Hello Everyone,
I (and Fort, too ) slept ALL day Sunday after my birthday party except for drinking a formula for breakfast and lunch. I also woke up for dinner with Fort and then almost immediately fell asleep on the couch with Michael until Fort helped me to our bed. Then Monday, I slept until 2PM so we are well recuperated. ( I hope! )
(Please let me apologize ahead of time. I have been trying to get this done but have had some not too good days so this is posted so late! I also am having more “senior moments” and I may also repeat myself, or I may inadvertently miss somebodies name in my THANK YOU’s that follow, or put a person in the incorrect group. Thank you in advance for your forgiveness and understanding !
Well, all I can say is that, I felt like I just woke up from a beautiful dream! Did my birthday party truly happen? Was it just a dream? I felt like I was on a magic carpet, flying through the deep blue skies wondering where my husband and kids were ?
Finally, we landed in a magical place where my wonderful angels were waiting for me.
These angels are , first and foremost, my devoted husband FORT, son MICHAEL, daughter CHRISTINE, son PAUL, and grandkids NINA and AIDAN, my strong medicine !
Mama , my oldest most caring angel at 93, came in spite of her aches and pain ! I was so happy to see you Mama, I felt very honored and loved by your presence.
Then the Gatbunton families, all brothers of Fort and their lovely wives and kids and grandkids ( Missed you Terry, Rennie and Rose and her family who resides in CA ) Meg and her family,the Villasenor family,the Cruzes and Tagles, the Friday Circle family, the Stadium family, led by Willie Stewart, retired assistant superintendent of Tacoma Public schools and Marv Shain,my principal for nine years, and Connie Rickman a sister, devoted friend and colleague.
Next,the Relay for Life group led by the beautiful and always full of energy, Shelley Mauss, the Arellanites 1956, Kuya Bert, Aurora and their spouses,the Reyraos and Lilibel and Chris and their lovely daughters,YOGA and Evelyn with son JJ, the friends of Michael group , Rachel, Becky and etc(you guys are the greatest! Thank you for getting the place all decorated so beautifully! ) ,the Vallarta families (missed you, Josie and Pol), the Swedish group, The Krigsman family, two former students, Sean and Alison, the Servito families, the Ocampo Family, our wonderful friend and neighbor, Dean Lee, another most precious friends and neighbor in AZ, John and Connie, Penny Argosino and her beautiful daughter, Lita,Maria,Christy,Vilma and their loving hubbies, Sylvia Dixon, Lucy and Rollie, Maria Dapar,Lita,Tino, Deedee and their hubbies,Dora and other angels who I am surely missing to mention here
My loving ANGEL friends with whom we have grown a brotherhood stronger than family. Devoted, faithful and ever genuine friendships some just recent, to others which have lasted many, many years, in fact a lifetime. People like Meg and family, Jules, Bing, Rosendo and Merci , Priscilla and Tony, the Krigsmans, the Rickmans , the Reyraos…Bella and Ave, Larry Villa and spouse, Lilibel, Chris and their darling daughters, the Tvetens and the Simek family.
Among these long time friends and” family” are “Uncle ” Richard Nordstrom, Marie and Don, Josie and Pol Vallarta, Sheryl Berba and family, Tony and Marissa and her lovely daughters, and Tita and Heinz who were unable to attend and we MISSED YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Please know in your heart how important you are to our family, and how we are so blessed by our genuine, lasting friendships ! Friends are one’s chosen family and we all certainly are families as we have grown together through all these years!
I/we also deeply regret to have missed:
a- My immediate Santos family, as I did not invite any guests from out of town and out of the country. By the time this party was scheduled, my nieces Baby Becky, Cheri and Jacelle, Annabelle, Sarie and Martti and their families, my sister Ate Ofelia, and my nephew Henry and his lovely daughters, Sammy and Trish had already come to visit me since my terrible prognosis was made known.
They came as far as NYC, NY; Chino Hills ,CA; LA,CA; Sacramento,CA, Valencia,CA . I did not want anyone to incur additional expenses for their flight and lodging . I felt that we were able to have great quality time,, one on one, when they came and that is more meaningful and precious to me !
Another group of the Santos family ( 5 nieces and a nephew) arrived from the PI last weekend ! Thank you Suzanne,Charo, Malou, Joey and Michael for your gift of time. We All had a great time with all the laughs and sharing memories and fun times!
We missed you so much, Milette, Bobot and family and we are so sorry about your shocking experience with carnapping. All I can say is the no one of you was hurt .I am not downplaying what happened as it is still very shocking and disconcerting but it could have been worst as I heard of other sad fatal accidents recently of people on vacation in Maui, Hawaii! I was feeling so bad for all of you and I prayed for each of you thanking God that you are all safe and sound! I also miss Mae and her kids, Mark and Miguel, Cesar …Fort’s martini buddy and Francis and Martin, Helen,Bryan and Stephanie and all the other Fructuoso families and Rey Santos and Cruz’ s here in the USA and in the PI !
