FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 8, 2018 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
VICTORIA’S
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPS-
YUNIS
vschneps@gmail.com
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ETS
m
From hearing John Lithgow
read a child’s story to reinvigorate
his dying father,
to seeing Maria Shriver interviewed
about her best-selling
newest book, I’ve Been Thinking,
to a Saturday night dinner party
with three authors, it’s been an
inspiring week!
Then, throw in the unique
tribute to 40 women at our
show-stopping, successful
Brooklyn Power Women in
Business Awards & Networking
Event, and it was a week to cherish
and relish!
Many of you know John
Lithgow from his 40-year career
in theatre, TV, movies and yes,
even dancing with the New
York City Ballet. He is performing
now on Broadway in the
sold-out, one-man show, John
Lithgow: Stories by Heart. I was
thrilled to experience the actor
who personifies the best of that
genre.
His tale in two acts brings us
along as he visits his critically ill
and depressed father who had
been a firebrand for most of his
over 80 years. John remembers
how his dad had read him books
every night when he was a child,
and it occurred to him that he
would read his dad one of those
cherished stories, “Uncle Fred
Flits By,” by P.G. Wodehouse.
The moving story performed
by Lithgow in the voices
of all the characters made
me laugh out loud — and, as
Lithgow remembered, his dad
also laughed from his sickbed.
The laughter little by little
brought his dad out of his
depression and out of bed and
back to “life.”
I was there with him for the
The powerful magic of books
journey and appreciated the lesson
for us all evoked by the
power of laughter and the power
of theatre.
It was an unforgettable performance.
Later in the week, there I was
with Maria Shriver from my
front row center seat, thanks to
my friend Joan McNaughton, at
the Madison Theatre at Molloy
College.
Indeed, she is beautiful, smart,
warm and fascinating to listen
to! She enthralled the sold-out
theatre. I’m a forever fan of the
Kennedys and it felt so good to
be up close with a member of
that historic clan and survivor.
Her 12th book, I’ve Been
Thinking, is a powerful series
of chapters that are made up
of a collection of “Reflections,
Prayers and Meditations for
a Meaningful Life.” The front
cover photo of her was taken by
her son, one of her four beloved
children, while on a family vacation.
She has had, like all of us, a
life of challenges, and from her
perch, first as a Kennedy child,
then as an Emmy and Peabodyaward
winning journalist, First
Lady of California, and advocate
and philanthropist for patients
with Alzheimer’s disease, a disease
her mom lived through.
From her talk last week, it
sounded like her life as a writer
and mother and now nester has been balanced her faith and her writing.
I put the book nightstand because many three-page that are quick to but
filled with powerful,insightful
e as a write
ow an empty
lanced b y
riting.
by my
it has
chapters
read but
, insight
are two
not hate
passages. Here two
samples:
*“Talk of love, hate,things to do - it’s getting
late.”
*”I’ve so little time and I’m
only passing through” by
Dick Blakeslee in “Passing
Through.” The theme of
the chapter is making our
time here on earth matter.She writes, “I believe are
meant for a distinct purpose to
make our world more caring,
more conscious and yes, more
compassionate.” Amen!
Each chapter ends in a prayer.
I particularly like this one. ”Dear
tender,
and respectful toward others.”
book by a special
in the week, I
part of a unique
dinner party at the enormous
home (they call it
white elephant”) of
and Carrie Kerpen,
entrepreneurs
CEOs of Likeable
Media. Dave is considered
the “#1 LinkedIn Influencer
of all time in pageviews,”
said David Teten of Angel
Investing. He has written one
of my favorite books, The Art
of People. Carrie is a columnist
for Forbes, and has appeared on
ABC World News, Fox News and
CNBC. She has keynoted conferences
around the world and
most recently released her latest
book, Work It -- Secrets for
Success from the Boldest Women
in Business. The Kerpens have
three children.
They are a warm and loving
power couple who hold dinner
parties for 12 people who come
from different worlds but have
had an impact in their fields.
It was a great night of drinks,
food, enthralling conversation
and new friendships.
Adding to the excitement of
the week was our salute to 40
fabulous women at Brooklyn’s El
Caribe. The rain held out until
end of the evening as we
ran for our cars after the
event, but there was nothing
to dampen the excitement
and joy of the women and
their hundreds of friends.
I loved how the crowd
rushed for photos with the
popular Borough President
Eric Adams.
so proud of my team in our
Events division run by Amy and
in Brooklyn, Lori, with her team
of Amanda, Christine, Mona and
Arlene, and Helen, who edited
the Power Women biographies.
Thanks to our hard-working
staff and particularly Lisa,
selling endlessly, we were
able to raise $2,000 from raffles
for the influential Brooklyn
Community Foundation whose
mission is summed up by its
vision statement: “A fair and just
Brooklyn, built on dignity and
respect, where all residents have
the opportunity to participate
and prosper.” They aim to help
children in need and immigrant
families.
It was a night and a week to
keep in my memory bank forever!
Maria Shriver talked about her
book “I’ve Been Thinking...” at
Molloy College
f
ur
tter.
we are
pose to
caring
fabulo
Caribe
the e
all
e
r
po
Eric
I’m s
Events
in Bro
r
t
Dave and Carrie Kerpen celebrating
their books (photo via Twitter/@
DaveKerpen
The Power Women of Brooklyn event brought out over 500 people.
M
th
os
In
g
m
y
g
p y
God, help me to confidently
answer the calling to help make
the world a better place by being
caring, teners.”
Amen!
It’s a special bo
woman.
Later
was par
dinner p
mous ho
their “wh
Dave and
writers,
and co- CE
Media Dav
t
to
e,
John Lithgow’s “Stories By Heart”
told a powerful story of laughter