Good Living Guide

THEMES

Hundreds Donate Old Cars to Mechanic Who Fixes Them for Rural Families In Need

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Eliot Middleton was featured in a news report about his work fixing cars and donating them to people in need. Two weeks later, he received 800 cars and more than $100,000 in cash donations.

He’s a Lifesaver

Middleton lives in McClellanville, a small South Carolina town where he owns a barbecue restaurant and works part-time as a car mechanic. To many people in his community, he’s “a lifesaver.”

Hundreds Donate Old Cars to Mechanic Who Fixes Them for Rural Families In Need

Facebook | Middleton’s Village To Village Foundation

Middleton takes old, seemingly unusable “junkers” and makes them run again. Then, he gives them away to people who need cars. He does this on his own time and with no payment beyond a heartfelt thanks. So far, he has donated about 30 cars.

Desperate Need for Transportation

People in the small rural community are dependent on cars. There is no public transportation. Taxis and rideshare companies don’t exist here.

Most of the people Middleton helps are single mothers, older people and people who are looking for work. They all need reliable transportation.

Getting the Word Out

Last month, word about his charitable work got out. A Facebook post received more than 2 million views, and Middleton’s phone “started ringing off the hook,” as he told CBS News.

The calls and emails poured in, and so did the donations. At one point, he had more than 1,500 phone messages. Middleton’s small local charity suddenly became international news.

Getting Help

Overwhelmed by all the attention, Middleton turned to his sister Desiree for help. To manage the donations, she established Middleton’s Village to Village Foundation as a nonprofit organization.

Village to Village was awarded the Jefferson Award for public service. This prestigious award was established in 1973 to honor public and private citizens who show “the power of service to others in bringing out the greatness that lies within us all.”

Going Global

Middleton has fully staffed his foundation and is bringing in more cars. With a full team of mechanics and volunteers, he plans to continue fixing cars and saving lives.

Hundreds Donate Old Cars to Mechanic Who Fixes Them for Rural Families In Need

94-Year-Old Woman tries on Wedding Dress for the Very First Time

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A grandmother in Alabama is proof that you’re never too old to be a princess. The 94-year-old fulfilled a lifelong dream when she wore a wedding dress for the first time.

A Secret Wish

Martha Mae Ophelia Moon Tucker, a grandmother in Birmingham, was first married in 1952. At the time, black women were not allowed in many stores, including bridal boutiques. She got married without the fun of trying on dresses that many brides take for granted.

Her family never knew about her secret desire until one evening when she was with her granddaughter Angela Strozier.

A Favorite Movie

The two were watching the Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America, which is one of Martha Mae’s favorites. During the wedding scene, Strozier heard her grandmother say, “I’ve always wanted to try on a wedding dress.”

Determined to fulfill that wish, her granddaughter enlisted other family members for help.

Beautiful Bride

Family members quickly arranged a dress fitting at David’s Bridal in Birmingham. The whole family gathered to watch their grandmother fulfill a wish she’d held for over 70 years.

Erica Tucker, another granddaughter, captured the moment in a Facebook post that went viral. In a caption accompanying a picture of Martha Mae in a beautiful gown and veil, Tucker wrote, “Y’all better create moments and memories with your people. I’m so glad I was there to witness this.”

Creating Memories

Local news caught wind of the story and interviewed the family. Tucker told WZM News, “There’s nothing her children and grands wouldn’t give to make her smile. I’m sure she doesn’t know what going viral is, but she loves attention, so please believe that all of this love has brightened her days.”

94-Year-Old Woman tries on Wedding Dress for the Very First Time

Man with Alzheimer’s Falls In Love With His Wife Again and Remarries Her

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Alzheimer’s can take away memories, but it can’t take away love. That’s what Lisa Marshall discovered when her husband proposed to her a second time—because he forgot they were already married.

Man with Alzheimer's Falls In Love With His Wife Again and Remarries Her

Facebook/OhHelloAlzheimers | Dan Brehant Photography

WHIRLWIND ROMANCE

The Andover, Connecticut, couple first met when they were neighbors and married to other people. Years later, they lost touch but then reconnected when both were going through divorces. After a “whirlwind” romance, they married 12 years ago.

Three years ago, Lisa noticed Peter was having memory problems. It was more serious than the usual age-related memory lapses. She took him to a doctor, who gave them the grim diagnosis. At just 53, Peter had early onset Alzheimer’s.

