At 82, Everly faced discrimination when she was told she was “too old” and dressed “inappropriately” for a trendy restaurant. In response, she made a Facebook post that went viral, sparking outrage and calls for change.
My name is Everly, and I love trying new things, even at my age. One Thursday morning, my daughter Nancy surprised me with a visit to my garden shop. She suggested, “Mom, let’s try that new restaurant downtown!” Her excitement made me eager to go.
We both dressed simply; I wore a floral blouse and khaki pants, and Nancy was in jeans and a T-shirt. For us, it was about spending time together, not how we looked.
As we drove to the restaurant, we talked about how excited we were to make new memories. But our simple outing took an unexpected turn.
When we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by loud music and chatter. The place was lively, filled with a younger crowd who were stylishly dressed, making us feel out of place. Still, we didn’t mind; we were there to enjoy ourselves.
However, as we stepped inside, I noticed the host looking us over. His smile faded for a moment before he led us to a table by the window. It was a nice spot, but our experience quickly changed.
A young waiter came over, and while he initially seemed polite, his attitude shifted as he noticed our appearance. “I’m sorry,” he said, sounding less than sincere, “but this place might not be suitable for you.” His words stung.
He continued, “You seem too old for our usual clientele, and your outfits aren’t appropriate for the vibe here.” Nancy turned red with anger, and I felt a deep sadness at being judged for my age and how I looked.
The waiter wasn’t done. He said we had to leave “so as not to spoil the appetite of our guests.” Before we could respond, he signaled two bodyguards who came to escort us out.
The embarrassment was overwhelming. I felt the eyes of other customers on us as Nancy squeezed my hand tightly. We quietly left, feeling hurt and rejected.
Outside, Nancy was furious. She took out her phone and snapped photos of the bodyguards. “We need to share this, Mom. People should know how they treat others,” she insisted.
Later, in her kitchen, we posted the pictures on Facebook. Nancy shared our story, highlighting how we were judged unfairly because of our age and appearance. She tagged the restaurant and asked her friends to spread the word.
The post quickly went viral, with thousands of shares and comments. People expressed their shock and shared their own experiences with ageism. The restaurant’s ratings plummeted as customers voiced their disapproval.
Amid the uproar, Mr. Thompson, the restaurant owner, reached out to me. He was shocked and apologetic about the incident. “Mrs. Everly, I’m so sorry. I had no idea this happened,” he said, revealing that the waiter was his son.
He invited me back for a complimentary meal and offered a personal apology. I appreciated his honesty but told him, “It’s not just about a meal. It’s about how people are treated.”
Mr. Thompson agreed and said he had talked to his son about respect for all customers, regardless of their age or attire. He emphasized that his son would not inherit anything until he understood these values.
Our conversation was hopeful. It showed a willingness to make amends and recognize the need for change. As we ended the call, I felt validated yet still aware of the larger issue of ageism.
A week later, I dressed in my best silk dress—a deep blue that highlighted my eyes. I was ready to return to the restaurant, not as a victim, but as a woman who deserves respect.
Entering the restaurant again, the door chimes felt louder this time. The atmosphere was the same, but I felt empowered. Mr. Thompson welcomed me with a warm smile and took me to a lovely table by the window.
The waiter, Mr. Thompson’s son, approached me with hesitation. “Mrs. Everly, I’m very sorry for how I treated you last time. It was unkind,” he stammered, looking genuinely remorseful.
His apology seemed sincere, and Mr. Thompson added, “My son and I have discussed this situation. I made it clear that we must respect all customers, no matter their age or how they dress. He will not be part of this business if he doesn’t embrace those values.”
Satisfied with their commitment to change, I enjoyed my meal. It tasted wonderful and felt like a celebration of respect and understanding.
After returning home, I posted an update on Facebook. I shared photos of the meal and the apologies I received. “Change is possible,” I wrote, “when we stand against injustice and those in the wrong are willing to listen and learn.”
Reflecting on this experience, I realized the power of one voice amplified by social media. It was about more than just a meal or an apology. It was a reminder that everyone deserves respect, regardless of age or appearance. This ordeal showed me the strength of my voice and the importance of standing up for my values.
As I reflected on the entire experience, I felt a sense of empowerment. This journey taught me that standing up for myself and others can lead to meaningful change. The response from the community reminded me that many people share the same struggles and that we must support one another in the fight against ageism and discrimination.
I continued to receive messages of support from friends and even strangers who appreciated my story. It was heartwarming to see how a single act of injustice could spark conversations about respect and dignity for everyone, regardless of age.
In the weeks that followed, I became more active in my community, attending local meetings and advocating for inclusivity. I wanted to ensure that no one else would face the same humiliation I did. I also kept in touch with Mr. Thompson and his son, encouraging them to foster a culture of respect in their restaurant.
Through this ordeal, I learned that our voices can make a difference, and our experiences, no matter how painful, can lead to positive change. I felt grateful for my daughter Nancy, who stood by my side and took action when it mattered most. Together, we had turned a hurtful moment into a powerful opportunity for growth and understanding.
