Day 232: Happy Hanukkah

Tonight we celebrated the 5th night of Hanukkah at Cheri & Marty's house. It was a beautiful evening spent with dear family & terrific friends. Very warm & cozy. The food was delicious with brisket & latka's, and the kids all enjoyed their Hanukkah treats.

Here's our beautiful niece Gabriella Figueroa lighting the Hanukkah candles on the menorah with Cheri, our gracious host, watching!

I love the holidays mostly because it is a chance for family to connect and spend some festive time together. It's amazing to watch the children grow from year to year... all a little taller, smarter, and engaging.

Pictured here are sons Spencer, Harrison, Me and my niece Olivia.

There never seems to be enough time to visit with everyone... that's why we have to make a point to spend time with those we love and care about throughout the year, not just during the Holidays.

Pictured here is Papa Joe leading the Hanukkah prayers with the kids.

I missed college boy Brandon who doesn't return from school for winter break until next week, and niece Zoe who is also away at college. But we will celebrate with them when they get home.

We should feel blessed that we have family to share our holidays with, and have a plentiful table filled with good cheer. Hope you are having a festive and meaningful Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, or whatever faith & traditions you observe!

Day 112: Signifigant Friendships In Death

I attended a Celebration of Life today for a special friend of someone I care about. This woman was one of the original walking trainers for the very first Avon 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk back in 1998. That was the year that sister Michele and family gal pal Cheri and I all took this amazing journey together.


Our Mom had passed away just a few years before and it felt like the right project to throw our energy into. It was the VERY FIRST of the "walk" type charities that you now hear about daily. It was 25 miles per day for three days straight. We walked from Santa Barbara to Malibu, California. We slept in tents the two nights we were on the road. It was an amazing experience.

So there was a woman named Suzanne (which happens to be our Mom's name!) who put together training sessions in advance of our walk in order to train the folks participating on this trek. We would meet at Coldwater Canyon Park and walk up the trails. I was not a regular, choosing to train on my own time schedule as I had three little tots and needed to work around their schedules, but Cheri was a regular and remained friends with Suzanne until her unfortunate death a few months ago.

Cheri was left the executor of Suzanne's estate and today she hosted a beautiful memory to Suzanne's life. Women who were involved in the Avon walk for the past dozen years were all in attendance sharing their thoughts and memories of Suzanne.

Suzanne had been a survivor of breast cancer. When the horrible disease reared its ugly head again in her life, she knew it was just too much for her to fight. She opted for another course.

Suzanne didn't have any family in the area, and trusted Cheri enough to give her the difficult task of taking care of her effects after her death. Suzanne would be proud with what Cheri has accomplished. Today was a lovely ceremony about the beautiful life Suzanne lived, not the tragic circumstances in which she left us.

We should all have a friend who will be so committed, loving, kind, respectful and sensitive when we pass. Especially in the absence of family. Cheri has been that person to Suzanne and so today I attended to support both Suzanne's life and Cheri's commitment to the value of a life.

May we all live our life so that it is rich with friendship and with people who are willing to care for us even when we are absent from the earth.

May Suzanne rest in peace wherever her soul and spirit have landed.