James Earl Jones, the legendary actor whose deep, resonant voice became synonymous with gravitas and power, passed away Monday at the age of 93. His representative, Barry McPherson, confirmed the news but did not specify a cause of death. Jones was surrounded by family at his home in the Hudson Valley, New York. For many, Jones will forever be remembered as the voice of Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” saga. That unmistakable basso profundo delivered one of cinema’s most iconic lines: “No, I am your father.” While Jones initially recorded his lines in a matter of hours, with little expectation that the film would become a cultural touchstone, Darth Vader’s voice became an indelible part of the series’ mythos, making Jones an integral piece of pop culture history. Yet his career was far richer than his voice acting alone. Over six decades, Jones crafted a legacy on stage and screen that few could match. From his Tony-winning turn as boxer Jack Johnson in “The Great White Hope” to his Oscar-nominated performance in its film adaptation, Jones consistently brought depth and nuance to his roles. He also won widespread acclaim as Troy Maxson in “Fences,” another Tony Award-winning performance that showcased his powerful command of the stage. His range extended far beyond the theater. Jones made memorable appearances in films like “Dr. Strangelove,” “Conan the Barbarian,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Coming to America.” His portrayal of reclusive author Terence Mann in “Field of Dreams” remains one of the most heartfelt performances in modern cinema, a testament to his ability to humanize complex, introspective characters. Jones himself cherished the film, describing its simplicity as the source of its magic. James Earl Jones in 1988’s Coming To America But for many, it was his voice—authoritative, commanding, yet capable of tenderness—that defined his career. Beyond Darth Vader, Jones lent his vocal talents to King Mufasa in Disney’s “The Lion King.” His portrayal of the wise, noble lion remains a beloved part of the childhoods of millions, as well as a testament to his ability to breathe life into animated characters. “You are him,” director Jon Favreau told Jones during the 2019 remake, knowing the actor needed no direction to reprise the role he had already made legendary. In addition to his cinematic and stage work, Jones was the voice behind CNN’s iconic “This is CNN” line, further cementing his status as a voice synonymous with authority and reliability. Despite this fame, Jones remained humble, often joking that while audiences remembered Darth Vader, they rarely recognized him for his acclaimed performances in Shakespeare or on Broadway. Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, in 1931, Jones faced considerable challenges early in life. His father, actor Robert Earl Jones, left the family before James was born. Raised by his grandparents in Michigan, Jones developed a severe stutter that rendered him nearly mute for several years. It wasn’t until a high school teacher encouraged him to read poetry aloud that Jones found his voice—a voice that would go on to inspire generations. Jones’ early career saw him cutting his teeth in Shakespearean roles with the New York Shakespeare Festival, where he took on iconic characters like Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear. His ability to command the stage with his presence and voice earned him critical acclaim and paved the way for a celebrated Broadway career. In addition to his two Tony Awards, Jones was a four-time nominee, with his final nomination coming in 2012 for “Gore Vidal’s The Best Man.” A titan of the theater world, Jones’ contributions were honored in 2022 when the Cort Theatre on Broadway was renamed in his honor. Despite his success, Jones remained deeply committed to his craft. In 2015, during rehearsals for “The Gin Game,” the actor arrived with a full notebook of comments from the creative team and a memorized script—proof that even late in his career, he maintained his rigorous work ethic. “The need to storytell [sic] has always been with us,” Jones once said, likening his craft to ancient traditions passed around campfires. Jones’ life was not without personal challenges, but he always approached them with dignity and grace. He married twice, first to actress Julienne Marie and later to Cecilia Hart, with whom he had a son, Flynn Earl. Hart passed away in 2016, but the couple’s bond remained a key part of Jones’ later life. Though Jones preferred to let his work do the talking, he was no stranger to awards and accolades. In addition to his two Tonys, Jones collected a Grammy, two Emmys, and an honorary Oscar. He also received the National Medal of Arts and the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, which recognized his vast contributions to American culture. Throughout his career, Jones acknowledged the power of art to provoke emotion and, perhaps, even to change minds. But he remained modest, aware of the limitations of influence. “You cannot change anybody’s mind,” he said in an interview. “But you can change the way they feel.” Jones changed how we felt about characters, stories, and even our sense of history. Whether playing a disillusioned author, a kindly king, or the most feared villain in the galaxy, he brought a depth of humanity to every role he touched. And through that singular, unforgettable voice, he left an indelible mark on the world. James Earl Jones may be gone, but his voice—and the legacy it built—will resonate for generations to come.The post James Earl Jones Dead at 93: Honoring His Iconic Voice and Storied Career first appeared on Worth it or Woke.