Man with Alzheimer's Falls In Love With His Wife Again and Remarries Her

Facebook/OhHelloAlzheimers

”LET’S DO IT”

Alzheimer’s normally strikes older people. Only about 5% of all cases occur in people under the age of 65. Peter was one of the unlucky ones, but he was lucky to be married to Lisa. He retired from his job, and she retired to become his caretaker. Over time, he lost all his memories, including his memory of his marriage and that Lisa was his wife.

One of their favorite shared activities was watching the TV show New Girl. One episode featured a particularly moving wedding scene. Peter suddenly turned to Lisa and said, “Let’s do it. Let’s get married.”

A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY

At her family’s urging, Lisa agreed to stage a second wedding for her and Peter. She decided it would be a wonderful way to renew their vows, even if Peter thought it was their first wedding.

Lisa runs a Facebook blog for Alzheimer’s caretakers called Oh Hello Alzheimer’s. The blog featured pictures of the ceremony, and the story was picked up by news and TV reports nationwide.

Man with Alzheimer's Falls In Love With His Wife Again and Remarries Her

Facebook/OhHelloAlzheimers | Dan Brehant Photography

BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES

Lisa said Peter was excited and happy the whole day. He forgot all about it the following day, but Lisa said she has her memories to sustain her.

“I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” Lisa said. “He fell in love with me twice. It really is a true love story.”

Man with Alzheimer's Falls In Love With His Wife Again and Remarries Her

Angel Gowns Project Turns Donated Wedding Dresses into Infant Burial Gowns

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A volunteer project helps families cope with the terrible loss of a child. The Angel Gowns Project turns old wedding dresses into beautiful burial dresses for newborns.

Angel Gowns Project Turns Donated Wedding Dresses into Infant Burial Gowns

Facebook | The Angel Gowns Project

NICU Helping Hands

The program is part of the NICU Helping Hands organization.

NICU is the acronym for a neonatal intensive care unit. It’s where newborn babies with serious medical conditions go for treatment.

Project NICU Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization that provides support and practical help to families who have a child in a NICU unit.

Loss and Healing

Some babies don’t make it out of the NICU. For these families, the joy having a child is quickly followed by the pain and loss of bereavement.

The Angel Gowns project ensures every family can receive a beautiful handmade garment to bury their child in.

How It Works

The Angel Gowns volunteers take donated wedding dresses and turn them into burial garments. Each dress can become about 10 little gowns.

The project now has a warehouse full of old wedding dresses. More than 500 volunteers across the country work to create the Angel Gowns.

Donations and Dresses

The project asks for a monetary donation with each dress. The donations pay for the work of shipping the gowns to volunteers and then shipping the finished baby dresses to the parents.

Women who don’t have a dress to donate can “sponsor a dress” for a woman who has a dress but can’t afford the $100 monetary donation.

Angel Gowns International

The program now operates internationally. The international program is based in Guatemala, where the program pays indigenous women to sew the dresses. Many of these women live in poverty, and the program helps them earn money and learn skills while helping other women.

Donations to the international program pay for workshops, training programs and education for the seamstresses. Project NICU Helping Hands is hoping to set up similar programs in other countries.

Honoring Precious Lives

Lisa Grubbs, founder and president of Project NICU Helping Hands, writes, “Whether a family loses a child through miscarriage, during delivery or after delivery, each loss matters and affects a family in a profound way. Our organization believes that every life matters and should be honored, no matter how brief that life may be.”

If you’re interested in donating, you can do it through the organization’s Facebook page.

Angel Gowns Project Turns Donated Wedding Dresses into Infant Burial Gowns

‘Cookie Monster’ Rock Found By Gemologist In Brazil

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You never know what you’re going to find when you go digging for rare rocks. You might find a stone that looks exactly like a famous Sesame Street character.

‘Cookie Monster’ Rock Found By Gemologist In Brazil

Facebook | Mike Bowers

Unusual Find

A gemologist has released pictures and videos of an unusual agate stone. On the outside, it is a simple round stone. When a split reveals the inside of the stone, however, both inside rock faces look like the famous cookie lover.

Cookie Monster is a character from the iconic children’s TV show Sesame Street. Cookie Monster is known for his distinctive round eyes, wide mouth and love of crispy cookies.

Remarkable Resemblance

The resemblance is truly remarkable. The hole formations in the stone look just like a smiling, wide-eyed Cookie Monster.

A gemologist named Lucas Fassari found the rock in the Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil last November.

