Welcome back, friends, to the happiest note to hit your inbox all week! (Well, we hope). 😉
Really though -- remember when email was still pretty new -- or are you not as old as I am? I believe I had three email addresses back in the day, meaning the ‘90s, all of them silly (one was “kooler-than-u,” yes, with the letter U, please laugh at me), and I believe it was @hotmail.com. I haven’t been on hotmail since probably 1999, but the point is, this was a time before much online shopping or email spam or mobile bill payments and invoices. Or maybe I was just a kid. But my emails were mostly from my cousins who lived out of state, and I lovvvved signing into my account and reading about what they were up to in Chicago. These days, I’m known to avoid my personal email on occasion, like if I know I have some quote coming in for a roof repair, or I fear my monthly credit card reminder might bum me out. Being an adult is hard, you know?
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So with that in mind -- let’s make email fun again. You should look forward to your inbox.
And I want to help!
So I’m going to start by telling you, and showing you, a super sweet story. Let’s bring bring back the idea of getting lost in a nice email. This situation I’m going to share with you first was almost pretty scary -- almost! -- but luckily, a 4-year-old girl in a tutu came to the rescue (and yes, you read that correctly). A tutu. Buckle up for this one!
‘For the first time in forever’ ... ❄️
Any “Frozen” fans out there? Amelia Jermyn would probably consider herself one, although she likely wouldn’t use those exact words. See, she’s 4, and cute as a button. No really, watch her interview and try not to squeal. Anyway, she was recently running around her house, listening to music while her dad was in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, when: Fire. 😬
Yes, a fire broke out in the kitchen, and I kid you not, almost to the beat of the music, that jaunty “Frozen” song came on -- you know the one, “For the First Time in Forever.” Amelia’s feet scurried on out of the kitchen as she ran to find her father and tell him the news. It was RIGHT when the music picked up, almost on cue, that she went running. She’s even heard saying “Dad’s going to kill me!” as if the fire was her fault. 🤣 (And it wasn’t, by the way. Strange story, the air fryer that caused the fire was plugged into an outlet but not even on -- and nothing was in the appliance at the time). Amelia’s dad, for his part, acted quickly. He sprinted to the kitchen, grabbed the fryer and threw it in the pool. No one was hurt, and the home didn’t sustain any serious damage. Here’s the moment, captured on Ring cam, when Amelia spots the countertop blaze.
“If Amelia had not come and got me and I had not paid attention to her, probably one or two more minutes, we would have lost the kitchen -- at least the kitchen,” the dad said. “It was pretty close.”
Incredible job, Amelia! And hey, don’t just take it from me. Amelia is a much better storyteller. You have to watch this video.
💌 From the mailbag 💌
“‘Something Good’ is the best thing that has happened to TV journalism! ... Today, as I was cleaning up my kitchen after a (long) weekend of festivities, I turned on ‘Something Good.’ This is what our nation needs now -- wonderful, uplifting, feel-good and heart-wrenching POSITIVE news reporting! Kudos to the creators. All I can say is more, more and more please!”
-- Kathy from Bruce Township, Michigan
And while we’re at it: Two sports-y stories, in case you’re in an Olympic mood.
The Olympics are *the best*, are they not? If you’re anything like me, you’re stoked that the Tokyo Games are now well underway after we all sat around for more than a year, wondering what was to come, following the unprecedented postponement.
The events go well beyond the world-class athletes and the incredible level of talent showcased night in and night out. The Games are about sportsmanship, perseverance, dedication and so much more. I’m known to tear up, learning some of the backstories (and the commercials -- does anyone else tear up every time at the Toyota/Jessica Long spot?) “It might not be easy, but it’ll be amazing. I can’t wait to meet her!” 🥺 Go watch if you have no idea what I’m talking about.
Anyway, these next two stories I’m going to tell you about strike the same chord: They’re not about sports, they’re about what sports can do in someone’s life.
First, it’s a softball team for older women -- yes, they’re seniors, but they’re far from whatever elderly women you might be picturing in your head. “We laugh. We laugh at each other. We laugh at ourselves,” one of them said. “We all want to win, but it’s the friendship (that means the most).”
At the end of the day, they simply love the sport, and they refuse to let age get in the way. A quote Patsy Duncan said she likes to use is, “You don’t get old and sit down, you sit down and get old.” Another athlete added, “When we’re out there and playing, we give it all we got. You know, it might hurt, it might kill us when we get done, but we’re out there giving it all.”
These gals are just the best.
And what are the chances I have another softball story to tell you about? Here’s what you need to know about this one: A man named Alexander Wainscott only recently picked up the sport. He said he always wanted to part of a team growing up, but he wasn’t sure he’d fit in. Enter: This Pride softball squad. “When you’re out here, you’re a ball player,” another team member said. “... You’re a ballplayer on the field. You’re not a gender -- no sexual orientation, nothing. You get out there, you’re a ballplayer. End of discussion.”
Added Wainscott, “I mean, we all have a similar background. I think that’s the biggest thing when it comes to the morale. So no matter what, we’re just there to support each other. Softball is a great way to build friends and great relationships.”
And THAT, my friends, is what competition is all about.
And finally ... a request 🙂
I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again: We want to write about you or the people in your lives or hometown! Know someone regularly helping others? Or what about just a beautiful act of service that you might have witnessed? We’d love it if you shouted someone out. You could even shout yourself out, although we know you might be too humble for that. Really though: We’re friends by now. You have to tell us this stuff! Here are two really great examples of what we mean -- watch this! and then this! -- and here’s the link for nominations. Heck, you could even email me and I’ll help you get it all set up. 💛 It doesn’t have to be this all-encompassing, huge act. It could just be your neighbor who you know regularly pays for the car behind her at Starbucks.
We love hearing from you. Even my colleague Jack recently asked our viewers and readers about who adopted or otherwise obtained a new pet during the pandemic. We were flipping out over all those sweet puppy faces you guys shared. Have one you’d like to contribute? It’s not too late. Here’s a link for that, and hey, even if you DON’T have an animal photo to post, we’ve gotten more than 80 animals submitted thus far. Flip through those doggy smiles and try to tell us your afternoon wasn’t brightened up just a litttttttle. 😉 Here’s Mr. Franklin.
OK, now that I’ve told you some cute stories, hopefully made your inbox a little brighter, asked you to share your own stories and photos, I’ll sign off. Prioritize your mental health, remember to take some time for yourself this week, and hey, if you enjoyed this email even a little bit, tell a friend?
Until next time! 💛
-- Michelle Ganley
