[Dtb-talk] NLS: Mitzi's surprise

[David Andrews]

>
>Hi All,
>   Since I know there are many many BARD and traditional NLS talking 
> Book fans here, I thought this would be appreciated so just thought 
> I would pass this along! Sorry if it is a duplicate.
>Have a wonderful week all!
>Chris
>
>From: Erin Jones [mailto:ej2roads at yahoo.com]
>Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2015 11:12 PM
>To: Erin Jones
>Subject: Mitzi's surprise
>
>Hello All and Thank You from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of 
>a CLASS ACT: The Lady Mitzi Friedlander!
>
>For privacy I have BCC'd the many who answered my call at the end of 
>2014. I spent an amazing first weekend of 2015 listening to the 
>FLOOD of audio files and emails that rushed in beginning January 
>1st! I know how wonderful and impressive Mitzi ia but hearing again 
>and again and in so many unique ways how her narration opened minds, 
>imaginations and hearts. I laughed. I cried. I listened     AGAIN 
>AND AGAIN. And so will Mitzi!
>
>APH had a lovely reception and tribute to Mitzi on February 5th. 
>Mitzi was surrounded by APH dignitaries and close friends. She 
>received a video message from Congressman John Yarmuth, was 
>celebrated by our Mayor Greg Fischer and The Kentucky House 
>adjourned that day in honor of MItzi. She received a plaque from 
>Governor Steve Beshear. Her studio was forever named "Mitzi's 
>Studio".Three clips were played - as a tease - of the messages you 
>sent in,( Debbie Kendrick, Don Horn and Bobbie Blose.) Mitzi read a 
>Shakespeare Sonnet at the end tenderly and brilliantly. She wore a 
>corsage that at first glance was a white rose surrounded by yellow 
>sweetheart roses, but upon closer inspection was a page of a book 
>fashioned into a perfect rose!
>
>Our February 12th dinner was in an upstairs room at a favorite local 
>bistro, The Bristol. We hoped our secret would be kept but we are a 
>studio full of Chatty Katny's. My theory was that Mitzi knew but 
>would give us the gift of faking it.
>
>John Polk asked Mitzi out, accompanied by her husband. He has known 
>her since he was 5 years old. Mitzi spoke at both John's parents funerals.
>So Mitzi agreed. We assumed she would be suspicious because they 
>brought them up through a freight elevator. John Polk swears Bill, 
>(Mitzi's husband),knew but Mitzi didn't. Mitzi started to wait for 
>Bill to exit the lift and he ushered her forward. And there about 
>twenty of us were including names and voices you know: Jack and Jill 
>Fox, Madelyn Buzzard, Carol Dines, Michael Mccullough, Andy Pyle, 
>Jennifer Hubbard and the behind the scenes God-sends, our audiobook 
>editors and proofreaders. Some of whom have been in the studio for 
>up to thirty years.
>
>We had a table with flowers and gifts that we got to after ordering 
>dinner and visiting. At our table Mitzi sang Rosie O'Grady! After 
>eating and laughing and visiting with Mitzi AND each other, (We go 
>to individual studios on a time clock and rarely get time to do 
>this!), we presented our gifts.Michael Mccullogh spearheaded a 
>printed list of ALL Mitzi's titles. We recruited about a dozen of us 
>to be a typing pool over one weekend, each of us typing about 
>100-200 titles! The result was displayed beautifully in an 
>over-sized storage book, on antique-inspired paper and bound with 
>ribbon. I presented Mitzi with letters and poems and the audio cd of 
>patron greetings. We had 70 audio files, about 40 notes letters 
>emails and mayby twenty recorded phone calls! I told her about my 
>wonderful new year hearing from all of you! And being so touched by 
>everything. And then, yes, Brad Corallo, I had your limerick made 
>into a pillow! I gave her the pillow embroidered side down and said 
>the pillow was to encourage her to rest and then revealed the 
>limerick in a burgundy thread on steel gray ultra-suede. She read it 
>aloud and in clear voice that filled the room.
>
>I'm sure I will hear from her after she's heard your voices a few 
>times. It was a special time for her and for all of us in the 
>studio.Your participation made it more so.
>
>Special Thanks to Linda L., John M. in North Carolina, Nancy L, Brad 
>Corallo and Donna G and Behind Our Eyes.
>
>Also thanks for repeatedly pointing out that Mitzi may be retiring 
>but her books can be downloaded in the middle of the nigh for a long 
>time to come! So her lovely voice , " a  voice that was infused with 
>a hint of champagne bubbles." (Thank you David in Lafayette!) - will 
>be heard and heard and heard.
>
>Feel free to forward this to lists.I included many people in this 
>email but I'm sure I have missed some!
>
>Many, many thanks! Please keep your ears to the ground about an 
>archive of the February 5th event! A recording was made and I expect 
>it will surface somewhere. I will let you know when I do!
>
>APH HAS A SNOW DAY TOMORROW!!!
>
>Our first snowSTORM of the winter! Lucky Louisville!
>
>Yours,
>
>Erin
>
>
>Mitzi is one of the Best
>A Benchmark for most of the Rest
>Her Memory Survives
>She Dwells in Our Lives
>For her readings have poignance and Zest
>
>- B Corallo
>

         David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org