If you keep up with our Caring Bridge at all, you may have read that Nicole has written her final farewell on the site. Caring Bridge was a valuable way for us to communicate to family and friends, particularly in the first critical weeks after Nicole's accident. Thankfully, it evolved into a site that chronicled her amazing recovery--the good, the bad, and the craziness of it all. I learned alot about her while living through it all and writing about it. I realized how truly resiliant Nicole is. I realized how she has a magical effect on all those who come into contact with her. I realized that she has no filters at all, and she treats everyone equally, with kindness, humor, and encouragement. I realized that I'm more proud of her and how she has handled all this than ever.
But for Nicole, Caring Bridge represents the time in her life when she was broken. She understands the purpose of it, and she was uplifted by all thousands of well-wishes people wrote on her guestbook. But she is turning a major corner, and she wants to leave that in the past. Her focus is where she is in this moment, and where she wants to go. So, she wrote a farewell on facebook, but invited anyone who wants to keep up with her to visit her website, which includes a blog. Folks can still make comments, which is similar to the Caring Bridge website.
Nic's website is still a work in progress, but it is quintessentially Nicole! It has her energy, enthusiasm and positive vibe. Her great friends Talameka and Drew have helped her get it up and running and she's having a great time writing her blog entries, and sometimes even including videos snippets of her life.
As her presence on the web is evolving, so is her room. It is hard for Nicole to be back in the room where spent her teen years. Afterall, she has lived in France, the Berkshires in Massachusetts, downtown Louisville, KY and of course, New York. She's a girl who loves to spread her wings and go...coming home on rare occasions and for just a few days at a time. Now she's back home, and even though she's 26, she feels 16 all over again. But as her physical abilities improve, she's taking steps to give her room her own touch. Out are all the photos of hospitals, therapy, and old loves. She is filling her room with more positive things--dance prints, art she's chosen, and best of all for her--the ginourmous orange crushed velvet couch that was in her apartment in Hattiesburg. Impractical as I think it may be, she loves it and it makes that space feel more like her own. She's still got a bit of a stubborn streak in her--I suppose it's that tenacity that has helped her get to the point she's at right now! Today, we'll decorate her purple Christmas tree and her room will be ready for the holidays!
As for me, I like to hold on to a few things from the past. It's how traditions are developed and I think it's good to see where we've been. I choose to hold on to the fond memories of the past and try to forget less-than-happy memories. Christmas is naturally a time of reminiscing. We pull out decorations we've used in past years, including all the precious little ornaments that the kids made as they were growing up. THose things give me a happy glow inside as I remember my children in their younger days.
But I don't live in the past. I'm very much about the present, so I find ways to incorporate those things into my 2009 decorating. Instead of mourning loved ones no longer here, I find joy in remembering them during this time of year. Three years ago, Larry's mom, Isabel, was here at Christmas and she delighted with every aspect of the season. It made it all the more fun for me to decorate my house, go to Christmas concerts and parties, and all that goes into the season. She just delighted in each and every ornament, light, decoration, song...and now during Christmas, I have the fondest of memories of her. Last year, "Dirty Betty" was with us at Christmas. We loved having her in our home, joining us in our celebration, and she couldn't have been any happier. She truly had a wonderful time, which delighted me to no end. So this year, as I decorate with the things that Betty loved so much, I fondly remember her in my heart.
So I believe Nicole has the right idea for now to leave all those hospital and rehab memories in the past, but as more time passes by, I think she will learn to look at the time differently. She'll look back and think about the wonderful therapists who she became so close to. She'll remember the extreme kindness of friends and strangers, all concerned for her--all rooting for her to get better. And I think she'll even look back on the time she moved back into her teenage room for awhile and it wasn't so bad afterall...
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
While I'm not a big fan of shopping for shopping's sake, I do enjoy going to places where I can find unique, never-before-seen items. That's why I'm loving the show I'm watching now on The Sundance Channel (I love Direct TV when it really works!) The show is "Man Shops Globe," and features Keith Johnson, a buyer for Antrhopologie. He travels the globe sourcing very unique items for the store.
This particular episode finds him in South Africa, where instead of going to shops that specialize in traditional African art, which we've all seen, he goes to the shops and studios that turn out incredible ceramics,furniture made of recycled trash, and lifesized animals made of wire and beads.
While Johnson travels the globe, finding some of the most incredible and creative pieces, I believe that we can simply travel around Mississippi to find equally incredible and creative things created by incredible and creative artists. I love having some of those pieces in my home, especially when I know the artist.
