofa is another place to show affection. I climb up with my owner, resting on her chest while she watches television or reads a book. I can feel her heart beating and I am sure she can feel mine. My friend Belle, a Chocolate Lab, nudges her owner Jen when she wants to lie down next to her. And on a cold winter night, Bruno, a Boxer, puts his paws up on his owner Carmine, hugging him till Bruno falls asleep in his arms.
Grooming is not my favorite activity, but it’s a special time for Alfie, an Old English Sheepdog. He loves to be brushed by his owner Bill. “I just melt,” says Alfie. It’s a bonding experience for both.
I never know who I will see when I take walks. When I see Natalia and Melanie, two six year olds who live in my neighborhood, I always wiggle and wag my tail with happiness. I give them my kind of hug, nuzzling on their feet. One day I saw Riley, a year old American Staffordshire Terrier. We were sniffing each other “hello,” when all of a sudden the girls came running towards me. I was excited to see them, but Riley, who did not know them, barked. I had never heard him bark before so I knew he was protecting me–giving puppy love a new meaning!
When I’m feeling affectionate, I push my head under my owner’s hand, begging to be petted. She calls me a love bug and says, “Maggie, you’re my girl.” I love her no matter what she does, even if she annoys me–which she does from time to time. I protect her, I defend her and I will be a loyal friend, always. This talk of love makes me want to jump up on my owner’s lap, lean my head on her hands, and finish writing this story together.
Contact Maggie Mae Pup Reporter.
Maggie Mae lives in Chappaqua with her adoring owner Ronni Diamondstein, who, when she isn’t walking Maggie is a freelance writer, PR consultant, award-winning photographer and a School Library Media Specialist and teacher who has worked in the US and abroad.
A Flood of Love
By Jeff Cohen
“We didn’t want to see our father wait on a death list or have to be on dialysis the rest of his life.” Jennifer Flood and her sisters, Cynthia and Heather, craved a happier outcome for their father, Daniel, of Pleasantville, NewYork.
The Flood sisters’ journey began with a simple Craigslist ad that read “Please help me find a kidney for my dad.” As Jennifer recalls, “the three of us were Craigslist regulars for everything from finding child care to selling jewelry, so why not get creative and go
for a kidney?”
Media attention for the ad ensued and soon over 100 people had offered to be tested. While approximately 50% of responders were genuine, the bigger hurdle was finding a blood type match for Daniel. His O-negative blood type meant the chosen donor would need to be O-negative or O-positive. Ultimately six responders were tested and in December 2008 Daniel was the lucky recipient of a living kidney donation from Dawn Verdick of Monterey, California.
The Altruistic Donor Dawn was not the Flood sisters’ aunt, distant relative, or even close friend. She was a complete stranger compelled to help.
As Dawn recalls, “when I saw the Craigslist ad I had just been to a memorial service for someone very close to me who had made such a difference in the lives of others.” At the outset, Dawn didn’t know her volunteerism desires would lead to kidney donation. “After seven months of conversations, research and testing, the answer to donate was obvious,” says Dawn.
To this day, the primary question asked of Dawn is why she would want to help a complete stranger. She is also frequently asked “What if something happens to your good kidney” or “What if the kidney recipient dies?” Dawn fervently believes that “helping others and being outward focused is truly the only remedy we need to create a better world.”
Inspirational words from someone whose altruistic ways extend beyond kidney donation. Dawn is also the President and Founder of Dare to Dream (www.daretodreamfund.org), an organization with the vision of providing every young person with the opportunity to discover his or her potential in school, at work, and in life through goal achievement and life preparedness programs.
A Foundation
is Born
Thanks to Dawn, Daniel Flood has a new lease on life. You could argue that saving dad is a noble enough cause, but it was just the beginning for the Flood sisters. En route to finding a living donor for Daniel, the sisters founded The Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation of America, www.floodsisters.org. The Foundation’s mission is to educate people on alternative ways to find a donor for kidney transplantation. Their focus is centered on the idea of the “altruistic donor,” or unrelated living donor.
According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) more than 93,000 Americans are currently on the national kidney transplant waiting list. While up to 16,000 or so kidney transplants are performed annually, the average wait time can surpass seven years. Sadly, many waiting list candidates will pass away before a kidney donation match is made.
“If we can raise awareness for living donation, word will spread, and waiting lists will shorten,” says Jennifer. With a wait list generally within a year, the Flood Sisters have facilitated four more transplants since their dad’s. Currently, 53 additional patients are registered, with 25 donors on hand getting tested for compatibility.
“Ultimately, we’d like to complete one transplant per month and provide hope for renal failure patients besides the traditional deceased donor transplant.”
Spreading the Word
Raising awareness is a primary mission for the Flood Sisters Foundation. Their annual fashion show does just that. On December 2, 2010, The Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation of America presented the 2nd Annual “Love. Give. Life.” Park Avenue Fashion Show at the Audi Forum of New York City, sponsored by the National Association of Profession Women (NAPW). Top fashion designers joined together to highlight the importance of altruistic/unrelated living donors.