Anyone who's had a baby knows how the sound of crying can feel like torture. Literally.If you're lucky, you get a baby who rarely cries, but some babies spend weeks or months being screechy, colicky little fussbuckets whose unbearable cuteness is the only thing that keeps you from throwing them out the window. (If you haven't had one of those babies, that may sound horrifying, but if you know, you know.) Sometimes babies cry because they're hungry, which is a problem easily fixed. Sometimes babies cry because their diaper is soiled—also an easy fix. Sometimes babies cry because they are clearly overtired—easy to fix on paper, but not always so simple in practice. Still, you at least know what's bugging them. But sometimes babies cry and you can't figure out why. It might be gas, but they can't say, "My tummy hurts." Maybe they want to be held or cuddled, but not like that. Nope, not like that. Not like that, either. Perhaps they see all these big humans doing things they can't do and they're just mad about being a helpless baby. Who knows? With fussy babies, the traditional "feed them, change them, rock them" advice often doesn't make a dent. The crying can make you feel like you're losing your mind, so if someone figures out a trick to get them to stop—even for a while—it feels like a godsend. That's one reason this video of a dad demonstrating how he gets his baby to stop crying in 18 seconds flat has gone viral. In a TikTok video, Jonathan, aka "Tuque Daddy," shows how he holds his 2-month-old son with one hand and wraps his little arms across his body in a "self hug" with the other. Then he holds one hand over the baby's arms and torso and the other cradling him under the diaper. A little gentle bobbing in this position and voila! Baby stops crying in 18 seconds. Watch the magic happen (and just ignore the rogue "8" that gets stuck on the screen): @tuquedaddy Reply to @king.marcellius I wanna see people try!! Duet this and try if you can!! I wanna see y’all super heroes ??? #tuquedaddy #fypシ #parenting See how even just a few seconds of that crying sends an electric jolt down your spine? It was enough for some commenters to say "Maybe I need to rethink wanting a baby." (My 13-year-old son came into the room while I was watching the video and said, "That's so annoying. How did you have babies?" Yep, that was you, dude. You're welcome. After the second viewing, he actually said, "Wow. Sorry.")But then the unbearable cuteness comes in, doesn't it? Gracious, that little one's face at the end. It's amazing how quickly babies can take us from "Arrrrgh" to "Awwww." And this daddy's gentle patience and reassurance is a beautiful cherry on top. "You alright, my boy?" So dang sweet. Speaking of sweetness (and unbearable cuteness), check out Tuque Daddy's convo with his boy in another video: @tuquedaddy Paid actor ? #tuquedaddy #fypシ #daddio #funny #baby #boy #dadsoftiktok @housecoatmommy And as for the way he calmed the baby down? That's a legitimate technique that a "magician pediatrician" in Santa Monica, California shows the parents of his patients. Dr. Robert Hamilton has been treating babies and kids for more than three decades. His video describing "the hold" has been viewed more than 53 million times on YouTube and he has been featured in videos all around the world for his ability to almost instantly calm babies down. If you have a baby in your life, give "the hold" a try the next time they're crying and see if the magic happens for you. This article originally appeared on 2.16.22

It's hard to pin down the exact number of people who have been canonized or beatified by the Catholic church, but scholars say the number may be beyond 10,000. The most recent canonization by Pope Francis was Margherita della Metola in April of this year.Margherita della Metola was an Italian Roman Catholic and professed member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic who lived 1287 to 1320. A satirical Facebook page for God a.k.a. The Good God Above has nearly 4 million followers and he asked them an important question on November 1: "I have not canonized any new saints in a while. Any suggestions?" via God/FacebookThe post received more than 9,000 responses of people debating which modern-day heroes are so holy they deserve to become saints. We decided to rank the top 20 vote-getters based on how many likes they received after being nominated by a commenter. The number one vote-getter won by a landslide.(Note: Some people were mentioned multiple times, so the numbers on the posted comments aren't the only numbers that we considered.)Here are the top 20 people "God's" followers believe should become saints.Alex Trebek (1940 - 2020)"Who should be a saint?" for $800, Alex. Trebek was the host of "Jeopardy!" for 37 years and one of the most recognizable TV personalities of all time. He should be canonized for his calm presence on one of TV's most tense game shows. Lemmy Kilmister (1945 - 2015)Ian Fraser Kilmister was known worldwide by one name: Lemmy. The lead singer and bassist of Motörhead should be canonized for partying as hard as he rocked. "I don't do regrets," Lemmy once said. "Regrets are pointless. It's too late for regrets. You've already done it, haven't you? You've lived your life. No point wishing you could change it."George Takei (1937 - )Takei has had one of the greatest second acts in American life. He became a sci-fi legend and one of the first Asian-American TV stars in the late '60s as Sulu on "Star Trek." In the social media era he's become one of the most popular faces of trending content. He should be canonized for the incredible work he's done for the LGBTQ community.Pope Francis (1936 - )Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis has been one of the most popular and controversial Popes of the modern era for his unapologetically progressive views. He should be canonized for his work on climate change reform. Sir Terry Pratchett (1948 - 2015)Pratchett was an English humorist, satirist and author of comic fantasy novels, including the "Discworld" series. He should be canonized for celebrating all of the quirky and strange things that happen in "real life." Brandon Stanton (1984 - )Stanton is an American author, photographer and blogger best known for "Humans of New York," a photoblog and book. He should be canonized for his portraits of strangers who share intimate stories of strength, addiction, redemption, regret and love.David Bowie (1947 - 2016)Bowie is one of the most enigmatic performers of the past century whose work highlighted the concept of the outsider, whether it was an astronaut in space or someone living outside of traditional gender norms. Bowie should be canonized for showing humanity that there are no limitations on who they can be and how they can change.Sir David Attenborough (1926 - )Sir David Attenborough is the undisputed father of the nature documentary. Throughout his eight-decade career, his gentle, awestruck voice has served as humanity's guide to nature. He should be canonized for "Life on Earth," his series that examined the role of evolution in nature.Dr. Anthony Fauci (1940 - )Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institutes of Health, has come to the forefront of American life for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. He should be canonized for not losing his mind during former president Trump's long, rambling and factually inaccurate COVID briefings in 2020.Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 - 2020)The "Notorious RBG" became a liberal, feminist icon for championing women's rights as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1993 to her death. She should be canonized for her strongly worded dissents in women's rights cases.Robin Williams (1961 - 2014)Williams was one of the most unique performers the world has ever seen. He completely changed American comedy with his intense, high-energy improvisational comedy performances on stage, TV and in film. He was also a talented actor, winning critical acclaim in films such as "Good Morning Vietnam," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Dead Poets Society." He should be canonized for his child-like love of whimsy.Bob Ross (1942 - 1995)Ross was the creator and host of "The Joy of Painting," an instructional television program that aired from 1983 to 1994 on PBS. His infectious love of art, distinctive hair and gentle voice made him the ultimate calming presence. He should be canonized for teaching the world how to paint "happy little trees." Elon Musk (1971 - )Musk is the closest we'll have to a living Bond villain. He's a visionary billionaire who isn't shy about wanting to change the world, from how we travel to spend money. Like him or not, he should be canonized for creating the Tesla, a high-performance electric car that brought EVs into the mainstream.George Carlin (1937 to 2008)Carlin came to prominence as a counter-culture comic in the '70s where he was famous for outlining the "seven dirty words you can't say on television." However, clips of him from the late '90s and early 2000s where he eviscerates American greed, materialism and entitlement have made him still relevant to this day. He should be canonized for this incredible clip where he discusses the fact that there's a big club and "you're not in it.""It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it." George Carlin - It's A BIG Club & You Ain't In It!Fred Rogers (1928 - 2003)​Rogers touched the lives of countless children from 1968 to 2001 as the host of PBS' "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." The puppeteer, songwriter and Presbyterian minister revolutionized children's television and should be canonized for changing the way we think about the inner lives of young children.Jimmy Carter (1924 - )Carter served as president of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and his biggest accomplishment was the Camp David Accords that ended the Israeli-Egyptian disputes. His post-presidency life has been dedicated to humanitarianism causes through the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.Carter should be canonized for his humility and commitment to service.Steve Irwin (1962 - 2006)The "Crocodile Hunter" wowed audiences by fearlessly tangling with deadly snakes, spiders, lizards and crocodiles. But at his heart, he was a true lover of nature and wildlife, and an educator who shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for animals with millions. Irwin should be canonized for his many contributions to the field of wildlife education and conservation.Dolly Parton (1946 - )Parton is such a national treasure that when they began pulling down Confederate statues in Tennessee a few years back, there was a petition to have them replaced with statues of Dolly. As a musician, Parton has sung some of the biggest hits in country music history, including "I Will Always Love You" and "Islands in the Stream." But she has also been a generous philanthropist, helping charities that benefit children and veterans.If you got the COVID-19 vaccine you should thank Dolly. In 2020, she donated $1 million to help fund vaccine research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.Dolly should be canonized for creating the Imagination Library that has donated more than 100 million books to children.Bernie Sanders (1941 - )Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is one of