Then Ate Becky, will be arriving on October 10th from NYC, NY and then hopefully my only brother left alive, my Diko Victor, from the PI will visit whenever he has recovered from his prostate surgery!
Paula and Jim Lake and beautiful Alex, who were visting Jims family in Republic!
b. My UST CLASS 1960 Group especially my sister and cherished friend, Tita ( praying for Heinz s full recovery) from Vancouver, Canada, then my California group…Serena, July, Rose,Larry, Ramon,Cecile, Uncle, Helen, Mercy, George,Lumen, Gani, Merci, Cecile and Tony. And from the Chicago group, my treasured college best friend, Candy de Guzman, Celeste ,Rose Naron, Lettie Serrano and etc
And from the Toronto group, Fabian, Precy, Corazon-Tukaya, Linda Faller and their spouses and etc.
C. My AHS 1956 Classmates outside of WA state - Most especially ,my best friend for life ,Chit MogueL ( praying for Manny), Ray,Shirley,Hugo, Auring, Nitoy and Imelda from NYC,NY and etc. And classmates from the PI, Herman and Lita,Nilo and Nellie, Rexy and Flora and Judy,Louie and Chit and etc
I have had visits from Mila Argosino, all the way from Kansas and Mina and Nell, all the way from OC, CA. These one on one visits are so very meaningful to me and I am still looking forward to our AHS’56, Las Vegas reunion, God willing, to see all of you!
d. Lisa ….we do hope that you are feeling a lot better. We missed your wonderful glow at the party but Dean made up for it by being there. Michael was so excited to meet him in person and share a short conversation. Fortunato and I can’t wait to go on the cruise!!!
e. The Don and Marie Ganchorre family…they are in Arizona visiting my goddaughters first son, their second grandson. It is his baptism.
f. My wonderful and very thoughtful Godson, Christian who is now in London beginning his International business studies. And my very loving Goddaughter and her family, Paula, Jim and their beautiful daughter, Alex.
g- Our SUN CITY GRAND and SUN CITY WEST, ARIZONA neighbors and friends especially my dear sister/friend, family and great support system, Sheryl Berba, Chris, Julie and family, our very thoughtful, most helpful and very special Helen and Ernie, the Francis’, the Vogels and the Dahls , Gracie and Mike Ramik , Bill and Betty , Francine and all of my Spanish Language group!
Thank you for all that you do in our absence from Arizona ! We really cannot ever,ever thank you ALL enough !
h- Leah DeRoulet- our dearest friend,confidant, the very best consultant, a walking PDR -had another commitment
i- Teresa (Big T as Michael likes to call her) - another dear friend who I truly believe and feel is present watching over all of us! Michael believes she saved his life by helping him with his Diabetes. Matthew, Erica and Jennifer thank you for her picture. I keep it in my bedroom so that I can pray wth her when I wake up and before I go to sleep!
j- My friends and classmates in the PI especially the Gamboas, Mulles’, Seses and Trinidads and all over the world especially Vivien, Michele and Niko,who are in Florence, Corrie in London, reading this right now, you are deeply missed but our paths will surely cross again, God Willing !
k- Amy Holtcamp in Louisiana, and Judy Sese in TX, Miss Shoney from CA, the Giffords from Centralia, the Lancaster parents, the Arbiol Family; Grace Talic and hubby, the Densleys and Co.; the Atienzas and whomever else that I cannot remember at this time that were not able to make it.
WE MISSED YOU ALL SO MUCH ! THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE SUPPORT AND PRAYERS ALL THESE YEARS THROUGHOUT ALL MY THREE JOURNEYS !
The time went by so fast,I know I was unable to say goodbye to a lot of guests. There was a lot of dancing (not by me) and a lot of picture taking, and video which captured the event. This way I can always look back to this unforgettable night!
Well before I knew it, Cinderella had to go home! I was starving when I got back to the condo as I hadn’t wanted to miss anything. I hadn’t had a bite all evening except for one formula and a small piece of bibingka dessert made by Comadre Clarita. I completely missed the chocolate fountain! Can you believe that? I didn’t even know it was there! I was on an ” adrenaline high ” from the evening’s events and seeing so many people we love, that I asked Michael to download the pictures from the evening right away . I watched them over and over on my laptop until I fell asleep finally at 5am! First thing I did when I woke up is watch them again.
NOW… it is time for the very special ” thank you’s ” to very special people who worked hard on this event with tireless dedication and sweat and hard work! Michael and Christine did not want us to help in any way at all, because they said they were giving me the party!
HOW CAN I EVER THANK YOU ALL!