C Is for Cookie

Mike Bowers is a gemstone dealer in California who now owns the unusual rock. In a Facebook video that has gone viral, Bowers showed a pair of hands opening the rock to the tune of the classic Cookie Monster song, “C Is for Cookie.”

Bowers said he has received offers of more than $10,000 for the rock.

Cookie Monster Rock is a Worldwide Sensation

The news was a hit among geologists, rock enthusiasts and Cookie Monster fans all over the world. Jacqueline Antonovich, an assistant professor of history at Muhlenberg College, tweeted an approving picture of the rock. It received over 500,000 likes.

Cookie Monster himself weighed in with a tweet that proclaimed, “Me no geologist, but me tink dat rock look a lot like me.”

You’re right, Cookie, it does. We better not leave it near any cookie jars, just to be on the safe side.

‘Cookie Monster’ Rock Found By Gemologist In Brazil

Little League Pitcher Gets Surprise Reunion With Military Dad

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Most kids love a surprise, but a little boy in Arkansas got a surprise reunion that swept him off his feet.

SPECIAL HONOR

Jett Morris plays Little League in Cabot, Arkansas. This year, he was chosen to play in a Little League tournament. The tournament raises money each year to honor fallen firefighters.

Jett stepped out to throw the first pitch of the game. At home plate, a catcher in a helmet and mask crouched down, ready to catch the ball.

SURPRISE GUEST

As soon as the ball cleared the plate, the catcher stood up. He removed his mask, and Jett recognized his father. It was a surprise visit home.

Jett screamed, “Dad!” as he threw his glove to the ground and raced to home plate. His dad swept him up for a hug.

Jett’s sisters Alexa and Saylor were also on hand to share in a family hug.

A SURPRISE LEAVE

Jett’s dad is in the Navy. Lieutenant Commander Joe Morris has been serving overseas for over a year. This week, he received leave to visit his family.

In a video that has gained thousands of views, you can see the whole family share the joy of the surprise meeting. That’s one surprise that will be hard to top.

Have you ever had a surprise meeting with someone you loved?

Little League Pitcher Gets Surprise Reunion With Military Dad

Patriotic Grandmother Cleans Over 600 Unkempt Military Headstones

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Our country has many cemeteries that honor our fallen veterans. Although we all pay respect to them, one Washington grandmother has made that respect a way of life.

Cleaning the Headstones

Since last year, Kelly Mulvaney has been cleaning the headstones and beautifying the graves at Grand Mound Cemetery in Rochester County. As of this month, she has cleaned more than 600 veterans’ headstones.

“The people aren’t forgotten, but sometimes the headstones get old and covered with dirt, and people can’t get here,” she explained.

Daily Ritual

Every day, she pulls up in her car with buckets, a shovel, gloves and other materials. She starts by sweeping pine needles and debris from the headstone. She then cleans stains and mold from the headstone. She finishes by clearing weeds from the edges to make the border stand out.

Each headstone looks like new when she’s finished.

Mulvaney has been dubbed the “Rochester Cemetery Cleaning Angel” by locals. What’s even more amazing is none of her family members are buried in that cemetery.

Inspired To Act

She said she was inspired to act when she and her granddaughter were taking a walk through the cemetery.

“I saw all the military headstones covered in mold and mildew and I thought, those aren’t supposed to look like that,” she told a local paper.

Taking Time

Crystal Hitchcock, whose mother is buried in the cemetery, said she can’t believe someone would “take so much time out of their day and their week and year and do that for somebody they don’t even know.”

Restoring Our Heritage

On her Facebook page, Mulvaney says she wants to “restore our heritage one headstone at a time.”

She has received messages from people who want to join her as volunteers. You can follow her progress on her Facebook page.

Patriotic Grandmother Cleans Over 600 Unkempt Military Headstones

 

102-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Joins First-Grade Virtual Gym Class

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Virtual meetings have become a way of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. People have staged virtual holiday celebrations, virtual classroom sessions and virtual weddings.

VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE

Now, these virtual meetings have turned one Arizona great-grandmother into a social media sensation.

Brody Contreras is a six-year-old boy who lives in Ajo, Arizona. Like many kids, Brody has a lot of energy, so a virtual gym class seemed like a great way to keep him mentally and physically active.

STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT

Brody’s mom Angela enrolled him in a virtual school that included a PE (physical education) class. She figured it would help him stay fit and have fun.

Little did she know that someone else would soon steal Brody’s spotlight.

FAMILY TIME

Brody was excited about his new class, and he wanted to share the fun with his great-grandmother Julia Fulkerson. Julia is 102 years old, but she is not letting anything slow her down.