I treasure my "drunken Santa" and snowglobe photos by Josh Hailey, and I also have one of his beautiful copper pieces framed in a shadowbox. I love my Tony Difatta dragonfly print, and my happy H.C.Porter print that features an elderly lady sitting pretty on a rusted metal lawn glider. An Italian scene painted by Paul Cononici brightens up my kitchen, alongside his combination cookbook/art book, "So Italian." It's special to me because Father Paul baptized Joe, and gave First Communion to both Nic and Joe.
I have many other special things in my home made by a bevy of creative folks in our community and beyond, including art by Larry's sister, Maky, and a wonderful piece painted on the back of a table leaf by Pat Thomas, the son of the late famed Blues singer Son Thomas, who was an artist himself. Son's work, crafted of Mississippi clay, can be seen in the Smithsonian museum. Pat's painting is of a large Pepto-Bismol pink cat, and he signed it "For Susan, Pat Thomas." I had to write it on a piece of paper for him to copy, as he is illiterate.
Nicole is working on some hand-made pieces for a few family members. She's always enjoyed looking at art in galleries and museums, and she enjoys painting as well. Last year, when she was still in rehab, she painted items for all of us in occupational therapy. Birdhouses, dragonflies, boxes, etc. were all painted in bright colors. It was good therapy for her hands, and fun for her to do. And of course, we all treasure our gifts from her more than she'll ever know.
Hand-made art/crafts comes natural to her. My grandmother, Emilyn Anderson, was a china painter, and she also painted ceramics. She painted life-like flowers on china plates, cups, bowls, and such, and I am so blessed to have one of he beautiful ceramic Nativity sets she painted back in the late 1950's. She passed her artistry on to my dad, who is a wonderful woodworker. He does wood turning and wood carving, and his pieces are beautiful. Back in the summer he carved a hillbilly character, and Nicole took it to therapy to paint. It was the merging of two creative forces!
My other grandmother, Minnie Beebe, told me once that a gift made by hand contained something special: a person spent a part of their life that they'll never get back while making it, and when the creation is given to another as a gift, it contains a large dose of love.
I'm all for giving practical, thoughtful, even indulgent gifts, but for me, the best gift to receive is a gift that was made by hand.
With all this talk of gift-giving and recieving, let's not forget the reason we give Christmas gifts to begin with. It's in memory of the gift that God gave us...his only son. And in turn, his son, Jesus, gave us his life so that our sins may be forgiven, and we may have eternal life.
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
This particular episode finds him in South Africa, where instead of going to shops that specialize in traditional African art, which we've all seen, he goes to the shops and studios that turn out incredible ceramics,furniture made of recycled trash, and lifesized animals made of wire and beads.
While Johnson travels the globe, finding some of the most incredible and creative pieces, I believe that we can simply travel around Mississippi to find equally incredible and creative things created by incredible and creative artists. I love having some of those pieces in my home, especially when I know the artist.
I treasure my "drunken Santa" and snowglobe photos by Josh Hailey, and I also have one of his beautiful copper pieces framed in a shadowbox. I love my Tony Difatta dragonfly print, and my happy H.C.Porter print that features an elderly lady sitting pretty on a rusted metal lawn glider. An Italian scene painted by Paul Cononici brightens up my kitchen, alongside his combination cookbook/art book, "So Italian." It's special to me because Father Paul baptized Joe, and gave First Communion to both Nic and Joe.
I have many other special things in my home made by a bevy of creative folks in our community and beyond, including art by Larry's sister, Maky, and a wonderful piece painted on the back of a table leaf by Pat Thomas, the son of the late famed Blues singer Son Thomas, who was an artist himself. Son's work, crafted of Mississippi clay, can be seen in the Smithsonian museum. Pat's painting is of a large Pepto-Bismol pink cat, and he signed it "For Susan, Pat Thomas." I had to write it on a piece of paper for him to copy, as he is illiterate.
Nicole is working on some hand-made pieces for a few family members. She's always enjoyed looking at art in galleries and museums, and she enjoys painting as well. Last year, when she was still in rehab, she painted items for all of us in occupational therapy. Birdhouses, dragonflies, boxes, etc. were all painted in bright colors. It was good therapy for her hands, and fun for her to do. And of course, we all treasure our gifts from her more than she'll ever know.
