Christmas 2009

Hello friends,
I am not so sure that anyone reads this anymore, but for me it is like an on-line diary. It is also a gentle reminder of what I (we) went through, and how all of my family and friends helped us. I just got the go-ahead to move from 3 mo. check-ups with my oncologist, to every 6 mos. Wow. That felt good. My hair is back to it's crazy thick, pre-chemo hair. What a journey that was! Shannon, my friend and hairstylist was (is) a saint. This Christmas was a little different for us. I accepted a management position with my company (Century 21) (but still do real estate deals for my clients, in case anyone is reading this!), and had to work until 3 on Christmas Eve. The weekends were consumed with my own clients wanting to buy houses. Needless to say, my shopping was limited to a few hours. Thankfully I knew ahead of time what to get. We celebrated with my sister Julie's family at my Dad's house on Christmas Eve. There is nothing better than experiencing Christmas through the eyes of children. Sonny was on a totally different schedule than he was used to. He typically would be home for a 3 week winter break, but still had to deal with finals upon his return. Of course now that he has graduated, Harvard has changed the schedule so that finals are over before break. But he also had to work up until Christmas Eve. Prior to that he had been studying for the GMAT, in additon to his full-time job. We could really relate!
We will be catching up with my sister Karrie in the next few days to once again celebrate a gift exchange. How fun to draw it out! I did not make it to Christmas cards again this year. It especially hit me when I would go to the mailbox and see the many cards that we received. I love getting them and also seeing the photos of the "kids"..although so many more of them are adults! How did we get this old?
Sonny: working for PAAMCO. He is educating me on what he actually does. It is a Fund-to Fund asset management company. Basically he is learning a LOT. There is an Equinox Sports Club in his building and he is taking every advantage of it. He recently completed his first tri-athalon on Catalina Island. I don't get to see him as much as I would like, my job as much as his, but when we get together we laugh. He is a great guy.
Colin. A freshman at Cal. St San Marcos. He is really enjoying living on his own. He is a "gym rat" and sincerely appreciates the small classroom size that his college provides. He surprised himself by enjoying and doing well in Speech. I really have no worries about Colin. He will be successful in life.
Mairin. She is still dancing hours and hours a week. I finally took her to a foot specialist (concentrating in dancers) in Sept. because of a spot on the bottom of her foot that would become red and inflamed and extremely painful. Turns out she has 2 broken bones in her turning foot. The options were not really going to work for her, considering it is her senior year. The cast would have only given her a 50% heal rate. And she would have had to miss her senior year. She is treating it with advil, ice, and tears. I question everyday whether I made the right decision in letting her continue on . Her DR. said it will not complicate or increase the damage.
She is about to begin her senior year of dance competitions and auditions. Tomorrow she begins a 2 day intensive. She was recently accepted into Univ. of San Francisco, early admisson. This is where she really wants to go. She has her audition for UCLA on Jan. 29. The audition is a 2 min. piece that she has choreographed, then a 8 hour intensive. Tonight she had some girls over for game night. She has forged some great friendships over the years. The girls are all amazing and I think Mair will always be friends with them. They seem to have their sights set higher than being the most popular girls, or the party girls. They know who they are and where they are going.
Me: When Mairin and I went up to SF to look at colleges, it really hit me. When Sonny left for Harvard, I was so excited about this journey of his that I wasn't sad. In fact I still had Colin and Mairin to parent, so maybe this would be easier.
Then Colin left for Cal. St. San Marcos. Now when Sonny was in Cambridge, he would call to check in with me rather frequently. If I called him, he would answer. Colin not so much. Here he was on the same coast as me, and only an hour away, and did I hear from him? See him? Nooooooooo. But that is a good thing. He was doing what college age kids are supposed to do. Become more self-sufficient. Ok. That left Mairin and me. We shared favorite TV shows, make-up, jewelry and ate whatever we wanted. Now she will be up in San Francisco. Another new chapter in my life. My sister Julie moved here with her 4 kids, and I love being Aunt Nan. My career has taken on new responsibilites and I am looking forward to that challenge.
At at the end of the day, I must admit that my greatest joys are when all three of my kids are with me and we are doing something fun together. I am so blessed that they all get along so well. On Christmas Day I insisted that we all go to a movie. I was tired of them packing up their stuff and heading over to their Dad's. We went to the IMAX and saw Avatar. We experienced a really fun movie and got to talk about it for hours. Then they headed off and I went to my Dad's to see how Julie's kids fared from Santa. A great weekend.
If you read this anymore, would you let me know? Thanks.
May 2010 be a year of health, happiness and security.
Nancy

crazy month!