As I walked through my garden one sunny afternoon, I smiled, knowing that I had turned a painful experience into a catalyst for change. I looked forward to more adventures with my family, always reminding myself that age is just a number and that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.
Yvonne De Carlo gave up acting after a tragic incident
There were a lot of talented and attractive actresses back in the day and the stunning Yvonne De Carlo was definitely one of them.
She catapulted to fame through starring in the CBS sitcom The Munsters, only for a tragic accident to suddenly halt her career.
The legendary Yvonne De Carlo was a sultry and versatile actress with a movie career spanning over six decades. Born in 1922, she’s definitely one of the most prominent celebrities to come out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
As a young girl, De Carlo was abandoned by her father. She was raised by her mother in poor circumstances – but she always knew that she wanted to be an actress, and De Carlo wrote her own plays as a 13-year-old.
During her time in Hollywood, the blue-eyed brunette proved that she was the real deal – she could do it all. It wasn’t just the fact that her beauty was overwhelming, De Carlo seemed to be a very down-to-earth lady as well.
Her career in movies and television is a testimony to her strength of character and determination. Among many other things, she played Moses’ wife in the epic film The Ten Commandments – though she’s best known for her role on the tv series The Munsters.
No one could have played Lily Munster better than De Carlo – she really nailed the role of a vampire in the monster sitcom. To this day, many of us can still remember the famous line when Lily, the matriarch of the monster family, says, “I’ve never heard of anything so outrageous in all my LIVES!”
The show propelled Yvonne De Carlo towards TV stardom – the role defined her career, and she gained a whole new generation of fans. It could even be said that The Munsters actually renewed De Carlos’s career. She had a good run in Tinseltown even before the show – she was often called the most beautiful girl in the world, and the audience loved her.
But the truth is that De Carlo’s star quality had begun to fade around the time she was cast in the monster sitcom. The Canadian-American actress had turned 42 when she was offered the role of Lily. And no one could have guessed that The Munsters would be hailed as one of the best television series of all time.
“It meant security,” De Carlo later said. “It gave me a new, young audience I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It made me ‘hot’ again, which I wasn’t for a while.”
“But I never estimated it would become this cult thing. It took two hours of makeup to make me seem like that. It ran for two huge seasons, then CBS quarreled with the creators about reruns as we got canceled. A movie in color in 1966 [‘Munster, Go Home!’] showed off everything in reds and greens on my face. Boy, was I ugly.”
After The Munsters, De Carlo continued to appear both in TV series and on stage. As one of the most respected actresses in the business, she had fans in every generation and no problem finding new and exciting projects.
Unfortunately, De Carlo had a pretty tough time of things during the last years of her life. It all goes back to when the actress met stuntman Robert ”Bob” Morgan on set in 1955.
The couple obviously had some chemistry, but Morgan was married at the time and Yvonne didn’t want to take things further. According to herself, she had ”no intention of causing that marriage to break up.”
Her husband lost his leg
When Morgan’s wife died, he and De Carlo met again on the set of The Ten Commandments in Egypt. They fell in love, got married, and had two sons together, Bruce Ross and Michael.
But living with a stuntman and daredevil came with a price. Morgan and De Carlo struggled to make their marriage work, but everything changed when the former was hit by a moving log train while shooting the 1962 movie How the West Was Won.
The accident cost Morgan his leg. He almost died performing the stunt, and the traumatic experience would affect the whole family. After the incident, medical bills piled up and De Carlo worked extremely hard to support her family. Yvonne, who had basically retired from acting by that point, had to go back to work to pay the bills.
“Before the accident, we were on the verge of breaking up, but when they took me to the hospital I just choked up and only one thought filled my mind: I don’t want my husband to die,” she said.
The Hollywood couple stayed together until 1973.
Losing her son
Sadly, De Carlo would once again have to face unimaginable tragedy. In 1997, her son Michael died at age 39. According to his brother, Michael died of brain damage from a stroke.
Her son’s death was a heavy blow for De Carlo. She made her last film in 1995, and after her son’s death never returned to the entertainment industry. She herself suffered a minor stroke in 1998.
According to her other son, Bob Ross, the stroke resulted from the stress and grief De Carlo felt over Michael’s passing.
“It just preyed on her mind to the point that she had a stroke the following year,” James Bawden, a former TV columnist for the Toronto Star, said.
“All she would talk about was her son.”
Yvonne De Carlo cause of death
Yvonne De Carlo passed away in January 2007 at age 84. During the last years of her life, she lived in a semi-retirement home near Solvang, north of Santa Barbara.
Her cause of death was heart failure.
“I think she will best remembered as the definitive Lily Munster. She was the vampire mom to millions of baby boomers. In that sense, she’s iconic,” her longtime friend and television producer Kevin Burns said at the time.
“But it would be a shame if that’s the only way she is remembered. She was also one of the biggest beauty queens of the ’40s and ’50s, one of the most beautiful women in the world. This was one of the great glamour queens of Hollywood, one of the last ones.”
Yvonne De Carlo is just pure legendary! She is what acting is all about and managed to reinvent herself all the time.
No matter her role, she was always on top of her game and portrayed her character in the most elegant and believable fashion. Rest in Peace!
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