Meet the Attitude Angels
Meet the Attitude Angels
Meet the Attitude Angels. They’re tree ornaments made out of recycled soda cans. I take these things everywhere I go come fall because the story is so touching to me, and the angels are incredibly fun. You see, these angels are made by children of the Zulu tribe in South Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS. It’s an extra-mural activity that helps them feed, clothe, and educate themselves. This program is simply amazing with the impact these kids feel and the chance at a normal life they now have. A few weeks ago, though, the response I received to the story of the Attitude Angels threw me. I had an audience in front of a large group of people who take care of children as their vocation. I expected them to embrace the angels as my customers have. The first woman picked up the angel, I shared the story behind them, she got a funny look on her face and set it down. Then it happened again, with that same funny look. Then the third woman who picked up the angel actually said, “Oh my, I hope the child who touched this didn’t have AIDS.” She then released it like it was dirty. I was shocked. My time with these people had been amazing. The stories of what they were doing to help children blew my mind. So imagine my surprise that they would be afraid to touch something made by a child orphaned by AIDS. So I quit telling the story. The story is written on the attached card, so they have it if they want to read it, but I quit telling the actual story myself. I told an abridged version, leaving out the AIDS part. Shameful, yes, but I was so thrown by the reaction I didn’t know what else to do. And here’s where things got interesting. One of the ladies on the hotel staff stopped by. She had stopped by earlier that morning, and was looking at two of the pendants made by the Karen Hills Tribe in Thailand. She was inked up with tattoos, had numerous piercings, and a bubbly warm personality that made her a treat to talk to. As she walked away with her pendant, she picked up one of the angels. It was made from a Tab can. She shrieked out, “Oh my goodness, it’s a Tab can! I haven’t seen one of those in years!” It was done, we had formed a bond of understanding. How can I not treasure anyone who recognizes and remembers Tab? I mean seriously, this soda was all OVER the place when I was growing up. It was the diet drink that the pretty girls chose…or at least that’s how the commercials spun it. So she asks the question, “Can you tell me the story of who makes it?” Without even realizing what was coming out of my mouth, I told her the story. The real story, not the glossed over orphans for some undisclosed reason story. The story of the children who were left destitute because their parents had died from AIDS. She teared up. Instantly. No slight eye water, she was actually ready to cry. She looked me in the eye and said, “My Mom died from AIDS when I was a teenager. These kids are just like me.” I couldn’t help myself, as she started telling her story, I started to tear up with her. It was one of those moments and she is one of those people that you remember for a lifetime. You just never know who you might run across in life. You never know how you might effect them. And you simply can’t imagine how they might effect you. It started with a simple little story. That very special young woman has her Tab Attitude Angel to remember the other children just like her. I have a different perspective on life. I’m not sure who was touched more. So…everyone…meet the Attitude Angels…they were made by children who have been orphaned by AIDS.