Hand-made art/crafts comes natural to her. My grandmother, Emilyn Anderson, was a china painter, and she also painted ceramics. She painted life-like flowers on china plates, cups, bowls, and such, and I am so blessed to have one of he beautiful ceramic Nativity sets she painted back in the late 1950's. She passed her artistry on to my dad, who is a wonderful woodworker. He does wood turning and wood carving, and his pieces are beautiful. Back in the summer he carved a hillbilly character, and Nicole took it to therapy to paint. It was the merging of two creative forces!
My other grandmother, Minnie Beebe, told me once that a gift made by hand contained something special: a person spent a part of their life that they'll never get back while making it, and when the creation is given to another as a gift, it contains a large dose of love.
I'm all for giving practical, thoughtful, even indulgent gifts, but for me, the best gift to receive is a gift that was made by hand.
With all this talk of gift-giving and recieving, let's not forget the reason we give Christmas gifts to begin with. It's in memory of the gift that God gave us...his only son. And in turn, his son, Jesus, gave us his life so that our sins may be forgiven, and we may have eternal life.
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Simplifying my life to maximize the joy!
I love December! I love Christmas! But sometimes I think we get so caught up in doing that we forget the real reason we're doing it all.
So this year, I'm trying to keep it simple, and put a greater focus on the reason for the season. I'm determined not to get caught in the craziness in retail-land, and instead, buy heart-felt gifts, mostly hand-made by talented friends.
This year, instead of presents wrapped in color-coordinated wrapping paper piled under my tree, gifts will be concealed in recycled gift bags, saved from Christmas's past. I'll even use recycled tissue paper and ribbon!
I'll spend more time connecting with friends and really taking the time to catch up on their lives and share what's going on in mine.
And when the last package is opened, the last drop of eggnog consumed, and the last bit of tinsel packed up, I'll be relaxed instead of ragged-out, and I'll look back on the holidays with fondness instead of relieved that it's all over.
At least, that's the way I hope it goes down this year!
I've already gotten a couple of huge gifs this Christmas. First of all, I'm proud to report that Joe made the A-B Honor Roll this semester. He set a goal, made up his mind, and worked really hard to acheive it. And Nicole is blossoming before my eyes. She's walking around the house without her cane, and continues to get stronger and more steady every day. A year ago she was confined to a wheelchair, and now she's walking! We are blessed with two talented, healthy children who are both persuing their dreams. That's a gift that is priceless!
I'm still anxiously awaiting to hear the results of the "Good Mood Blog" gig contest. I came in 4th in the voting with 10,007 votes (thanks everyone!). The voting counts 20%. The judges are also reviewing my video and essay. Thanks so much to all of you who voted faithfully every day, and special thanks to those who wrote the extremely kind letters of recommendation. I should know something Tuesday or Wednesday. I believe in the power of prayer...I really want this job!
As we hit the mid-point of this festive month, I urge you all to slow down, savor the season and experience the joy!
Blessings to all who read this,
Susan
So this year, I'm trying to keep it simple, and put a greater focus on the reason for the season. I'm determined not to get caught in the craziness in retail-land, and instead, buy heart-felt gifts, mostly hand-made by talented friends.
This year, instead of presents wrapped in color-coordinated wrapping paper piled under my tree, gifts will be concealed in recycled gift bags, saved from Christmas's past. I'll even use recycled tissue paper and ribbon!
I'll spend more time connecting with friends and really taking the time to catch up on their lives and share what's going on in mine.
And when the last package is opened, the last drop of eggnog consumed, and the last bit of tinsel packed up, I'll be relaxed instead of ragged-out, and I'll look back on the holidays with fondness instead of relieved that it's all over.
At least, that's the way I hope it goes down this year!
I've already gotten a couple of huge gifs this Christmas. First of all, I'm proud to report that Joe made the A-B Honor Roll this semester. He set a goal, made up his mind, and worked really hard to acheive it. And Nicole is blossoming before my eyes. She's walking around the house without her cane, and continues to get stronger and more steady every day. A year ago she was confined to a wheelchair, and now she's walking! We are blessed with two talented, healthy children who are both persuing their dreams. That's a gift that is priceless!
I'm still anxiously awaiting to hear the results of the "Good Mood Blog" gig contest. I came in 4th in the voting with 10,007 votes (thanks everyone!). The voting counts 20%. The judges are also reviewing my video and essay. Thanks so much to all of you who voted faithfully every day, and special thanks to those who wrote the extremely kind letters of recommendation. I should know something Tuesday or Wednesday. I believe in the power of prayer...I really want this job!
As we hit the mid-point of this festive month, I urge you all to slow down, savor the season and experience the joy!