Since I wrote last time, Sonny has offically moved out on his own. He got to experience the thrill of assemblying his first piece of furniture from IKEA! He also rented a U-Haul truck for the first time and recruited his brother and sister to help him load it up and drive away.......leaving me with a broom in hand to sweep out his now empty bedroom. I did shed a tear or two, I admit. I did follow along and offered my support and help with making the bed etc. It is such a cute place located on the penninsula side of Newport Beach, over a bike-rental shop and a cigar bar. A new business has moved in also, a ballroom dance studio. His place has 2 gorgeous bathrooms with marble and travertine. I'm jealous! The kitchen is small but has stainless appliances and granite counters. Once the summer winds down it will be a lot more peaceful. However, city-boy Sonny who was accustomed to living in Cambridge doesn't mind the noise. He has had lots of visitors. He started his job today. I am a proud Mom!
Mairin had her National Dance Competition in Long Beach. She did very well and is psyched-up for her senior year of dance! She left yesterday with Aunt Karrie to New York City! She has never been and is really excited. She will be taking dance lessons at some of the big studios there and seeing some Broadway shows.
Colin had his orientation for Cal. St. San Marcos on Sat. and is getting very excited about heading off to college. He met a ton of other students and also one more of his roommates. At the end of August I will be driving him to his dorm and then it will just be Mairin and me at home. Most of the time.
My sister Julie moved up here from Mexico City with her four adorable kids. Joaquine and Diego are 5 and will be starting kindergarten. Isabelle is 8 and will enter 2nd grade, and Rodri is 10 and will be going into 4th. They have moved into Dad's house to assist him in getting his feet back under him. She is a saint! I help out by having the kids to my house or down to the pool. I love them to death!
Maybe having them here will help with my "empty-nest" syndrome!
My hair is growing out, almost ponytail length. One of the gentle reminders of what I went through.
As my role as a Mom winds down, I am looking for new things to push me personally and professionally. I have started a "vision-board" to inspire me. I know that I am blessed to have such a close family around me, and amazing friends.
Until next time,
Love,
Nancy

whirlwind days!

Mairin's recital, 4th of July and work, work, work!
Oh, and then Michael Jackson died! Seemed to take over all of the network news.
Strange to know that my sister, Karrie, went to his dermatologist, Dr. Klien, and also knew Debi Rowe, the incubator of Michael Jackson's first 2 kids. Just another day in the office of a Bev. Hills dermatologist! Now everyone believes that the Dr. was the bio dad! I got side-tracked..sorry
Mairin's recital was fantastic. Can't believe that she will be a senior next year.
We are now focusing on her college plans. She and I will be here together, Sonny will be moving out, starting his new job and getting his first apartment.
Colin will be heading off to college. He is so excited. But he did say that graduating from HS the same year that his older brother graduates from Harvard really sucks! OK,,,OK.. I am doing a re-enactment of his cap and gown photo,,,in order to do a graduation announcement.
Sonny and Colin are now back in NY at Uncle Michael's country house. Sonny's roommates are there too. Today they went kayaking..and went off a waterfall...not planned. Made it through. Tomorrow they are all going sky-diving. I am so scared. I am so fearful of heights myself. It makes me sick to think of them doing this. Sonny did it on his 18th bday. I put my head in the sand. Last summer Sonny wanted to take Colin out for his 18th, but I said no, since Colin still had another year left of lacrosse. I am saying my prayers tonight! Here is a really cute picture of Mairin and her big bro celebrating his 22nd. I am so blessed that my kids all get along so well.

Colin's graduation photos

Here are a few photos of Colin's graduation from Mission Viejo HS. We are so proud of his many accomplishments during his four years. He heads off to Cal St. San Marcos in the fall.

Harvard graduation photos

Here are a couple of photos of graduation, courtesy of Aunt Karrie.

