It’s interesting the paths life will take you. Sometimes you get to choose the path. Sometimes they choose you. But either way, they get chosen.
As I write this, I am sitting in a plane flying home from Los Angeles from a trip that I didn’t even know was going to happen until four days ago. Just sitting here pondering the last few months of my life. They involved several paths I never knew
I would take. First, in December, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. And a few short weeks later she had surgery and had lost her right lung. In the weeks that followed, I moved back in with her and took a leave of absence from my job to take care of her.
After several setbacks, she is back on her feet and life is slowly getting back to normal for her. She mentioned recently that she wanted to send me and my husband, Jeff, on a vacation for all I had done for her. Now I am on my way home from that vacation.
I never thought my life would go down a path that involved a loved one surviving cancer. Also, little did I know that four days ago my life would take another unbelievable path. This path, instead of being a terrible, sad, event, it was a wonderful surprise. Little did I know I was headed down a path to meet my favorite actor in person, Pierce Brosnan.
Being a fan of his for years, I just happened to be looking over his Facebook page and saw a post about an auction on Ebay to go to the premiere of the movie Oceans with an opportunity to meet Pierce. I never dreamed I would be the one to win. I told my mom about it and this was the trip she wanted to send us on. I won the auction and the whirlwind began shortly after. Airline tickets, hotel reservations, packing and most importantly, finding a way to be off work on Friday to fly out. After all, this was only a few short days away from the end of the auction.
After winning, I came in contact with Jeff Pantukhoff, the President of The Whaleman Foundation. He is
a wonderful person and with his help all the plans for the premiere came to be. Little did I know at the time just how wonderful those plans would turn out to be.
On Saturday, my husband, Jeff, and I arrived at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood and met with Jeff from the foundation right on the “blue carpet” where Pierce was to arrive. I have to admit I was a little star struck, but Jeff’s kind demeanor made me feel comfortable. Then Pierce arrived. My favorite actor right in front of me shaking my hand at a Hollywood movie premiere. He was very kind, patient, and generous with his time. A true gentleman in every sense of the word. He immediately signed an autograph to my mom and offered for me and my husband to walk the “Blue” carpet with him. Wow! I never expected such kindness.
Now comes the movie. And what a movie it was. I have never seen such beautiful photography in my life. I even saw ocean creatures that I didn’t know existed. Then the message of the movie sunk in and it sunk in hard. We have got to start taking better care of our oceans and the creatures that live in it. They now depend on us for their survival. It doesn’t just take people like Jeff who
have dedicated their lives to saving these creatures. It takes all of us in a major way.
I will no longer walk past someone else’s trash left on a beach. I will make the effort that others didn’t to protect these special creatures. And I will spread this message:
Everyone should see this movie. Everyone should feel the impact that I did. Some scenes brought me to tears. With each person doing their small part we can all change the world one day at a time. We can change that path we take in life.
I would like to thank Jeff for putting the auction on that brought me down that path to this movie. I would also like to thank Pierce for donating his precious time to us at the premiere and making us feel important. Also I would like to thank my husband for being the most understanding man in the world and dropping everything at the last minute to take me to Hollywood for the movie. And last, but definitely not least, I would like to thank my mom for making it all happen for me. Now let’s all take a new path in life and care for our oceans and those very special creatures that live in them. We can change the future.
Sincerely,
Donna Loebler
“With each person doing their small part we can all change the world one day at a time. We can change that path we take in life.” – Donna Loebler
Here’s what you can do:
1. Write, e-mail, or call President Obama and let him know that you want the US to use its sanctioning powers available under the Pelly Amendment against Japan, Norway, and Iceland until they stop whaling. White House Comment Line: (202) 456-1111. White House Fax Line: (202) 456-2461.
Compose and Send a message directly to President Obama:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
President Obama’s mailing address:
President Barack Obama, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500.
2. Write or call your US Representatives and Senators and let them know that you want the US to invoke the Pelly Amendment against Japan, Norway, and Iceland until they stop whaling.
US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 456-1414.
