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meet "lolly" | the golo profile

 abuse

We all know nice people, but GOLO member Lolly has to be one of the sweetest women on the planet. The glass is always half-full in her eyes, and her positive outlook is contagious. Meet, Lolly:

Angela: Where did the name Lolly come from?

Lolly: It came in a couple of different ways. When I was little, my younger siblings couldn’t say my name and what they said, sounded like “LOLLY.” And when I signed up for GOLO I couldn’t think of a name. I thought about my kids who are always text-messaging and they would type LOLLLY, which means Laugh out loud naturally. So I went with that.

Steve Crisp told me to get rid of the three L’s because it annoyed him.

Angela: And you obliged?

Lolly: Yes.

Angela: That leads me to this. You are one of the nicest people on GOLO.

Super-nice, even.  

Lolly: Well, thank you. I try really hard to be pleasant. I think most people are stressed or unhappy and I think a smile and a little bit of care and uplifting words can make a difference. I come into GOLO to do that, to find people who are struggling. I tell them to hang in there. I’m always looking for people who need warmth on a cold day.

Angela: So, YOU’RE the GOLO therapist!

Lolly: I don’t know. I just try to give them a smile. Life is so busy.

Angela: Why aren’t more people like that?

Lolly: I don’t know. I guess maybe you get pushed long enough and you just push back.

Angela: You’ve been a member since day 1. How has GOLO affected you?

Lolly: I’ve learned a ton. Every person is a story and they share bits and pieces of their lives and that fascinates me. I’m not here to argue politics and religion. I’m here to see the snippets of the lives that people share. Again, it fascinates me. GOLO is a smorgasbord of fascinating people.

 Angela: I think you just wrote our new promo: “GOLO: A Smorgasbord of Fascinating People.”  

Lolly: Laughs

Angela: So who are those fascinating people? Who are your friends on GOLO?  

Lolly: Here you go. (Click here to see Lolly's list)

Angela: WHOA!

Lolly: All of the people on this list have said something that made me think “Gee, I’ve got to get to know this person better.”

Angela: Why is The Green Mile your favorite movie?

Lolly: Well, it has religious overtones and I’m a very spiritual person. There’s one scene where the man who’s going to be put to death says: “Evil uses love against us.” I think that sometimes the people that you love the best are the ones that you hurt. If you don’t love somebody they can’t really hurt you as much. But no one can love perfectly.

 Angela: What would be the message of your eulogy?

Lolly: There’s less pain in the world because she was here.

Angela: I’m gonna cry…

Lolly: Oh don’t. That’s the opposite of what I wanted.

Angela: You seem to recognize that you can have a positive affect on people. When did you realize that in your life?

Lolly: I was probably three when I realized that a hug could pull somebody out of a hard time.

Angela: You’re so kind to strangers. I can only imagine how you feel about your loved ones.

Lolly: My family is my reason.

Angela: Do you hope to be a grandmother some day?

Lolly: My daughter’s getting married this year. Her fiancé is in Iraq.  I imagine there may be some grandchildren coming along. I drool over babies so I can’t wait. I love kids….

Angela: Tell me something about you that most of us don’t know.

Lolly: I’m a speed reader.

Angela: Really? What are the qualifications for that?

Lolly: There are tests you can take. When I was 18 I was in the top .01 percent. When I took the test, I made a perfect score and they thought I’d cheated. They had to recalibrate the test after they tested me.

Angela: Quantify that for me.  

Lolly: I read Harry Potter in four hours. The last one.

Angela: (GASPS) You’re kidding?

Lolly: I don’t read words, I read pages.

Angela: How has that served you?

Lolly: Well, I did real well in school. I graduated with an undergrad degree when I was 20 after taking a year off to take care of my mom after her divorce.

Angela: Do you know other speed readers?

Lolly: Yeah, It happens by accident with people who teach themselves to read. They learn the sentences instead of the words.

Angela: That’s fascinating. Are your kids speed readers?

Lolly: Yes, but nothing like my speed.

Angela: Have you read the Bible?

Lolly: Oh yes, many times. That was required in my life.

Angela: Who has most influenced you?

Lolly: My husband. He’s a jewel.

Angela: What will the next 5 years bring?

Lolly: Oh, working and my family of course until my kids are raised. Then my husband and I hope to travel and enjoy the life that God gives us. We’re best friends. Any day that we’re together is a good day.

Angela: Having been married for 30 years, what’s your advice to couples?

Lolly: If your marriage isn’t going well, become the person who gives more and loves more. Marriage is like a plant. You have to water it, give it sun light…nurture it.

Angela: Move over, Dr. Laura, we’ve got Dr. Lolly!

Lolly: Funny

Angela: You have motivated me today, Lolly.

Lolly: Oh thank you. I hope you have a relaxing weekend.