Harvard Graduation

Wow. I can not believe that 4 years have gone by. Sonny may have a different opinion. Although he did admit that with the exception of his freshman year, the time flew by. I remember checking into our hotel during our recruiting trip, Feb.05 I must admit I was a little scared. I have never been good at planning in advance...but 4 yrs? when we weren't even sure if he was going to say yes? duh. Can anyone really say no to Harvard? I think Kevin and I were impressed with the coaching staff and what they thought of Sonny. Uncle Michael joined our group and gave us an up close and personal tour of the Harvard business school. The snow made everything crystal clear. It was cold, but beautiful. Sonny met guys just like himself, smart and athletic, but having that hunger to push themselves harder...could they do it? would they choose too? OK,,I am rambling. Since I don't think anyone actually reads this other than me..too bad.

My sister Karrie went with me on this last trip. It only made sense. She has been with me to Harvard during my most challenging "chemo-year" and took such great care of me. Those of you who have kept up with my blog know that she has been there for me in everyway possible. The extended Barnett clan has also been great fun to celebrate with post-game! Karrie's decision to go with me to celebrate Sonny's graduation was because she knew all of his roommates and friends, and then their friend's parents' and brothers and sisters and girlfriends etc....and everyone loves Aunt Karrie! She also went to be with me. There is nothing greater than celebrating with someone who knows how much this means.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. NYU in 3 yrs?

Graduation

Harvard is small. Undergraduates were about 1600. Sonnys high school had a total of 3300. Don't quote me on these numbers. It is too late to do an official google search..and this is my best recollection. Needless to say.. that is why during the last week of college life at Harvard the entire class goes to Six Flags, a harbor cruise, a last chance Dance, a Soiree etc.....they really do bond and exchange promises of staying in touch. See at Harvard it is a lot harder that many other schools. They have a large international population to add to the national east/west challenges of staying in touch. Do all of you know that Facebook was started in 2005 at Harvard by a couple of undergraduates? Now most of us, including parents! have facebook accounts. The world is getting smaller due to technology.
Sorry for the sidebar.

Cambridge had signs hung everywhere,,congrats to class of 2009. In the windows of storefronts, banks, small boutiques etc. Anywhere we went we were asked if we had a graduate. The community takes such pride in their students' success.

Karrie and I arrived at our B & B and quickly ran out to meet Sonny for the family picnic at the field behind the football stadium. We reminisced about the past fall football game vs. Yale, and how Harvard shut them out. We had so many memories, including the white squirel. Karrie is great about stopping and breathing it all in. She has that photographers mind that really can just look around and enjoy the moment I love that about her. She forces me to slow down and enjoy the moment. It was so hard to do because we had such a tight schedule.

We made our way back to our B & B via the coop to purchase a few things.
Wednesday promised to be a great day. The Phoenix, Sonny's final's club, had decided to host a luncheon for the graduating seniors' and their families.
We felt like we were back in the ages of JFK. The room was set, the food was incredible and the speeches were unforgetable.

Then we went to the Class Graduation with Matt Lauer. I don't think anyone Sonny's age even knew who he was. There were 4 class speeches given prior to Matt Lauer and they were incredible. So Matt has to take the stage. He was great. We enjoyed him immensely.

Thursday, Karrie and I got up at 5. Yep. That would be 2 our time. We decided it was worth it. We wanted to see our guys walk down the aisle. We did it! We got the best seats! I will put the video on this once I get it up.

What a joy it was to hear the speakers. We had our umbrellas for the potential rain, but we ended up using them for the sun! After the commencement we all headed back to the individual "houses" Kirkland for Sonny's group. We had a luncheon and then the ceremony to award the diplomas. Then we headed back to the Yard to hear the President of Harvard speak and also the newly appointed Secy of Energy: Steven Chu , no one was expecting much but he was really great. Pres. Faust said she wished that the Obama White House would just stop snatching up their professors.

What a wonderful weekend.

If anyone is actually reading this, I want to say how proud I am of all of our "kids" that are heading off to college. Many of us have graduates that we are so stoked about,,,and have other kids heading off to begin their journey.
Begin your journey with a purpose. Best of luck.
Nancy

