The Cooper Institute learned at the last moment that author/motivational speaker Nando Parrado and his gorgeous wife Veronique were going to be in town Monday. Since it hadn’t been announced yet that he was to be the speaker for the October 23 “Illuminating New Perspective Luncheon,” it seemed like a perfect opportunity to have an announcement party with the man present. But where? Up stepped Faye Briggs, whose late husband Hugh had been a Dr. Ken Cooper devotee. No problem. Faye opened the doors and about 100 top-notch types like luncheon co-chairs Pam and Mark Denesuck, Jennifer Sampson, Barbara and Steve Durham and Carol Seay plus Les Alberthal Jr., Martha and Doug Hawthorne, Diane and Hal Brierley, Toni Brinker, Lee Bailey, Doris and Jack Jacobs, and Connie and Denny Carreker arrived Monday night to hear plans.
This was a group that felt healthy and happy together. . . except Jim Keyes, whose left arm was in the season’s trendy black sling. Seems Jim had fallen and torn his rotator cuff royally. After the sling comes off, he’s facing six weeks of therapy.
Seated at a table on the terrace overlooking the pool, grounds and artwork were Caroline Rose Hunt, Billie Leigh Rippey and hostess Faye.
Speaking of artwork, Roy Sheldon spotted the life-size sculpture of see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-speak-no-evil monkeys on a bench and couldn’t resist adding his visual two cents.
Dallas Film Society Chairman of the Board Lynn McBee was telling friends about Thursday’s red carpet for the Dallas International Film Festival and Laura Linney‘s arrival on Friday, April 20, to receive the Dallas Star Award. She chuckled that she told DFS President Lee Papert not to worry about some “loose ends”. . . “There will always be oopsies. Don’t worry. . . you gotta allow 5% of the budget for oopsies.”
After reviewing his notes, Ross Perot Sr.posed for photos with a tall young fellow. To even out the photo session, Ross stood on the fountain ledge.
Then it was time to get the show on the road. Instead of having it indoors, it was such a spectacular night that Ross “recommended” that they move the program outdoors. Smart move.
Ken welcomed everyone then thanked Faye, saying, “She looks so pretty, because she’s been coming to the Cooper Center forever.” (What Ken may not know is that Faye has not been working out as strenuously as in the past, but still loves to have her nails done there.)
He officially notified the group that the luncheon would honor Margot and Ross Perot and The Perot Foundation. Then he talked about
- his going to China and raising millions of dollars for research
- Ross funding the Perot International Youth Data Center, which allows the Cooper Institute to host FitnessGram — a fitness assessment tool used in thousands of schools — and its companion NutriGram program, compiling data worldwide. Thanks to these programs, they are collecting data from countries like China and Norway.
Then Ross and his notes spoke to the group about why the development of a baby’s brain is very importan:t because doing everything right will help the child tap his or her full potential. According to Ross, studies show that the stages of a baby’s brain are
- one-year old — circuits are wired
- first four years — “math and logic” wiring happens
- three to 10 years — music
- three years — “learn how to learn”
Ross being Ross, he took a stand — “The traditional concept of public education must be altered.” Regarding reform in education, he emphasized, “We need to get doing it! We need to stop talkin’ about it and do it!”
Then he segued to the Chinese, saying, “No one is more wired than the Chinese. 1.8 billion Chinese versus 300 million Americans. “Think about that. Wanna go to war with them?! The Chinese are great warriors. When are we gonna wake up” and start competing with them, education-wise?
“The most significant things in our lives is doing good things for children,” Ross continued. “The sooner we start, the better off they’ll be.”
Ken then told the group that Honorary Chair Troy Aikman would be attending the luncheon, but couldn’t “be here” tonight. He then introduced Nando, whose book “Alive: Miracle in the Andes” is “the most fascinating book I’ve ever read.”
Nando returned the compliment, saying that it was Ken who saved his life because he was so well-trained in the Cooper fitness methods. Everyone faces a mountain in their lives, Nando said, and in October he would talk about his experience and the lessons from it that everyone can learn.
Ross returned to tell the group: “If I had three wishes for our country, they would be:
- A strong moral and ethical base.
- A strong family unit and
- The finest public schools in the world.
“These three things are the bedrock of the future of our country. Then we could really be proud of where our country is going. But the first thing is, we have to get out of the big financial mess that our country is in. With that spirit, we can do it!”
Ah, but the hostess had the last word. As the speakers ended, Faye stood up, raised her arms and, encouraging guests to keep on partying, said, “Don’t leave me!”