Blessings to all who read this,
Susan
Friday, November 20, 2009
Critical mass needed!
I'm well on my way to becoming Nature Made's Good Mood Blogger....but there are other contestants who are ahead of me. I need to hone my social media networking skills to get "critical mass." That means I need people to not only vote for me, but to tell their friends to do the same. I'm desperate for votes...there is one contestant who has over 6000. My count is 2224 as of this writing.
If I win, I will be awarded a six-month gig to write a daily blog on good moods. It pays $5000/day, so that's $30,000 I can put towards Nicole's mounting medical bills.
So here is my plea: Go to the link provided below, and vote for me. THEN, click on "share on facebook" if you are a facebook user, and/or, "share on twitter" if you tweet. If you don't use either of those services, simply email your friends and ask them to vote. The more people I reach, obviously, the more votes I'll get.
I appreciate your support...this contest goes through December 7, so I'll be asking for votes daily until that time.
Thanks to all who read this, and who act on it to vote and ask their friends to vote.
http://www.sam-e.com/job/profile/369
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
If I win, I will be awarded a six-month gig to write a daily blog on good moods. It pays $5000/day, so that's $30,000 I can put towards Nicole's mounting medical bills.
So here is my plea: Go to the link provided below, and vote for me. THEN, click on "share on facebook" if you are a facebook user, and/or, "share on twitter" if you tweet. If you don't use either of those services, simply email your friends and ask them to vote. The more people I reach, obviously, the more votes I'll get.
I appreciate your support...this contest goes through December 7, so I'll be asking for votes daily until that time.
Thanks to all who read this, and who act on it to vote and ask their friends to vote.
http://www.sam-e.com/job/profile/369
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I NEED VOTES!!!!
I'm a finalist and now in Phase II of the Good Mood Blogger competition for Nature Made. If I am selected, I'll get a six-month blogging gig that pays $5000/month. I will put ALL the money towards Nicole's mounting medical bills. (If you missed convention, you can read her story at www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicolemarquez).
To win, I need your help. Please click on the link below and vote for me. You can vote once a day (voting goes through Dec. 7). If you have more than one email address, you can vote from each one. No registration and no sign in. Simply click and vote.
PLEASE forward to your friends. This needs to go VIRAL in a hurry!!!!
THANK YOU!
Susan Marquez
http://www.sam-e.com/job/profile/369
To win, I need your help. Please click on the link below and vote for me. You can vote once a day (voting goes through Dec. 7). If you have more than one email address, you can vote from each one. No registration and no sign in. Simply click and vote.
PLEASE forward to your friends. This needs to go VIRAL in a hurry!!!!
THANK YOU!
Susan Marquez
http://www.sam-e.com/job/profile/369
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
New Traditions
I love traditions. We've created some in our family that I cherish, like our annual gathering on Christmas Eve, and our New Year's Day "lucky feast" with black eyed peas and Larry's labor-intensive-but-so-worth-it cabbage rolls. Traditions are the touchstones that we have to remind us of what's really important in life: family, friends, love, fun, sharing and caring.
It looks like another tradition may have been born this past weekend. It was our first-ever Pumpkin Massacre (pumpkin carving party) and it was so much fun! First of all, God granted us with the most perfectly glorious fall day ever. We had tables set up in the backyard for pumpkin carving and decorating and the fire pit on the patio was a popular spot as well. Inside, our beloved New Orleans Saints were playing a most memorable game.
We had a great crowd of creative and fun friends who transformed about a dozen pumpkins into jack'o'lanterns. It was a big ol' orange mess, and lots of fun! Leslie Puckett, ever the resourceful one, saved the seeds and roasted them for us.
After the sun had set, and the last of the guests had left, Larry and I sat around the glowing embers of the fire pit and talked about what a good day it was and how much fun we had and how lucky we are to have such a fun group of friends who were willing to stab a pumpkin a few times...just because!
It was the end of a great week. Larry, Nicole and I all went to the USM game with Gene and Maggie Clark the weekend before, and we left Nicole in Hattiesburg to visit with friends. I drove back down on Sunday to join her for mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where we both spoke after Father Tommy's homily.
Kate had car trouble for several days last week, so I ended up driving Nicole to therapy and her workouts with Eclesius for a few days. (By the way, we are actively looking for a new Personal Care Assistant for Nicole--Kate is going back to school soon). It was actually nice to spend time with Nicole again. She leads such a busy life, that we rarely have time to spend one-on-one.