Prom 2009

Mairin, Colin, and Anna at the Mission Viejo Prom 2009

May Days

Wow. So much going on this month. I write to myself on a website called www.futureme.org and just read my thoughts on my reconstruction. You should check it out. You can write to yourself, or anybody else for that matter and it will appear when you want it to..a day, month, year or decade later. I am always surprised when it appears. I think to myself, wow that was fast. This last one was the day before my reconstruction..I was so excited to have my painful expanders out! I thought that I would never have to wear a bra and have these 20 something perky boobies! Yeah! Here I am a year later, and going in for my one year check up on Mon. hating my chest. I can't call it my boobs or breasts..it doesn't look like anything I expected. My plastic surgeon has left Kaiser so I will be seeing a new doctor. We will see.
Colin just turned 19 and also played his last high school lacrosse game. They made it into the 2nd round of playoffs, but are now done. I gave him a surprise bday party at lunch and around 25 of his closest friends showed up. I think he had a great time. He is SO excited about heading off to college in the fall.
Karrie and I fly back to Boston for Sonny's Harvard graduation ceremonies. We are really looking forward to it.
Mairin won a dance scholarship during her last competition. She was thrilled. I have attached a couple of photos.
If anyone is actually reading this, please let me know. I will probably still write it since it is like a online journal.
Nancy

what does it mean to reach 50?

OK..here is my late at night stream of consciousness...... I have had some time to reflect on what it means to turn 50. I have mentioned it to many people over the last few weeks. I have had a variety of responses....some say..oh my God...50? So old! I remember my own Mom turning 50 and thinking to myself that it was so old...and then she died suddenly at 56! Wow! My sister Karrie turned 50 a couple of years ago. She had a Morrocan party complete with a camel. If any of you have been following my blog,,I posted pictures of her party. I went in for surgery right after that. And here I am. I feel like I am transitioning. Sonny is graduating from Harvard and on to a fantastic job here in Orange County. It will be so nice having him in the same state again! Colin is so excited about setting off on his college experience at Cal. St. San Marcos. Sonny has already voiced his desire to go down and stay with him a couple of weekends and take in the San Diego surf!
As I have said many times before, I am so blessed that my kids are so close to each other. It is such a great feeling as a parent. Mairin is ready for her competition season. She had a great "tune-up" last weekend in Torrance. She is preparing for the SAT, and the AP test, and really starting to get excited about the college search. My present to myself was putting in the hardwood floors in the downstairs of my house. I come down the stairs every morning and smile! Thank you to my client Charles that made this possible! Though times are tough right now for many, I know that we will all reach out to those in need and lend a helping hand. I was a recipient of such good will during my cancer treatment. It is such a blur to me. I went back to the beginning of my blog and read it all. If I had not written it down I would not have believed that I actually went through it all. To me it is just done. Behind me. Over. Next. But shit...reading it brought back the comfort and joy of all of my friends and family.
Stop believing the media...we are not in a depression. In the past, times like these are when the courageous and cavalier invest in America...and come out winners! I am dealing with investors everyday that are buying up America in droves! Especially in Orange County. Don't let outsiders buy up our opportunities!
Come on....!!!!!! Invest for your kids...buy now...
Call me for all of your real estate needs, including buying, selling and modifying your current loan.
Thanks for reading my commercial. It's just that I feel passionite about my job. I guess that shows.
Nancy

Sonny's intercession photos

Sonny had a great time at Uncle Michael's country home in upstate NY with his Harvard buddies. Now he is back at school starting his last semester of college!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday and New Year! We decided spontaneously to head up to Pasadena to see the floats up close and personal on NY's eve. Sonny and his Harvard buddy's , Will from Austin, TX and Nick from San Diego, and Colin and Mairin. We gassed up the old Navigator and got on the road around 6 pm. Sonny and friends had just come down from Big Bear and a couple of days of snow boarding.
We arrived at Cherie, Mark and Bryan's home in Pasadena. Colin was quickly absorbed into the 'SC crowd of freshman...and we didn't see him again until the next day. The remainder of our group went around the corner to Alyson and Bill's family gathering where we caught up also with Michele and Todd and fam. Mairin was so happy to see cousin Claire and meet her friends from HS. They were so nice. Then they took off on their own. Sonny and friends were supplied with some celebratory libations, and then they headed off. The remaining adults and younger kids headed off to the floats. We had the best time! We ran into each other during the festivites. We made it to Darrell's house, and a couple of others...and eventually made it back to Doney's around 2. We actually came home later than Sonny and his friends,,,OK not by much.
So many different friends have sent me this link to a you tube video.
I finally set aside the 5 min. and watched it tonight. Then I went to the other recommended reading that she did from this same book.
I laughed and cried and felt like I should share it with you.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

Love, Nancy