the most beloved political figures in the United States because he has always stood on the side of the oppressed and the working class regardless of whether it was popular. He's refused to be bought by Wall Street and has stood up against the Department of Defense, the fossil fuel industry, drug companies and private prison industries.He should be canonized for his relentless quest to provide healthcare for all Americans.Keanu Reeves (1964 - )Reeves is a beloved figure in Hollywood because of his kind, down-to-earth nature. There are countless anecdotes around the internet of Reeves going out of his way to please a fan or inviting a member of the paparazzi to his table to sit with him during dinner. "The internet's boyfriend" is also a gentleman who never touches women when taking a photo with them. Reeves should be canonized for quietly donating millions to children's hospitals. This article originally appeared on 11.5.21

You probably know what it means to hit the hay, tie the knot or buy a lemon. Maybe you’ve already killed two birds with one stone today, so effortlessly that it was a piece of cake. But to a non-English speaker, using these phrases would probably make you sound crazy … or should I say gone crackers?That’s the fun thing about idioms. They change depending on the time, place and culture creating them. In other words, they usually sound ridiculous to anyone except those who normally use them. Looking at turns of phrase in different languages helps us see the world through different eyes. And man does it seem impressive at a party. Just think, instead of saying “it’s raining cats and dogs,” next time you could incorporate a more Lithuanian take, and say “it’s raining axes.” How metal is that? It can also be raining old women, barrels, buckets, pipe stems, frogs, female trolls, fire and brimstone … depending on where you’re from. Some of these idioms from around the world make a lot of sense. Others get so lost in translation, you can’t help but get tickled pink. Swedish ”Nu ska du få dina fiskar värmda.”Literal translation: Now your fishes will be warmed.It's another way of saying someone’s in trouble, or their “goose is cooked.” The Swedish language is definitely not lacking in the threats department. They also have a saying, “nu har du satt din sista potatis,” which translates to “now you have planted your last potato.” Imagine hearing Batman say “You’ve planted your last potato, Joker.” Doesn't have quite the intended effect. Italian“Avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto.”Literal translation: To have one’s eyes lined with ham.Leave it to the Italians to have food-related phrases. You can use this when someone can’t see what’s right in front of them. It can also be used when someone is blinded by love. Sadly, there is no “ham-colored glasses” idiom.Icelandic“Að leggja höfuðið í bleyti.”Literal translation: To lay your head in water. You say this when you “need to sleep on something,” or “put your thinking cap on.” This one is hilarious because I cannot fathom getting any mental clarity from holding my head in the water.Arabic "At-Tikraar yu’allem al-Himaar.”Literal translation: Repetition teaches the donkey. Practice makes perfect, but it especially does for donkeys. Animal-themed wisdom at its finest. German "Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof."Literal translation: I only understand train station.It's another way of saying “it’s all Greek to me.” The history of this one is a bit mysterious. One theory is that it originated from WWI soldiers who had only one thing on their mind after getting discharged: returning home. Meaning, they could only comprehend the train station that would lead them there. Others say it refers to tourists new to Germany who have really only learned the German word for “train station.” Which would indicate that everything else is foreign to them.And let’s not forget “nicht mein bier, nicht meine sorgen,” translating to “not my beer, not my worries.”(Fun fact: The term “not my circus, not my monkeys” actually stems from a Polish proverb, not an English saying at all.)Norwegian“Å snakke rett fra leveren.”Literal translation: To speak directly from the liver.When you say something without sugar-coating it, you are speaking directly from the liver. This dates back to a time when the liver was thought to be the magical organ that produced courage. So speaking from the liver is just like speaking from the heart, only down and to the right a little. Chinese “Mama huhu.”Literal translation: Horse horse, tiger tiger.You can use it to say something is just okay. Not good, not bad, just … meh. As the story goes, a Chinese painter who, not very good at his craft, created a drawing of an animal that looked sort of like a tiger, and sort of like, you guessed it, a horse. That story actually has a tragic ending that serves as a cautionary tale against carelessness. But nowadays it takes on a lighter connotation. And like “comme ci, comme ca” in French, “horse horse, tiger tiger” isn’t quite as commonly spoken as non-native speakers would assume. Language continues to be an ever-evolving and always entertaining way to not only appreciate other cultures, but also note the similarities. Words might change slightly, but ultimately we're all expressing the same things. This article originally appeared on 12.8.21

