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Where Hospitality Meets Heart CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Between The Lines Gate Expectations — by Elise Carrington

Sadly, it reminded me how rare people like Janet and Raffaele are. But it also made me understand even more clearly why I had fallen in love with them both. “I became a little bit like the mom who walked in and said, ‘Okay, everybody. I’ve got you.’ And I mean everybody.”

United Airlines has announced a season- al nonstop flight from

Janet Ruggeri and Diana Davis

West Palm Beach to San Francisco be- ginning November 7, which should prove to be our most entertaining cul- tural exchange since The Naked Magi- cians appeared at Dreyfoos Hall. Pri- vate-jet service, of course, is under no threat, since Palm Beachers accustomed to choosing their own departure time and bypassing Gate 14 are unlikely to rediscover boarding groups voluntarily. The route should, however, provide an entertaining influx and outflow of so- cial specimens, carrying our cashmere- and-tennis-whites contingent west and delivering a fresh shipment of fleece, vegan preferences and opinions about venture capital east. Travel from Donald J. Trump Interna- tional Airport to San Francisco sounds less like air service than an ideological field trip with beverages. At one end, fleece is evening-wear; at the other,

That, perhaps, is Janet’s real gift.

gala cocktail party for MoviesMakingADifference, or our completely zany Flamingo Bingo at Salute, she has an extraordinary ability to make people feel special. Janet and I found each other because we recognized something in one another. We both care deeply about people. We both believe relationships matter. And we both understand that the best things in life are rarely built by one person standing alone. Our partnership continues to grow, and that may be what excites me most. Together, we can see possibilities that might not have been obvious before. We can create more, accomplish more and, hopefully, make a difference for more people along the way. After all, that is what Janet has been doing all along: creating beautiful experiences, caring for people and reminding everyone fortunate enough to cross her path of something simple and profound—

She understands that success isn’t always the biggest deal, the biggest house or the most impressive résumé. Sometimes it is someone walking out of a restaurant smiling because you made them feel special. It is a family finding their first home. It is a charity feeling supported. It is a staff member knowing someone has their back. It is being able to put your head on your pillow at night and say, “I did something good today.” Maybe that is the real art of taking care—not simply taking care of the details, but taking care of the people behind them. And now, I’m fortunate enough to experience a little bit of that alongside Janet. Whether it is one of my heartfelt birthday parties, the elegant pre-

“You matter. I’ve got you.”

Diana Davis is Founder and Executive Director of MoviesMakingADierence. (MMAD) is a 501c3 non-prot organization making socially conscious movies

highlighting the injustice of human tracking, child marriage, child labor and spiritual abuse, then directly aiding the survivors upon whom the lms shed light. All donations are tax-deductible. All proceeds go directly to raising awareness and aiding survivors of human tracking. (EIN #46-1336051)

Janet Ruggeri attends a MoviesMakingADierence event.

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