As designer Elene Cassis noted, “I was extremely touched by the Flood sisters’ amazing story of how they saved their father’s life.” Elene is no stranger to tragedy herself, as her own father drowned. “The fear they had knowing they could lose their father is something I can certainly relate to and understand. It’s wonderful how they found someone to save their father’s life and continue helping others who are in a difficult situation in finding the right donor.”
Fellow Chappaqua resident Pam Zonsius, founder of “The Brelli” biodegradable umbrellas, supplied Brellis for some of the models to hold in their hands down the runway. According to Zonsius, “in the name of their father, The Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation fundraising event was very personal. They have been successful in creating a model to match people in need of a kidney with a donor and Brelli is happy to be part of this passionate mission.”
The star-studded affair was co-hosted by CNN producer Phil Rosenbaum and medical producer Maria Dorfner. Household name companies participated in a silent auction, including Calvin Klein, David Yurman Jewelry, Build-a-Bear, the Tony Hawk Foundation and Ivanka Trump Jewelry. A February fundraiser is in the planning stages.
Touching Lives, Inspiring Hope
Live speakers touched by donation inspired the crowd, including Jamie Howard and Lisa Williams.
Jamie’s daughter Caitlyn was
born with reflux and needed a
kidney transplant.
“I was very worried Caity would be on the waiting list for years, so I contacted the Flood Sisters.” Just before joining she got the call a deceased donor had been found. Caitlyn quickly went from a very, very sick child with dark circles and yellow skin to a very healthy 13-year old.
Still, Jamie feels the Flood Sisters’ impact to this day. “I am comforted knowing that should Caity ever need another kidney I have somewhere I can go without having to feel hopeless and go on that waiting list. It really makes a very scary situation have some hope.”
For Lisa, she did some soul searching in arriving at the decision to give her kidney to a dear friend.
“I knew he needed it and felt as though I was extremely blessed to be able to give him an opportunity to lead a more normal life.” Lisa consulted with her Rabbi, who said, “to save a life is to save the world.”
The Terrific Trio…
Jennifer: spent six years in psychiatric nursing before working in finance, where she began building the Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation from her cubicle.
Cynthia: Jennifer’s twin, Fashion Institute of Technology graduate with a masters degree in art business from Sothebys, now working in compliance on Wall Street.
Heather: a Westchester social worker currently in training to become a therapist.
Today Lisa feels complete when she sees how well her friend is doing and thriving. She also stares in awe at the Flood Sisters. “They have such a passion and their journey was not completed when their father received his new kidney.” Lisa is a Flood Sister advocate for life and will continue to let people know that donating their organs to save a life is the most gratifying and honorable thing one can do.
The Journey Has Just Begun
Altruistic donation really is all about love. As the Flood Sisters’ website explains, “In the field of organ donation, it is love that carries the day, whether its for an individual recipient or simply for humanity. Organ donors are truly heroes. Everyday, they give of themselves to help others, gaining nothing of material value in return.”
In the end, The Flood Sisters’ philosophy sums it all up. “We changed our father’s life for the better. Now, we want to help others fight Kidney Disease. The power of one can save so many lives-imagine what can be done with all of us.”
To learn more about The Flood Sisters Foundation of America, visit www.floodsisters.org or call 646-287-2900. Donations can be made online or by check payable to The Flood Sisters Kidney Foundation of America, 100 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
Jeff Cohen recently lost his mentor and father-in-law to kidney disease but lives his dream as a writer and consultant at Boldroad.com.
Gotta Have Faith
By Michael Kohn
British superstar George Michael sings “I gotta have faith.” If the crowds who gather at her gigs are any indication, so do the fans of Justine Faith, owner of NightStar DJ and Karaoke. What she started on a whim has blossomed into a successful entertainment company for this resident of Pleasantville.
Justine didn’t set out on becoming a queen of karaoke. After studying Animal Science at Cornell, she hoped to become a veterinarian. William Congreve said: “music hath charms to soothe the savage beast…,” but taking care of animals was not to be. A love of singing, including a three-year stint with the All-City Chorus in Manhattan during high school, eventually brought her to a different career path.
Fifteen years ago, when just a regular karaoke singer, a DJ asked her if she wanted to learn the ropes. So, she learned how to dj, what to say to the crowd and began a business of her own, starting with one show a week. When another bar asked her to do a karaoke show on the same night, she trained her own DJ, and thus, a karaoke empire was born. Today, between Justine and her stable of DJ’s, NightStar DJ and Karaoke now hosts 21 shows each week, not including weddings and parties.
Along with regular gigs in Westchester, Connecticut and the Bronx (her one night “off” is Monday), Justine also hosts a regular Thursday night show at the world-famous Sylvia’s in Harlem. “The singers [there] will blow your mind,” she says.