"Think about the honor of the opportunity," B.A. Sheppard says in his viral video, which is the perfect way to think about things in modern times. His son is mowing the lawn and he seized the moment to remind us all of the importance of individuality and doing things not necessarily the "right way," but the way that feels right for you."This young man coming toward me in this lawn mower, thats my son," Sheppard says, smiling into the camera. "He's cutting the grass and zig zagging all over the place. And you know what? Its perfectly fine. While I might have cut in a certain pattern, he's doing his thing in the way that he wants to do it. And it's totally okay. He is getting the grass cut. It may not be dad's way, but he's getting it done. And therein is the honor of the opportunity." See on Instagram Sheppard continues by saying that being able to give his son space where he can figure out how he wants to get things done is a great privilege. "As a young man, I don't need him doing things exactly the way I did it," he says. "Right now, it seems like he's just cutting grass. But in my mind, because I know my son wants to be an engineer, I see his mind at work and I know that what he is producing now… it's going to help him in the future."I walk to the beat of a different drummer, so Sheppard's words are very personal to me. When I was fifteen, I started playing guitar and writing music. I knew I wanted to be a musician and there was no way anyone was going to talk me out of it. Learning that your son wants to make music for a living isn't exactly what every parent wants to hear. But my parents always supported me. Always. The path I chose was not an easy one, but I knew it. I cannot imagine what it would have been like if my parents shamed me into working in an office or becoming a lawyer or doctor because that is what they wanted for me. I would have constantly been looking out the metaphorical window wondering what could have been. That is no way to live life. My mother Ellie, 79, and my father Peter, who will be turning 81 years old this month, had the wisdom, patience and the compassion to stand behind me every step of the way. It's the same way that this father sees his son. Sheppard concludes by giving us all a beautiful task. He challenges us to look for the honor in the opportunity of relationships that you have. I'm grateful to my parents for always supporting me and allowing me to march to that beat the way I wanted to. It allowed me to be the man I am today. For all the children out there, this video is an inspiration and reminder to find your path and not to live in the shadows of what others think you should do or be. Always, be yourself.This article originally appeared on 7.28.20

Racism is a difficult subject to discuss among adults and it can be just as challenging when talking about it with children. It's important for parents or teachers to talk about it in a way that's age-appropriate and to address any strong emotions that are caused by the discussion.Talking about about race with kids can be difficult, but avoiding the conversation helps perpetuate racism."Because institutional racism is so ingrained and so automatic and so accepted, without enough people wanting to enact true, long-lasting change, institutional racism ends up becoming our personal bias. But we still must be held accountable for our actions," Sarah Gaither, assistant professor psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, told CNN Health.Over the past few weeks, the topic of race in America has come to the forefront of the national conversation after the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Abrey and Breonna Taylor. While these deaths have caused unbelievable grief anger, they present parents and educators with a teachable moment.Vera Ahiyya, who's known affectionately as the "TuTu Teacher," is a Kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn, New York, who created a great video explaining the issue of race in America for her students.Ahiyya does such a great job at talking about a subject at a level that children can understand it's being viewed and shared by people outside of her classroom. Let's Talk About Race www.youtube.com "You may have noticed, or heard your family talk about what's happening on the news … Beyond just the COVID virus, which is spreading, we also are combating a different kind of disease," she begins the clip."It's something that happens with the way that people think," she adds. "Some people have the belief that people with black or brown skin should not have the same rights or privileges as people with white skin. This is called racism, and racism has happened in the United States for over 400 years. That's a very long time, and by now, you would think that something so terrible would be gone. But it's not that easy. Racism is everywhere and it is our job to stop it."She then gives her students tips on how to handle racism when they see it in the world to stop it from spreading."One way to stop racism is to call it out when you see it," Ahiyya continues. "That means, if you see someone being treated differently because of the color of their skin, you have the voice, you make the choice, to say 'This is wrong.'" via Tim Dennell / Flickr "You can decide whether to say something, or walk away," she advises. "But your choice can impact the lives of a lot of people."She then shows how people are fighting racism today by protesting in the streets. "So, right now, what's happening is a lot of people are making the choice to say 'that's wrong, racism is wrong' and they are talking specifically about racism towards black people," Ahiyya says.Ahiyya ends her comments by empowering children to fight back against racism. "You can do it by writing letters to show your support," Ahiyya tells them. "You can do it by speaking up when you see something that is very wrong. You can ask questions to your family and friends about how you can do more to help. There's so many ways to help."She concludes the video reading "Let's Talk About Race" by Julius Lester.

