NEW JOB????

Something to possibly look forward too once the school year ends. What's bothering me right now is that my possible lack of income won't show up on the FASFA for this upcoming school year it'll show up the following year.

I didn't think I was "safe", I just figured my job was secure because who has time to deal with substance using students in the school system??? I mean w/ no child left behind, and the teachers working w/o a contract this year...things are pretty tense as it is.

Time to brush up my resume and promote myself as someone you want working in your organization.

ugh

PROM-GRADUATION & THE FUTURE

So, Matt & I officially have a high school graudate in our midsts. On Saturday, May 23rd, our oldest K graduated from Brewster Academy. It was an overcast day & it was quite cold at the school. I'm thankful that the ceremony took place in the athletic center. The luncheon on Brown Field was a bit cold thanks to the proximity to Lake Winni. But, otherwise it was a very nice day. We got lots of pictures & even managed to get all the cousins (minus LC) in a pic together. Mom was finally able to be in a pic w/ K too.

On Thursday, May 21st was K's senior prom. We arrived at the boathouse on campus to take pics of her & all her friends. I loved the dress she wore-made by Laurie. The color was great on her. K's date Andy was a nice young man. They had a wonderful time at Bald Peak Country Club. Afterwards they went back to Brewster and had pancake breakfast made by the teachers & their senior slide show. I think they got to bed around 2am-all sleeping at Hilary's house. I know we got a lot of pics that night too. My memory card was full by the time K & Andy got to the arbor for pics. Oh well.

The future-what will it really hold for my little girl, my oldest child.....
In August she'll pack up all her belongings & we'll drive her to MD where she'll begin her freshmen year at Loyola University Maryland. She goes to this school like she did Brewster-not knowing anyone. (Although, at Brewster she knew Andrea from camp-but camp world is different from the real world.) I know she'll make friends & have many opportunities that she wouldn't have had if she went somewhere else. It was a blessing that Loyola took her off the wait list & offered her a financial aid package that she couldn't refuse. Thinking ahead to August brings tears to my eyes, but they're tears of happiness because this is what Matt & I have wanted for her since her birth.....a future rich in experiences with good friends and family always by her side to support her in any decisions she has to make.

Good Bye "Bitty"

Helen E. Noonan

Helen E. Noonan Naples, FL
Helen Elizabeth "Betty" (MacNeil) Noonan, 81, passed away peacefully April 18, 2009 after a lengthy illness. Formerly of Wellesley, MA, she resided in Naples, FL and summered in Osterville, MA.
She is survived by her sister, Mary Lou Gumlak, of Marion, MA; her children, Deborah Weaver of Culpepper, VA, Robert Stansell Jr. of Cohasset, MA, Carol Stansell of Freedom, NH, Alec Stansell of Wellfleet, MA; and stepchildren, Ret. Gen. Robert Noonan Jr. of Herndon, VA, David Noonan of San Diego, CA, Richard Noonan of Chatham ,NJ, Jean Mojo of Ridgewood, NJ and Mary-anne Crutchley of Stamford, CT; as well as 21 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her brother, Norman MacNeil, husbands, Robert A. Stansell and Robert W. Noonan; two children, Norman Stansell and Neil Stansell; and stepson, John Noonan.
She graduated from The Dana Hall School and Skidmore College. She was a member of Wilderness Golf Club in Naples and the Oyster Harbors Golf Club in Osterville, MA.
Visitation will be at the John-Lawrence Funeral Home, 3778 Falmouth Road (Route 28) Marstons Mills, MA on Wednesday, April 22nd from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Funeral services will be at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Wianno Avenue, Osterville, MA on April 23rd at 10:00 a.m.
A private burial service will take place at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA.
Donations in Betty's name may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod and the Dana Farber Institute.

LIFE

I'm sitting in my little tiny closet (no lie) of an office and watching the traffic go by on Route 16 and wondering why it's so cold in this room. I've been fortunate within the last few weeks to be re-connecting with old friends from both high school & college & friends who I grew up with-it makes me long for the old days (sometimes) and how simple & easy things were. Of course, when I was in the midst of those days I remember clearly that there were times when I thought life was the toughest most difficult thing to get through. Don't get me wrong-I didn't hate my life or wish that I had an alternate identity I just used to hate when things were difficult and there was no easy way to make it smooth again.....so, I just got off the phone w/ the nurse at my sons school. She was in the process of calling all parents in 4th grade to let them know that the teacher (who's 4 years younger then me) has breast cancer and that tomorrow they're going to speak w/ the class. The teacher (who's extremely anal-retentive & she'll admit to this if you ask her) wanted to get out ahead of any rumors that might begin after tomorrows talk. I admire her courage, but I'm also worried for her. She and I have had our differences over the years but we've always been able to be professional where my children are concerned. It's been 8 years since she taught my first child & here it is 2009 and she's teaching my youngest child.

I'm curious as to what is going through her mind right now...is it the thoughts of the upcoming surgery that will happen within the next month? Is it about her own child & step-children? I'm sure that M will have many questions about this news. Things for me are once again not smooth. Now would be a good time for some of that inner strength that my mother seems to have such an abundance of somehow be transferred to me so that I can get back to that smooth place.