When I interviewed Justine over the phone, I could hear in her voice the pride she took in her work, including the fact that she was the first African-American woman to own a karaoke company. She talked about how important the singers are to her and pointed out that other DJs sometimes steal time from the singers by singing too often themselves, in spite of the fact that she is blessed with an amazing voice of her own. (Her mother played piano at Carnegie Hall and taught music and piano, and Justine was an accomplished piano player by age six.)
She stressed the value of encouraging her DJs to talk to everyone at the bar, even non-singers, who just come to enjoy a good show. “Anyone can press buttons; it’s about personalities,” she says. As a karaoke DJ myself up in Albany, I was curious to see Justine in action, and fortunately found a chance to after visiting my daughter in New York City. She was returning to her long-running show at Thataway’s Café in Greenwich after a three month hiatus recovering from surgery, and invited me to see her “live.”
I arrived to find Justine ordering a soda amidst a sea of her loyal fans. On a Sunday night, no less! Justine began the show and I was delighted I made the trip. The atmosphere and the singers were fantastic and everyone was showing karaoke love. I even met a few of the karaoke hosts who work for her. It was clear that they all had Justine’s love for karaoke and her professional philosophy of giving the very best to the patrons. She wants to “make it [the show] memorable so they will come back.” I ended up staying over two hours.
Karaoke’s not all fun and games. In addition to managing all the shows, Justine works hard at booking, preparing contracts, and publicity. “It’s a tough business and I have to work hard to hold onto shows,” she adds. After seeing one, it’s obvious that the effort is worthwhile.
The central theme which emerged during the interview was how important the people are. Justine wants to give them the very best and has been rewarded over the years by meeting many wonderful people. Since she began, at least eight couples married after meeting at karaoke. Justine dj’ed at their weddings too, expressing how honored she felt that she was chosen to entertain.
Locally, you can find Justine and her other hosts at Quaker Hill in Chappaqua, Lucy’s in Pleasantville, Opus in Armonk. For a complete listing of her shows, visit her website at www.nightstardj.com.
When Mom, OMG, “Friends” You
By Rick Reynolds
Look. We all know that, regardless of your age, your mother always knew more about you than was good for her health. But when my mother friended me six years after her death, I’m thinking, “Thanks a lot, Facebook!”
Upon awaking from that nightmare, I decided to stay off the social networking site. It appears that Osama bin Laden, Bernie Madoff, and Rick Reynolds are the only holdouts left–in this world or beyond–who prefer their privacy.
If only there were a “mother” button on Facebook, we would place her there. If you’re like most people, your shameful life dictates that you, instead, place Mom in a special alternate, clandestine area where one neither accepts nor declines; a kind of Facebook purgatory where she can believe you or her prying eyes. Of course, you can always decline the request –in polite company we call it, “ignore.” It’s not that your mom isn’t your friend. Indeed, she’s so special a friend, she comes with her own special name: “MOTHER.”
But if your mother made it to the 21st century a decade after you did, you’ll need a protocol. After all, it’s not just mothers. Many fathers, uncles and grandfathers are married to moms, aunts and grandmothers–if not yours. And virtually all have received that gift that keeps on giving–social networking.
The main thing to remember, when Mom decides to friend you, is not to panic. Take a deep breath. Draw the air deep into your powerhouse. As I said, your mother already knows how weird you are—if not the details—even without Facebook. Now, all she wants to know about are your secret experiences. (BTW, your father hasn’t got a clue, unless your mother told him.)
While composing your Facebook status, decide if your profile is appropriate. Look into a mirror and ask yourself if you have more than six pictures of yourself that would prevent you from landing a future job at FedEx. If you’re holding a glass in the picture, Photoshop milk into it. If you’re standing next to undesirable characters holding up birds without feathers, consider deleting them or rethink accepting your mother as a friend. However, you must always remember who’s footing the bill for your lavish lifestyle. And where your inheritance is coming from.
I’ve thought of starting a Facebook page, but with my paranoia, there wouldn’t be anything on it. I’d use an alias, post a picture taken 30 years ago, and retouch my beard. I’d have plenty of friends, but they’d soon get bored staring at a vacant page, much like they do when they read my magazine columns. I read recently about a software developer, Dana Hanna, who walked down the matrimonial aisle with cell phone in hand. After vows were exchanged, but before kissing the bride, Hanna took his cell
phone and updated his relationship status. Just when I was feeling terrible for the bride, I read she grabbed the phone from him so she could update hers.
It was then I knew a new mother was born; one who will eventually know more than is optimal for her health. The minister waited patiently for each to confirm the other’s new status, before declaring them husband and wife.
Mark Twain once wrote, “I was dead for millions of years before I was born, and it didn’t inconvenience me in the slightest.” Well, Twain did ease my unease with mortality, but it will take more than Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg (Time magazine’s “Person of the Year’) to share my millions of sorry moments—despite knowing it would not inconvenience (or surprise) my mother in the slightest.
Chappaqua alumnus and 35-year resident of Chappaqua, humorist Rick Reynolds resides in southern New Hampshire with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.