FREE Community Program at the Giant: Marc S Jacobs on "Change can be your Friend" / Poem: Bobby We Love You

Marc Jacobs and I met about 5 years ago at a nearby Dunkin Donuts. The idea came from Russell Johnson, CEO of North Penn Foundation. Marc gave me some helpful ideas about raising money for New Directions, including asking Horsham Clinic for donations.

I then met with Dave Mauermann, who was swayed by my arguments, and Horsham gives to us today.

Per Marc's suggestion, I also met with Marilyn Mitchell of Abington hospital. We had an enjoyable meeting but no dice. 

One of the questions Marc Jacobs asked me was, Dyou like being poor? He didn't quite believe me when I said No, thinking I liked being a martyr.

You know what I'd buy if I were loaded?

Nuffin.

Rodin's "Marc Jacobs, The Thinker."

Our "inner child" or "frozen child" still reigns within. This scared child may stop us from venturing out to change our life. What we need to realize is the immense experience we all possess.

Don't let negativity stop you. If you wanna make a change, say, change jobs, don't talk to negative people who will discourage you. Only speak with positive people who will encourage you.


Marc is part of a Men's Group in the Berkshires, a five-hour drive from home.

When he walked into the Men's Group he shared his feelings of fearing no one would like him, harking back to his baseball-playing days when no one would choose him for their team.

His life did change in junior high, tho, when Sputnik was launched, and smart kids - with knowledge in science - came of age.

The rise of The Nerds, culminating in Zupferberg's Facebook.

We go thru a process of moving on, whether in marriage or friendships, jobs or new hobbies.

Oftentimes, we're stuck in a rut.

"Most of us make decisions from our 'inner child,'" he said.

Doing the same thing over and over may not make us happy but it's safe.

"It takes accidents and bravery to change," he said.



A crisis may occur, which audience member Eve described as "changing the way you function" and this may be an incentive to motivate yourself to change.

Before we can change, we usually ruminate about it for awhile before becoming proactive. If you don't do things to help yourself find a new job - such as talking to friends about their places of work, which is called networking - ask yourself, What is stopping me? What am I afraid of?

Usually it's the fear that things won't work out.



Marc's clients get stuck on writing and rewriting their resumes, but that's not moving forward.

The  purpose of a resume is to get an interview.

To change, "choose hope," he said.

Write down one thing you'd like to do on a piece of paper.

BE A PUBLISHED WRITER

Look at the words. Stare at them.

Should I eat them? No, no, that would be eating my words.

Once you've gotten your interview, walk into the room knowing who you are and what you want.

We had about a dozen people, most of whom found out about the class from the ad-mag PA Wire. No one could remember the name of it, tho they remembered it used to be The Trend.

Time for a name change, PA Wire? Don't be afraid.

Skipper (above) has been retired from the Marines for 25 years, got his PhD in Organizational Development and founded his own company The Bison Group. Let's look at his website together. Deep breath. OMG, it's breathtakingly beautiful and impressive.

Marc led us in a series of exercises. In small groups, we discussed What do you want from life - select one word that covers it (I chose richness) -

What do you value - What stops you from moving forward -

What one thing do you wanna change (I said walking into a room at Coffeeshop Night at Willow Grove Bible Church not knowing anyone, they all sit in cliques at tables, but I'll go at the end of the month cuz there's a jazz group I wanna see) -

Where Can You Go for Help and Support?

This seminar reminded me of ones we've sponsored by John Creveling and wife Christina Robertson. I knew them when, but know them no more.

Audience members, selection.

After I thanked Marc with some striking orange star flowers


I went downstairs to the Giant Pharmacy to say goodbye to Bobby Matza, the pharmacist.

Natch, he was on the phone.

"I have a gift for you," I said, waving my poem.

BOBBY, WE LOVE YOU

when I wheel in
I check for the spike-do
behind the counter
if there, I’m happy as
I glide past the tomato pies
and pharm
the eggs and cheese can wait
there’s my Bobby dispensing
wisdom to his fans
that rock star voice

a love-sick girl,
I remember when we met
told him about my diabetes
those wicked pricks five times
a day on my virgin white belly.
leaning on the counter
he blurted: “my roommate at prep school
keeled over with a diabetes low
his mom found him
dead on the floor
dunno if I should have told you”

I thanked him but wondered too
and never forgot the roomie
when my lows go to 34 but I refuse
to die or panic
those glucose tabs they don’t sell at
the Giant are everywhere within my reach

at work in the pharm
all you need is one enemy
one Javert who will hunt you down
and he found our Bobby
and instead of making him
walk the plank
will transfer the man
though the mobs love him
management awaits the day
when our Bobby is their
headache no more

what can his fan club do?
as president who will never
see this divine Italiano again
or hear his quests to get my meds
at the lowest price
How we howled
that the Prograf would bankrupt me
Bobby’s myriad phone calls
upon his reddening ear
got the price down

scandals at Big Pharma
Bobby knows them all
ordinary people
fathers with sons
jeopordize our lives
for the five-letter word:
greed

wheeling my kale
and spinach
my peppers and
crimini mushrooms
through the store
sorrow overcomes me
in the peanut butter aisle

how can they do this to
my Bobby
-have you ever seen his smile?
his chestnut eyes?
I begin to cry for
this man who cries for others
my tears flood the aisle
wash over the
Thomas English muffins
the Smuckers strawberry jam
o Bobby Bobby
punted out forever through
the goal post
of better tomorrows.