First and Foremost- my devoted husband, FORT…….it has been 43 years of love, learning, and living in spite of whatever circumstance we are in. You are my Number ONE angel. I am truly a lucky lady ! I will always remember you singing ” LADY IN RED ” to me. It was very hard to control my tears so I will not be a ” basket case” all evening but it took a lot out if me to control it!
From now on, if and when I am feeling low which is seldom because the Lord Jesus and Bessed Virgin Mary are watching over me, I shall think of our precious NINA, who surprised us by dancing to your rendition of “She’s a Lady” and stayed there the whole time to everyone’s surprise !
Fort, my Honey, you are my forever tango partner! Except that our handsome little AIDAN had waited patiently to dance the tango with me and he did ! He was copying you and we danced his version of the tango placing his hand on my side ! Someone is following in your footsteps already, Papa! You can see his picture dancing with me and how very serious he takes his dancing!
Second, MICHAEL, CHRISTINE, PAUL, NINA and AIDAN
The idea for a birthday party was all theirs, (with a little hint from Shelley Mauss I am told 
)
When they presented this idea to me, I met it with mixed emotions!
I felt very honored that they want to do this for me but it also made me very aware of my mortality!
I cried because I felt that my children must have felt that this may be the last opportunity they have to give me a birthday party.
Michael said it is a celebration of my life, and a thank you to all of our friends, who have prayed for and supported all of us since this journey started. Michael said the party was important to he and Christine. We talked to Leah and some intimate friends and they advised me to let them do this. So I apologize for the lateness of the EVITE! Being Labor Day weekend, a lot of people had already made plans.
Kudos to our most energetic, tireless, sleepless son, Michael, who never ever runs out of very thoughtful and original ideas which he constantly surprises us with since he was a little boy! Even at age two, he always met me with a bouquet of flowers which he picked ( Dandelions) whenever I picked him up from the sitter ! He is a most generous, caring, affectionate and loving person and he simply lifts us all up when we need it. He never gives up hope and is the leader when it comes to fighting this battle as a family.
Next but as an equal gift is our daughter, Christine and her husband, Paul . They have made so many sacrifices since my cancer became serious in 1997, coming and going as often as weekly . They even moved back here during my first battle and again with this most recent one.
During this time, all of them were at my side during my surgery last June 13,2005. When I had to go to Houston, Texas for a second opinion spearheaded by Christine, she singehandedly made appointments, arranged transportation for everyone and etc which made it so easy for both Fort, myself and Michael.
While Michael is the LUNGS that breathe hope and energy into our family, Christine is the HEART that keeps us organized and flowing. Consistently beating, steady like her father. Supporting and loving through service.
When we, as a family, decided I would be receiving treatment in Houston, all nine weeks, Christine flew in on Fridays up to Mondays and Michael flew in on Mondays and left Fridays. The siblings had coffee at the airport to exchange info on what had transpired during the week. Fort and I were never alone without a son or a daughter by our side! Paul was left at OC, CA to tend to the grandkids who understood somehow that Mommy had to leave them a few days! We are so lucky Christine found Paul to be the father of our grandchildren. He has sacrificed time with his family, and also of his own time, to support us while we fight this disease.
When the treatment moved back to Seattle and Swedish Hospital, Christine and family came immediately and have been by my side since . With Paul, flying in on weekends this time. For now, they have departed back to CA, because school has begun and we all believe that they need to be there as a family together. It was a very difficult decision to make but we all know it is the right decision for now. We will all be together soon enough.
C- Jean and Robbie Aquino who actually arranged for us to have the party hold it at St Stephens since most venues were all booked already for Sept 2nd.! We are not parishioners of St.Stephens so they had to petition the Priest in charge.
D- Next is my Comadre, Clarita Villasenor and her husband, Frank, Faye, and Scott. Together they helped keep the kitchen running smoothly all night! DEFINITELY some great angels in my life !
E- Jesse who honored me with his beautiful poem and wonderful singing accompanied by his son JJ.
F- My Friday Circle Family, especially Robbie who never stopped since the party started, we were told, his wife Jean, Johnny and Alice, Zeny and Jun, Chit and Ross, Loy and Fe, helped clean and place St. Stephens back to normal .
G- Thank you for all your toasts, Willie, Marv, Connie, Rita and Johnny! Michael sincerely apologizes for missing your toast, Jun! I hope that I truly am worthy of all your wonderful words and wishes !
H- Shelley, Rachael, Becky, Kili, Stella, Brita, Marie, Matt, Kyle, Jaro, Jesiah, Courtney (Michaels group of friends who did the decorations, bartending, coordinating, pictures and video.
Last but not least …. Thank you to ALL and Everyone who attended my birthday party especially on such short notice like Diana Sabo. The people I missed and could not find, I wish that we did and that for that one chance, that we could have all been there together!
With love, deep respect and devotion to all of you, our dear friends, and family, who have more than enriched our lives!
WE LOVE YOU ALL VERY,VERY MUCH !
And from me CORAZON, my heart to you all !
