The Rainbow Story

Written by Diana Lynn Mairose, 5/29/06

Once upon a time there was a rainbow (RB). The rainbow wanted to share her colors with Diana. Diana spends four days at week at United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cincinnati. Rainbow decided to come and visit her at the Center. She came as a big round bright talking balloon. It was fun floating in the big automatic doors. Rick glanced over as the balloon automatically grasped Diana’s hand. Diana grasped the balloon by its long braided cord.  I went into the World Images Unlimited office and closed the door. I showed rainbow a book about what I do. Rainbow told me that she wanted to see a book about the staff members. I showed Rainbow the latest staff picture from the U.C.P newsletter. Rainbow was excited to learn about cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities. I introduced her to Carolee. Carolee was very excited about meeting the first talking rainbow balloon on earth. She told rainbow about cerebral palsy and our two centers.  Rainbow told Carolee to think of 1 wish she had for the center. RB told Carolee that at the end of the day to give her back this multi colored puzzle piece. The puzzle piece will be part of a mural for the center RB asked Carolee to write down the wish so everyone will see your colorful piece of creativity. Diana and rainbow went into the Life Enrichment area. Eileen was expecting us to be part of the staff meeting. I told the staff about Rainbow. Rainbow told the Life Enrichment staff about her puzzle piece request. Some of the staff was timid and afraid of the balloon. Jeannie was very excited to finally meet Rainbow. Jeannie knew that RB was coming on day that was not windy.  At 9:00 am Diana introduced RB to Pam Katie W Zena, Agnes and Debbie. Rainbow was very nervous giving them their puzzle pieces. RB knew that Diana worked very closely with Katie W, and Pam and Debbie. It was time for Diana’s first class. Rainbow was very nervous.  Diana was shocked to see both Pam and Katie there. They waited for the others to sit down. Diana called the meeting to order. Her first order of business was to introduce Rainbow to the group. She showed them the 2 products that they were selling. It was a book bag and a CD music holder.  The staff typed up a new inventory and price list. Rainbow was impressed with Diana’s typing and teamwork skills. They also made a new flyer to show others about the new product.  The meeting went by quick. Pam told DJ Joe Brittany and Robert that they could be dismissed. Rainbow then sung some where over the Rainbow. She was hungry and wanted to give more puzzle pieces out. After rainbow stopped singing, Pam told her the great news. Diana was chosen to speak at a World WideMicro- Enterprise Conference Fair in Coney Island. Rainbow was so excited that she magically made a colorful hot air balloon wooden necklace for Pam. She told Diana not to tell anyone until the next meeting. Diana said she would not because Balloon would help her keep the secret. Diana and Balloon were happy as they went to the soda and snack machines. Diana took out some money. Rainbow bought M&M’s and orange soda for both of them.

