40 MARCH 9 - MARCH 15, 2018 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
VICTORIA’S
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPS-
YUNIS
vschneps@gmail.com
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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 journey
and appreciated the lesson for us all
evoked by the power of laughter and
the power of theatre.
It was an unforgettable performance.
The powerful magic of books
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 Peabody-award 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
an empty nester has been balanced by
her faith and her writing.
I put the book by my nightstand because
it has many three-page chapters
that are quick to read but filled with
powerful, insightful passages. Here
are two samples:
*“Talk of love, not 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
we 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 God, help me to
confidently answer
the calling to help
make the world a better place by being
caring, tender, and respectful toward
others.” Amen!
It’s a special book by a special
woman.
Later in the week, I was part of a
unique dinner party at the enormous
home (they call it their “white elephant”)
of Dave and Carrie Kerpen,
writers, entrepreneurs and co- CEOs
of Likeable Media.
Dave is considered
the “#1
Linked-
In 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 the end of the
evening as we all 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.
I’m 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.”
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
Dave and Carrie Kerpen
celebrating their books
(photo via Twitter/@
DaveKerpen
John Lithgow’s “Stories
By Heart” told a powerful
story of laughter
The Power Women of Brooklyn event brought out over 500 people.