http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:40:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2786 Ginger Andrews Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:07:11 +0000 http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm#comment-2786 Dearest Laura, thank you, first of all, for the chicken soup -- the best I've ever tasted! -- and thank you for reminding me that it's okay to send a scrap of a homemade gift across the miles to someone who probably has many lovely things. You remind me to not become weary in doing good. Sometimes I wish I never had to clean another house, cook another meal, etc. I'm very human, and in my own mind, quite lazy. (My sisters would tell you that I whine too much.) Your praise embarrasses me, but not enough to not say thank you. You are an awesome friend who always seems to know when I need your gift of words. We are just two women. Pen Pals. Poets, who care about others, about what we do here, in our time. Love & Blessings, Ginger Dearest Laura, thank you, first of all, for the chicken soup — the best I’ve ever tasted! — and thank you for reminding me that it’s okay to send a scrap of a homemade gift across the miles to someone who probably has many lovely things. You remind me to not become weary in doing good. Sometimes I wish I never had to clean another house, cook another meal, etc. I’m very human, and in my own mind, quite lazy. (My sisters would tell you that I whine too much.) Your praise embarrasses me, but not enough to not say thank you. You are an awesome friend who always seems to know when I need your gift of words.
We are just two women. Pen Pals. Poets, who care about others, about what we do here, in our time.
Love & Blessings,
Ginger

]]> http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2787 Penny Alper Boyd Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:56:11 +0000 http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm#comment-2787 Great news. A new book of poetry by Ginger Andrews. The concept of interdependence really came alive for me in her first book, An Honest Answer. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied together into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." While Andrews’ stories can seem distant to most of us, her familiar voice is easy to transpose. It elicits not only our admiration and compassion for her, our motivation to do more, to be more genuine, but the recognition of just how much humanity truly exists in our own personal lives, which is so easy to take for granted. I have given An Honest Answer to friends and family in different walks, stages, and conditions of life (poetry lovers and avoiders alike). Andrews’ autobiographical poems changed us, albeit in very individual ways, and inspired dialogues that otherwise would not have taken place. Through her 20/20 perception and poetic precision, her wit, and her refusal to compromise, I think Andrews fades the judgmental lines that we allow to keep us apart. I can’t wait to read (and share) Hurricane Sisters. Thank you, Laura, for bringing this new work to our attention. Great news. A new book of poetry by Ginger Andrews. The concept of interdependence really came alive for me in her first book, An Honest Answer. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied together into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
While Andrews’ stories can seem distant to most of us, her familiar voice is easy to transpose. It elicits not only our admiration and compassion for her, our motivation to do more, to be more genuine, but the recognition of just how much humanity truly exists in our own personal lives, which is so easy to take for granted.
I have given An Honest Answer to friends and family in different walks, stages, and conditions of life (poetry lovers and avoiders alike). Andrews’ autobiographical poems changed us, albeit in very individual ways, and inspired dialogues that otherwise would not have taken place.
Through her 20/20 perception and poetic precision, her wit, and her refusal to compromise, I think Andrews fades the judgmental lines that we allow to keep us apart. I can’t wait to read (and share) Hurricane Sisters. Thank you, Laura, for bringing this new work to our attention.