They sat down and ate lunch in the classroom. Diana took out 2 lunch bags for both of them.  In the Alien lunch bag Rainbow had Fruit loops and milk. Rainbow also had 1 container of her homemade rainbow yogurt. In Diana’s lunch she had a peanut butter and banana sandwich and a fruit salad. After they ate lunch it was time to give out puzzle pieces to all of the participants of U.C. P. After all the puzzle pieces were distributed, it was time for Diana to answer the phones.  The phones were very busy. Rainbow got very tired of waiting for Diana’s shift to be over.   She floated around the center. Eileen told Rainbow that Jeannie needed help with Library Book Club. Rainbow was very excited to come into the class. They were reading The Wizard of Oz. Rainbow helped Jeannie make the story come alive with some awesome voices that she created. At 330 Diana came to get Rainbow from the Computer Room. Rainbow was eating her M&M’s from lunch. She was e-mailing her other balloon friend named Betsy. Betsy lives in Fair Haven Vermont. She can’t travel to Cincinnati because it is very windy and wet in her hometown. Diana said goodbye to Pam and Katie. Pam reminded her of the important meeting at 8 am about the conference. Rainbow also asked Katie to make a flyer reminder and box for all the puzzle pieces. While they walked to the bus stop Diana told rainbow to not talk on the bus. Diana was worried that they would not be able to get on the bus with a talking balloon. Diana got their bus money out. The bus real crowded so Rainbow and Diana had to sit in the back. Rainbow had fun bouncing and sitting in the small uncomfortable streets. Rainbow was very quiet on the way home. Diana decided to take a read a book about the conference. When they got home Diana got her mail and checked her phone messages. She showed Rainbow the house. Rainbow loved Peaches. Diana looked in the refrigerator for dinner. She found out that there was nothing she really wanted. She told Rainbow that they were going out to dinner after she changed her clothes and did some work on the computer. Diana then asked Rainbow” what would you like to do?” Rainbow decided to look at Diana’s pictures of her family. Diana changed to her rainbow dress.  The phone rang. It was Diana’s mom. She wanted to take Diana out to dinner at Indigo’s. Diana told her that was a great idea but she had Rainbow the talking balloon.  Her mom said,” why don’t you bring her along?” Diana said okay. Diana and Rainbow took the bus so her mom could walk to the restaurant. Diana and Rainbow trotted in. While on the bus Rainbow became nervous. She was scared to talk at the restaurant in front of people she did not know. Diana told her not to worry. She would order her tomato soup and mush up some ravioli for her.  Rainbow said yum and decided that she would eat it at home. Diana decided to have rainbow sit in the corner of the booth while they ordered a pizza for them to share. They all ordered Diet Pepsi. While they were eating Diana told her mom about the conference. She said wow! At that point Rainbow wanted to ask a question. She said, “Do I get to go?” Diana said that will be discussed in the next meeting. Rainbow became excited. It was time to eat. The meal was delicious. For desert Diana bought coffee ice cream from Greaters. They took a walk to Diana’s mom house. My mom’s dog and cat looked at Rainbow with awe. Diana fed Rainbow her dinner. They were about to leave a big storm struck. Rainbow and Diana were stranded. They spent the night a her mom’s house. Rainbow enjoyed sleeping in the big bed with Diana. All of a sudden the lights went out. Rainbow and Diana became scared. Would the lights return on before 6 in the next morning? If not the 8am meeting would have to wait. Would Pam know to call her Mom’s home?