We've all heard nightmarish stories about wedding guests showing up in white, and even mothers-in-law trying to upstage the bride.Well, romance author Amy Pennza recently shared a wedding horror story that combines the two.Yes, Pennza's mother-in-law showed up to her wedding in a white dress looking straight from David's Bridal. It has to be seen to be believed, and luckily, Pennza posted receipts: — (@) All of Twitter ground to a halt as people awaited the deets. — (@) It amassed thousands of retweets as Pennza's adoring public speculated about how this tale could have ended. — (@) — (@) — (@) After a bit more begging, Pennza finally returned to Twitter to bless us all with the full story — and it's kind of surprising. Here it is, slightly condensed:So, a couple people have asked for the story behind The Dress. Sorry for the delay! I have four kids (yes, I married him) on summer break, so my permanent state of being is "frazzled." I called my daughter "mom" the other day.I didn't know what my mother-in-law planned to wear. I didn't think to ask.The morning of the wedding, all the women in the bridal party cram into a tiny room in the church. You know, body glitter and hairspray everywhere. Fifteen coats of mascara. Putting napkins under your pits so you don't sweat on your dress.She walks in. I see it.don't remember much about the day. Most people say their wedding is a blur, and that's true for me, too. But I know I said this: "You... You could be the bride..."Later, my sister (matron of honor) said she didn't pull me aside and talk about it because she hoped I was too distracted to notice. My college roommate (bridesmaid) said the same thing.But secretly, they both spent the reception looking at me, then each other, then MIL, then me, then the cop the venue made us hire—hoping I didn't go for his taser.I'm happy to report the wedding unfolded without bloodshed, or anyone being shoved into the champagne fountain.Then the story goes on and you realize Pennza might be the most understanding person alive:Here's the thing: My mother-in-law is extremely frugal. And I don't mean she just enjoys a good bargain. To understand her, you have to know where she comes from.She grew up in extreme poverty. As a child, she used to sneak into the kitchen and eat match heads. That's a pica craving, and kids do it when they're malnourished.When you grow up with nothing, it stays with you. Forever, I think. No matter how much money you earn, there's always that little fear in the back of your mind that someone might take it all away.But her upbringing didn't make her hard. Or cruel. Or selfish.However, she's a bargain hunter to the bone. Her money saving strategies are legend—and often hilarious. At family gatherings, we amuse ourselves telling stories of crazy shit she's done to save money.[...]So when she spotted The Dress at an incredible bargain, she couldn't turn it down. If you ask her now, she says she feels terrible about it.Although, she also told me, "I think I've still got it. We should raffle it off."She's frugal. But she's also incredibly generous. When my twins were newborns, she drove across town every night, slept on the sofa, and did three feedings. For two babies. Every night for months.She regularly shows up at my house with bags of new clothes for the kids. (Because she's a kick ass bargain hunter.)When I got my first job, she hemmed all my work pants because I can't sew for shit. And because she was proud of me.She never misses a band concert, sports event, talent show, science fair...you name it. She'd walk over hot coals for her grandchildren. She gives them everything. Because, you know, she grew up with nothing.So, yeah, the wedding dress was a shock. But it gave me a pretty funny memory. No one who attended has ever forgotten it. And, you have to admit, weddings can be forgettable.Sure, she wore a wedding dress to my wedding. But she has more than made up for it since. When I told her about this getting a lot of attention, and said I worried it might hurt her feelings, she waved it off. "Whatever makes me famous."So Pennza's MIL bought the dress because it was a bargain, and Pennza accepted that. Very nice of her, as many of us might have wondered whether there were any, I don't know, non-bridal dresses on sale somewhere in the world. But sure, okay.Lots of feelings were felt.Pretty much everyone agreed Pennza is a champ for seeing things this way.But also just FYI: if this happens to you, it's okay to be furious. — (@) This article originally appeared on SomeeCards. You can read it here.

Jones' death was confirmed by his reps.