[Nfbktad] NLS: Mitzi's surprise

Tue Feb 17 16:51:14 UTC 2015

My apology if this has already been shared but I don't recall seeing it.  Thought many would enjoy reading though.

>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

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