]]> http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2788 Dr. Pat Allen Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:22:31 +0000 http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm#comment-2788 Jackie is 71 years old and works full time. She is from the Midwest originally and gradually worked her way via Chicago to New York City. She is brilliant, cultured and incredibly kind. I spoke to her tonight about her recent emergency gall bladder surgery. Everything went perfectly once she was in a room and the surgical team did everything like a Swiss watch. In and out with major surgery for gall bladder removal in one day. What a miracle. But Jackie was really unhappy. While she was waiting in the emergency room of this hospital, she noticed that a woman from Russia who lived in Brooklyn was in terrible discomfort and both her legs were black. The woman told Jackie that she had been waiting for three hours at this point and several other patients had been taken in to the main emergency room for evaluation even though she had arrived before them. Jackie explained to the woman that there was a system in emergency rooms to treat the sickest first. Jackie, however, was concerned about this woman and spoke to the triage nurse about her length of stay in the waiting room, her poor command of the English language and her severe discomfort. The nurse promised to expedite her evaluation, but added that Raisa had been called in over an hour before and had not responded. Jackie pointed out that the nurse garbled the pronunciation of Raisa's last name, thus rendering it unrecognizable. More hours passed and Jackie was taken in for evaluation, then her new acquaintance, Raisa, was brought in as well. Jackie's surgical team completed her evaluation quickly and began the plans for removal of her acutely diseased gall bladder. Raisa, in the meantime, had not even been given a hospital gown. Jackie called a young resident over and told him that she was concerned that this woman could have an acute and severe problem. "Could it be gangrene?" she asked. It must be something dreadful because this elderly woman came all the way from Brooklyn leaving an elderly and unwell husband and the four orphaned grandchildren she cared for full time to be treated at a big teaching hospital. Jackie's former husband was a surgeon and she did know a thing or two about timely evaluation of acute medical problems. The resident recognized that this was not a woman to fool around with. He arranged for an evaluation that took place quickly. But Jackie was amazed to learn two hours later that Raisa had been sent home in the middle of the night to Brooklyn with a diagnosis of an infection and a prescription for antibiotics. After she arrived home, less than 24 hours later, Jackie called the emergency department to check up on Raisa. She reached a thoughtful and organized nurse who listened carefully to the story and gave Jackie her word that she would personally find out who was monitoring Raisa's care and make sure that she would be appropriately cared for. The nurse accepted responsibility for the lack of timely care and assured Jackie that Raisa would not fall between the cracks of emergency evaluation and delayed clinic care. Jackie is writing a letter to the emergency room director with thoughtful suggestions about the way that patients with poor comprehension of English could be better served. She has a list and will persistently follow through until she knows that Raisa -- who seemed to matter so little to anyone -- gets the care she deserves. Random acts of kindness performed during a time of Jackie's own personal anxiety. It is amazing what a difference one person can make. One act at a time. Jackie is 71 years old and works full time. She is from the Midwest originally and gradually worked her way via Chicago to New York City. She is brilliant, cultured and incredibly kind.
I spoke to her tonight about her recent emergency gall bladder surgery. Everything went perfectly once she was in a room and the surgical team did everything like a Swiss watch. In and out with major surgery for gall bladder removal in one day. What a miracle.
But Jackie was really unhappy. While she was waiting in the emergency room of this hospital, she noticed that a woman from Russia who lived in Brooklyn was in terrible discomfort and both her legs were black. The woman told Jackie that she had been waiting for three hours at this point and several other patients had been taken in to the main emergency room for evaluation even though she had arrived before them. Jackie explained to the woman that there was a system in emergency rooms to treat the sickest first.
Jackie, however, was concerned about this woman and spoke to the triage nurse about her length of stay in the waiting room, her poor command of the English language and her severe discomfort. The nurse promised to expedite her evaluation, but added that Raisa had been called in over an hour before and had not responded. Jackie pointed out that the nurse garbled the pronunciation of Raisa’s last name, thus rendering it unrecognizable. More hours passed and Jackie was taken in for evaluation, then her new acquaintance, Raisa, was brought in as well.
Jackie’s surgical team completed her evaluation quickly and began the plans for removal of her acutely diseased gall bladder. Raisa, in the meantime, had not even been given a hospital gown. Jackie called a young resident over and told him that she was concerned that this woman could have an acute and severe problem. “Could it be gangrene?” she asked. It must be something dreadful because this elderly woman came all the way from Brooklyn leaving an elderly and unwell husband and the four orphaned grandchildren she cared for full time to be treated at a big teaching hospital. Jackie’s former husband was a surgeon and she did know a thing or two about timely evaluation of acute medical problems.
The resident recognized that this was not a woman to fool around with. He arranged for an evaluation that took place quickly. But Jackie was amazed to learn two hours later that Raisa had been sent home in the middle of the night to Brooklyn with a diagnosis of an infection and a prescription for antibiotics.
After she arrived home, less than 24 hours later, Jackie called the emergency department to check up on Raisa. She reached a thoughtful and organized nurse who listened carefully to the story and gave Jackie her word that she would personally find out who was monitoring Raisa’s care and make sure that she would be appropriately cared for. The nurse accepted responsibility for the lack of timely care and assured Jackie that Raisa would not fall between the cracks of emergency evaluation and delayed clinic care.
Jackie is writing a letter to the emergency room director with thoughtful suggestions about the way that patients with poor comprehension of English could be better served. She has a list and will persistently follow through until she knows that Raisa — who seemed to matter so little to anyone — gets the care she deserves.
Random acts of kindness performed during a time of Jackie’s own personal anxiety. It is amazing what a difference one person can make. One act at a time.

]]> http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2789 naomi dagen bloom Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:00:59 +0000 http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm#comment-2789 oh, laura, many thanks for a gentle reminder i needed today--and every day. your quilt, ginger's quilt can warm us all. oh, laura, many thanks for a gentle reminder i needed today–and every day. your quilt, ginger’s quilt can warm us all.

]]> http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2790 Faith Childs Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:08:46 +0000 http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm#comment-2790 Ginger Andrews’ generosity prompts one to reorder one’s priorities by relegating trivial matters to the margins, to try to practice humility, and to abandon hubris. The example of her life makes me want to read her work and share it with others. Hers will be the books I will talk about and give to others as this year ends. Ginger Andrews’ generosity prompts one to reorder one’s priorities by relegating trivial matters to the margins, to try to practice humility, and to abandon hubris.
The example of her life makes me want to read her work and share it with others. Hers will be the books I will talk about and give to others as this year ends.

]]> http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2791 Anne Rachel Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:49:27 +0000 http://womensvoicesforchange.org/random-acts-of-friendship.htm#comment-2791 Laura, what a touching and poignant entry. Your sharing has definitely "encouraged" me to try to do something from the heart, not only today but, every day. Laura, what a touching and poignant entry. Your sharing has definitely “encouraged” me to try to do something from the heart, not only today but, every day.

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