Stay tuned for Chapter 2 of Rainbow’s Wishes

Written by Diana Lynn Mairose

5/29/06

Diana’s mom came upstairs with a big flashlight. She said that she would try to check her cell phone for the time. Diana and Rainbow were happy. A few minutes later the cat Scout and my mom went upstairs. She said it was 3:00 am.  Diana’s mom put the alarm on for 6:30. Adele said that she would let her daughter borrow a dress for the next day. At that moment Diana’s step-dad came upstairs. Patrick set the alarm clock for 7: am and went back downstairs. Rainbow and Diana went back to asleep.  The alarm clock went off and Rainbow ran down the stairs. She was afraid of the loud music. Diana had to run downstairs to catch Rainbow. She took a shower and got dressed. All of sudden she realized she had no shoes to wear.  After Diana got washed up they went downstairs for breakfast. Diana said “mom we forgot about my shoes!” Adele said to check the basement for shoes. Diana went to the basement. She looked for some shoes. Diana found her old red dress up shoes. She thought it would match the red dress that she was wearing. Diana trotted upstairs in her new shoes.  Adele said what a cool idea! Rainbow and Diana had blueberry muffins and white grape juice. Diana and Rainbow read over the conference information before Patrick drove them to United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cincinnati.  Patrick got them there at 7:55. Rick said Good Morning to them and said that the meeting was in the conference room. Rainbow and Diana walked down the step Diana introduced Rainbow to Leslie and Susan before going into the conference room. Pam and Katie came down a few minutes later. Pam told Diana that she was very impressed with her leadership and work ethnic.  Katie also said that it was her idea to keep it a secret until they got the final confirmation.  Diana told them that she read the book about the conference. Diana said she liked how the speakers were able to talk about their own micro-enterprise experience. She could also have the opportunity to educate and advocate for more opportunities for local micro-enterprises. Pam asked Diana if she read about the special award that could be presented. Diana said yes. Pam also told Diana that she would nominate her for the Business Advocate Award. That award had three requirements. The first one was to be in the micro-enterprise for 4 years. The second requirement was to be an Advocate for telling her story to at least 50 people. The third one was to find an outside role model who can help tell other people about United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cincinnati and World Images Unlimited. Diana was excited but nervous. How could she help Rainbow with the puzzle piece mural and contact Mr. Williams at the same time! Rainbow said easy. She would gather all the pieces today while you contact Montel Williams. Diana said ok! Pam said,” I have an idea! After the meeting let us go to his website and find the name of his personal assistant. Katie said that sounds like a great plan. We also need to find time to write your speech about What World Images Unlimited means to you. Diana said can I type my speech in Jeannie’s Creative Writing Class? Katie told Diana that she would ask Jeannie for her permission to complete her speech in class. Pam adjourned the meeting. At that moment, Rainbow woke up from her little cat nap. They all went upstairs to find a big bucket of puzzle pieces that said To Rainbow from The U.C.P Staff.  Rainbow got very excited as she pulled tighter on Diana’s hand while she picked up the bucket.  Diana showed Rainbow a big table in the Classroom. She said that you could put together the puzzle in here. I will be in Pam’s office until Lunchtime. If you need help you can ask Katie or Traci. Don’t bother anyone this morning. I will see you soon. Have fun! Diana walked towards Pam’s office in a hurry. She was very excited to contact her role model. As I walked in to Pam’s office I thought of how difficult this task would be. Pam said HI and told me to have a seat. I said “Pam how are we going to contact Montel Williams in one day!” She told me that Agnes would help us by doing some research. Pam said could you do some free writing for your speech? I said yes. After a couple minutes of brainstorming Pam’s phone rung. It was Traci reminding Diana to order lunch for her and Rainbow. Diana asked Pam to order them 2 chicken sandwiches. At 915 Pam called Rick and said to take all messages for her. If Agnes needed to contact Diana or if called back just directly transfer them to her office until 11am. Pam asked Diana if it was okay to make the big announcement today while in the WIU meeting.  Diana said yes and started writing her speech for the event. The time seemed to move slowly. While Diana wrote she became very anxious while she waited for the phone to ring. At 10:30 the phone jarred her concentration to a halt. She picked up the phone and said “this is Diana. The lady on the other line was Agnes. She said that her magic contacting skills worked. A lady named Alexis would be contacting her at 4. She also reminded her of the board meeting that night at U.C. P. Diana said yes. Could Rainbow stay with us? I forgot to arrange a ride after the meeting. Agnes said yes. Diana said thank you and finished brainstorming for her speech. At 11 Diana told the news to Pam about contacting Montel Williams. Pam showed her the flyer and the WIU minutes for the board meeting. Diana decided to check on Rainbow. She opened the door and found Rainbow talking to Katie about her puzzle piece. Katie and Rainbow got excited as Diana approached them. Dana updated Rainbow about the 4 o’clock phone call and the board meeting. Rainbow showed Diana the Wish Puzzle. There were lots of wishes for the center. But the biggest wish was from Zena. She wanted the center to be a lot bigger so we could create more employment and programs for adults and teenagers with physical disabilities. Another wish was to have more art and business opportunities for World Images Unlimited and U.C.P’s artists. Rainbow Diana and Katie were impressed with everybody’s concerns for the center. The next step was to figure out a plan for it to come true. Rainbow had a brilliant idea! She said “Could we ask Mr. Williams for his help in raising money and finding building space for us to use.” Diana and Pam were amazed with Rainbow’s puzzle solving and creativity skills. Pam said it was time for lunch. Diana and Rainbow decided to eat their chicken sandwiches with Jeannie and Patty. After lunch Diana showed Rainbow a way to keep the puzzle together. Rainbow became very excited and wanted to frame it for the board meeting. Diana thought that was a beautiful idea. At that moment, Katie B came in. She said that there maybe some extra frames at the art studio. Katie told Diana that she would measure the puzzle and ask Eileen to find one this afternoon. Diana said great! It was almost time for Jeannie’s creative writing class. Rainbow wanted to come to class with her. She said that it was time for her to take a colorful nap. It is going to be a long night. Jeannie said Hi Diana! Where is Rainbow? I said she is taking a colorful nap. Diana got her disk and notes out to write her speech. Jeannie told Diana that she could work with her one on one because Traci   volunteered to help other people write. Diana decided to first make a cover page for her speech. After that the writing became more difficult to do.  Diana decided to write about her role as a co-manager of a local micro- enterprise.  Diana thought of 3 main points that she learned while working with World Images Unlimited.  The first part she thought of was telling the audience about how Teamwork. It is  a very big part of how we formed our business