Once Fulkerson received the COVID-19 vaccine, the family could spend time in person with her. The family posted a series of Instagram pictures showing Brody and Julia sharing special times.

 

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A post shared by Angie Contreras (@angiec_143)

SHAKING A TAILFEATHER

What happened next shocked everyone. When Brody showed Julia his virtual exercise class, the centenarian was inspired to join in and start moving.

Within minutes, she was shaking and grooving to the beat. Fortunately, Angela was there to film the whole thing. The incredibly inspiring video swept social media and turned Julia into an overnight star.

SOMETHING POSITIVE TO SHARE

It’s evident she’s still in incredible shape as she keeps up with a group of first graders.

It’s easy to see why the video went viral. Everyone could use something positive and inspiring to share these days. As Angela posted on Instagram, “This was quite honestly one of the most special moments ever.”

102-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Joins First-Grade Virtual Gym Class

Instagram | angiec_143

Jelly Drops Are Sweets That Help Keep People With Dementia Hydrated

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A new sweet could be the answer to a serious health concern. With Jelly Drops, it’s easy for elderly people and others to boost their water intake.

Why Hydration Matters

Dehydration is a serious problem for older people. Many elderly people with dementia and Alzheimer’s don’t drink enough water to stay hydrated. Every day, older adults are hospitalized for life-threatening dehydration.

It’s also a serious concern among children with special needs and people in nursing homes.

An Easy Way To Drink More Water

Now, an easy-to-eat jelly candy could be the answer for people with dementia and their caretakers.

Jelly Drops are round, brightly colored jelly candies that come in fun fruit flavors. Each is about the size of a ping pong ball. You just pop it in, chew it and enjoy the juicy goodness.

The Story of Jelly Drops

Lewis Hornby invented Jelly Drops after his grandmother ended up in the emergency room with dehydration. He knew she loved sweets, and he used that knowledge to develop Jelly Drops.

The candies were an instant hit with elderly people and their caretakers. Jelly Drops have received awards and recognition from a slew of organizations, including the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Alzheimer’s Society, the European Investment Bank and the Helen Hamlyn Center for Design.

Drops of Goodness

Jelly Drops contain 95% water, natural fruit flavors and no sugar. They are soft, chewy and easy to eat. The bright colors and fun shape make them attractive to people with dementia who have lost interest in food.

If you eat 10 Jelly Drops, you take in the equivalent of a cup of water. They contain no harmful ingredients, and it’s safe for children and elderly people to eat as many as they like.

Where Can You Get Them?

You can buy them directly from the Jelly Drops website. Most people use the monthly subscription service.

Jelly Drops

Gatlinburg’s Treetop Skywalk is the Longest Tree-Based Bridge in North America!

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When you were little, did you dream about walking in the treetops like a bird or a squirrel? You can live that dream at the Treetop Skywalk in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Anakeesta Theme Park takes you soaring above the earth and through the forests of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains.

FLY ABOVE THE CITY

The Treetop Skywalk is a series of interconnected bridges that soar high above the city. Its 16-bridge skywalk is the longest tree-based bridge in North America.

Walk through the trees as you catches glimpses of birds, bears and other wildlife. Watch as the fog that gave these mountains their name rolls through.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

The park is more than the Treetop Skywalk. According to Knoxville Moms, Anakeesta is the family-friendly destination you need to visit right now. This year, Anakeesta has added the AnaVista Observation Tower. It’s the tallest building in Gatlinburg, and it gives you breathtaking 360-degree views of the forest and mountains.

If you feel daring, try zip-lining through the treetops or ride the mountain roller coaster. Try the various obstacle courses. BearVenture is an easy activity all kids can enjoy. TreeVenture offers more of a challenge.

MAGICAL MOUNTAINS

The Smoky Mountains Local Expert Team has high praise for it, saying it’s a magical experience: “As your eyes seek to take in the utter splendor of the living mountain, you are surrounded by the aroma of dogwood trees, spruce and hemlock. No matter how warm the day, the air that touches your face at that elevation feels cool and fresh.”

WIND DOWN AND RELAX

If all that activity makes you hungry, stop for a bite to eat. The park offers several places to eat and drink, including some that offer panoramic views. Wrap up your day with a drink or a bite by a cozy fire pit.

If you’re looking for a fun activity in Tennessee, get your spirits soaring at Anakeesta Theme Park.

Treetop Skywalk