I worked for Aging and Adult Services for nearly two years. I think I helped a lot of people in that time and gained so much experience. I felt good knowing I could make a difference in someones' life.
Like the time I helped an unwed mother, only a teenager, find diapers for her baby. The baby was only a few months old, and the mother couldn't afford diapers. Instead of just giving out money we tried other methods to help. We learned that cash would sometimes go for drugs or alcohol instead of the intended purpose. Instead, I called numerous stores in the area. A national toy store chain agreed to donate a box of diapers. The box was slightly damaged during shipping but the diapers inside were still good. The young mother only had to pick them up, which she agreed to do,. It was only a temporary fix, and she agreed to return soon so we could plan long-term solutions, like a job to get her off welfare, assistance with school if she needed to learn a trade, or child care so she could work.
I was networking and make contacts in the area. I could relate to her plight, as I felt like I was in a hopeless situation many times until someone gave me a break.
Everyday I dealt with really heartbreaking stories and it was my job to help them find solutions. I found that most people wanted out of abusive relationships, or wanted to find shelter other than living at the Salvation Army all the time or on the streets. They needed durection how to start.
The things we take for granted- food, shelter, money, the basic necessities, were lacking in the lives of so many I encountered. Many were unfortunate victims of bad luck, lay-offs from work, addiction, illness, or a natural disaster. Sure, there were those who had given up hope and just didn't care, preferring to live on the streets, declining work and seeking hand-outs instead. Many who wandered into the office were mentally ill . And some just needed direction in life, needing encouragement and reassurance along with guidance.
I had been down that road of being lost and needing someone to help me find my way. It made me extra-motivated to help.
I felt extremely fortunate leaving work each day. Life could be so much worse. The key, as I had found in my own life, was never giving up hope.
On a cold night I felt good knowing I helped someone find a shelter, a warm bed for the night. That's what Social Work is all about and I was learning things a classroom could never teach. I liked my job now. Sadly it wouldn't last much longer. But in the end, all things happen for a reason.
Meanwhile, as the spring of 1989 melted away the icy winter, I got a call from a reporter for one of the television stations in Philadelphia. His name was Mike and he hosted a special segment on the late local news called 'Three Wishes.' The segment granted the requests of some very lucky viewers every week.
In the summer of '88, when the "Three Wishes" segment had started, on a whim I wrote Mike a nice letter. I thought it would be cool for Jill and I to meet Barry Manilow together someday, maybe after she had moved here, maybe after a concert, just to say hi. I told Mike about how we had met through the fan club , how we both loved Manilow music and how special she was in my life.
Jill knew nothimg about the letter. I doubted the station would find it very interesting. I imagined they received hundreds of similar requests every week.
There were some truly inspiring stories on "Three Wishes": a mentally-challenged young man meeting and skating with his idols, the Philadelphia Elyers hockey team; a man's lifelong dream of being a disc jockey for a day; a family reunited for the Christmas holidays.
I forgot all about the letter until nearly nine months later when Mike called me. He loved the idea and thought the entire story would be interesting to detail. He wanted it to be a bigger story than I even imagined. now that Barry was on tour, with an appearance at a casino in Atlantic City only ten days away, he wanted to do it now, if possible.
Now? Only ten days away?
It would all hinge on if Jill could fly over, if Mike could arrange the meeting with Manilow and the casino, and if all the other little details could be tied together in such a limited amount of time.Without really stopping to think I agreed, planning to call Jill after work. I had no idea what I was getting into.
Would Jill agree to fly over on such short notice? Mike would work on the mountains of red tape involved. There was a possibility an airline would fly Jill over for no charge in exchange for the free publicity. No promises, but everything had to be arranged. My mind swirled as I hung up.
So I called Jill and related the entire crazy story. It seemed like a fairy tale or a fantasy. Jill was stunned. This was a chance of a lifetime. She didn't foresee problems getting a few days off from work. Actually most of her short time here in the States would be over a weekend. She could only stay a few days this time, not our usual vacation. She was willing to endure the flight and the jet lag.
She would work on arrangements on her end. Everything was so up in the air, like a house of cards, if one arrangement didn't work out the entire story would collapse.
I told her not to stress it, that if the airline wouldn't fly her over I would.If Mike couldn't pull off all the details there was always a future meeting. I was excited and so was she. Jill would call me soon with an update. I couldn't believe that I may see her again so soon.
Mike kept in touch every day. Everything looked good so far, Jill would fly in for the weekend. The station would pick us up in a limo and whisk us to Atlantic City for dinner, the show and the meeting. Mike would get his story. The Delaware Valley would get to share in a real-life romance. And we would get to meet Barry together. Perfect!
Then the wheels started to come off. Jill got a plane ticket ( which relieved a worried Mike) .but on such late notice, the best she could do was arrive the day of the show, early in the afternoon. It would be a tight schedule.
The new plan was to ride to New York to pick up Jill, then travel down to Atlantic City.Poor Jill would log many miles that day, but she said she didn't mind.
Plans still had to be finalized. Some fell through. Mike worked hard to help Jill with the plane ticket. The airlines refused, saying since she bought her ticket already and was flying over already, they couldn't do anything. Mike knew about her financial situation. I used some of my savings to help her, since I was now working full-time. Jill was worth it.
Then the casino gave Mike a hard time. Even with the promised free publicity the casino still hesitated. They didn't believe I really had a disability. They sensed a scam.
Mike pointed out that my disability had little to do with my wish. It was the love story angle and connection with Manilow he was going for. In fact, he rarely did wishes where people meet celebrities. He got hundreds of them, even several to meet Barry before my letter. This one was different. My wish was mostly for Jill. It was a wish of love and that's why he wanted to make it come true.
Mike never met me before but there was no question in his mind, especially after we talked, that I was legit. If it was a scam, he would find out soon enough.I'm sure he did a little checking on his own.
Then the casino mentioned that the show was sold out. Luckily I had tickets, one of my own and one I bought from Vicki, who couldn't go. Mike conveniently mentioned this to the casino reps. "Anymore concerns/" he sighed.
Why the casino resisted so strongly we never found out. Why resist such a happy, upbeat story?
Suddenly things looked brighter again. Mike would talk to me on Monday to firm up our plans. Have a great weekend-only a week to go!
As a Social Worker I was used to red tape and knew it took a while to make arrangements. Jill had her plane ticket, Mike finally got approval from the casino and from his station, I got approval from Mom. Everything looked promising .
Then another last-minute snag, this time from a source I never expected in my wildest dreams to resist- Barry.
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