43 Comments
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Janice Anne Wheeler's avatar

Fabulous. Perfectly told. I love surprises. And so glad there's another good J out there somewhere!!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Everyone loves a benevolent J ❤️

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Irena Smith's avatar

Janice is a rock star. So are you. xoxo

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

You're so kind, Irena. Thanks.

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Irena Smith's avatar

Kind, schmind. Just being a truth-teller is all.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

You are simply the schmest.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I love that! I was just on a call with one of my bros oldest friends and she gave me a message to give to him. I'm supposed to say, "Schmoopie says hi." Because it's an a name they've been calling each other for years. Such schmaltz! xo

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Nan Tepper's avatar

She sure is. And she sure is! xo

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Amy Bee's avatar

I'm sorry if you've covered this and I've forgotten, but reading your story is an option? As in, you're not telling it, you're reading it from the page? I didn't realize that. That honestly makes 4 minutes much more feasible. I've mentioned before how hard it's been for me to get a story that's told/performed (not read) down to FIVE minutes! Especially because performing it always seems to add at least 2 1/2 minutes, lol. But if it can be read . . . cool. Anyway, love what you're doing.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

You can read! We allow people to be on book for sure. But, I'm curious. Why does it feel more feasible if you can read? We still want acting and emoting, and all the stuff! It's not just a straightforward read.

I will tell you from 10 years of storytelling experience that if you keep the story close to 500 words, you'll do fine. I think you should go for it, Amy Bee! xo

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Amy Bee's avatar

Personal experience tells me it's more feasible! :) I get that you still emote and project and perform; I just didn't know you could read from the page. It sounds like A LOT of fun. And I'd like to support what you're doing. I'll be in touch.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Thank you! I'm thrilled. And we need all the support we can get, so yay! xo

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Ouida Weaver's avatar

So good.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

She is, isn't she?!

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

No one will ever convince me that the clickety-clacking Janices of the world aren't actual angels manifesting in just the places and at just the times they're most needed. Or maybe some folks are just better practiced at exercising their wings.

This was a shiny gift for my day. Thank you!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Sometimes just knowing WWJD (what would Janice do) can inspire...

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I love your comment, Elizabeth. I think angels can be found more places than we realize. Often I think they're missed because we're not fully awake. I love the reminder of our inherent goodness when something like this pops in. We really are more capable of kindness than we know. xo

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Lucy Conway's avatar

Love it

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Chris Stanton's avatar

Awesome, Eileen!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Appreciate you, Chris.

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Wendy Wolf's avatar

You were so brave. And Janice was an angel.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Angels that move among us quietly are the best kind ❤️

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Wendy Wolf's avatar

I’ve been thinking about this ever since I read/listened to your story. It all started with honesty. If you hadn’t told her the real deal, it wouldn’t have opened the door to her help. There is power in straightforward truth.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

That's a good point.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Exactly. If we're vulnerable with others, it gives them permission to be authentic back. It's so good, isn't it? xo

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Wendy Wolf's avatar

It is. It’s scary sometimes, and not always well received, but it’s the only way to make a genuine connection.

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Kill Hckman's avatar

This story was so very wonderful. I truly enjoyed every moment, thank you so much for sharing.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

You're so welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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Kill Hckman's avatar

This is very much unrelated but my family’s Matriarch is also named Eileen and I’m sure you despise this question but even with it’s foul implications I can’t help but Dexys Midnight runners “Come on Eileen” how do you feel about it? Save Ferris did a cover and I don’t know if it’s just because her voice is so lovely but it just feels less creepy, just curious! My Grandmom doesn’t even like it being mentioned in her company.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I tolerate it a lot at work. I get that it was the third most popular song of the 80s and a one hit wonder so it has some real staying power. And it's such a happy song, really. That said, it usually gets sung to me by people with no imagination and when it was popular the dj at our local club used to pretend to strangle himself when he put it on after multiple requests. So...it's complicated.

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Kill Hckman's avatar

Haha yes so happy ya gotta love a song about some rando cis man begging a *barely* legal little girl for her flower 🤢🤮 I had no idea what the fuck I was singing to annoy her when I was a kid.

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Marcia Meier's avatar

LOVE this story!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Thanks, Marcia ❤️

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Beth's avatar

I am loving these stories! Even better, I am loving the video author read stories‼️💕 Stories about human kindness especially welcome now ☺️

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Aren't they? I need them for sure. But I'm also into the more fierce ones. Looking forward to see what happens when we debut on January 17, 2026 with our premiere show, My Body, My Rules!

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Jacqueline Crandall's avatar

Love this!

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

Thoroughly enjoyed this! Spoken words for the win!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Have you signed up to be a storyteller, Amanda? We'd love to have you. xo

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Liza Debevec's avatar

Wonderful, thank god for Janices of this world. This also made me think of Jamie Lee Curtis's character in Everything everywhere all at once (which I just saw for the first time last week).

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

Just no hot dog hands….

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Nan Tepper's avatar

BUT I love the hot dog hands...especially with sauerkraut and mustard! xo

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A CRONE WITH A BOTTLE. Or two.'s avatar

Beautiful. You should absolutely write a book about your life.

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Nan Tepper's avatar

I agree. She should! xo

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