Speaking of Eclesius, he is really doing wonders with Nicole. She is so excited that she is able to do more and more in the gym. Just last night, she told me that when she first started working out with E, she could barely do four or five crunches, and now she can do them continuously for several minutes. Her muscles are becoming so much more defined. At the time of her accident, she was in peak physical condition. It only took about a month for her muscles to completely atrophe. As she builds the muscles back up, she is gaining strength, which helps with her walking and balance. It's amazing to see how her hard work is affecting her ability to walk.
So maybe I need to get a clue and begin a tradition of my own...regular exercise. I do some here and there, but to really be effective, I need to be more consistent. Nicole is really motivating me to take it up a notch.
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
It looks like another tradition may have been born this past weekend. It was our first-ever Pumpkin Massacre (pumpkin carving party) and it was so much fun! First of all, God granted us with the most perfectly glorious fall day ever. We had tables set up in the backyard for pumpkin carving and decorating and the fire pit on the patio was a popular spot as well. Inside, our beloved New Orleans Saints were playing a most memorable game.
We had a great crowd of creative and fun friends who transformed about a dozen pumpkins into jack'o'lanterns. It was a big ol' orange mess, and lots of fun! Leslie Puckett, ever the resourceful one, saved the seeds and roasted them for us.
After the sun had set, and the last of the guests had left, Larry and I sat around the glowing embers of the fire pit and talked about what a good day it was and how much fun we had and how lucky we are to have such a fun group of friends who were willing to stab a pumpkin a few times...just because!
It was the end of a great week. Larry, Nicole and I all went to the USM game with Gene and Maggie Clark the weekend before, and we left Nicole in Hattiesburg to visit with friends. I drove back down on Sunday to join her for mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where we both spoke after Father Tommy's homily.
Kate had car trouble for several days last week, so I ended up driving Nicole to therapy and her workouts with Eclesius for a few days. (By the way, we are actively looking for a new Personal Care Assistant for Nicole--Kate is going back to school soon). It was actually nice to spend time with Nicole again. She leads such a busy life, that we rarely have time to spend one-on-one.
Speaking of Eclesius, he is really doing wonders with Nicole. She is so excited that she is able to do more and more in the gym. Just last night, she told me that when she first started working out with E, she could barely do four or five crunches, and now she can do them continuously for several minutes. Her muscles are becoming so much more defined. At the time of her accident, she was in peak physical condition. It only took about a month for her muscles to completely atrophe. As she builds the muscles back up, she is gaining strength, which helps with her walking and balance. It's amazing to see how her hard work is affecting her ability to walk.
So maybe I need to get a clue and begin a tradition of my own...regular exercise. I do some here and there, but to really be effective, I need to be more consistent. Nicole is really motivating me to take it up a notch.
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
Saturday, October 10, 2009
New York State of Mind...
It's taken awhile for me to write, and now I'm worried I can write a novel because I have so much in my head! I guess the best thing to do is start at the beginning...
If you remember, back in June I attended the Southern Living at HOME convention in Dallas (because I'm a consultant for SLAH). They did a video on Nicole, her accident and the fundraising event (Southern Living at HOME party) held at Green Oak Nursery in Jackson to benefit Nicole's medical fund. Gail Pittman, a sweet friend and the creative director of SLAH, came to the party and did a demonstration/presentation. It was a huge party (thanks to all who came!) and the whole story was told for almost 3000 consultants at the convention. After the presentation in Dallas, Nicole and I went out on the stage where our family was presented with a trip to New York--this time to make happy memories!
So, we scheduled our trip for late September to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Nicole's release from New York Presbyterian Hospital. It was a magical trip and many, many happy memories were made! Joe wasn't able to go, because he didn't want to miss too many classes. (He's not a big-city kind of guy anyway!). So instead, Kate, Nicole's assistant, went with us, which was so helpful to both us and Nicole.
We arrived in NY on Friday afternoon, Sept. 25. NYP sent a car to pick us up at the airport and off we went to the hospital. We went straight up to the Neuro-ICU where we had a wonderful reunion with the nurses and staff who took such good care of Nicole. Brian Dotson, the PR director of the hospital, arranged a wonderful reception, complete with a canoli-filling cake that was decorated with the word "Bravo!" The president and vice president of the hospital were there to greet Nicole as she fulfilled her promise to "be back in a year to dance down the halls of the NICU!" And that she did, to a stripper tune she sang...I was dying of embarassment, but everyone else had huge grins on their faces as she shimmied and shook, taking one step after another in between grabbing her breasts and her butt. That's my girl... After her show, the hospital's president presented her with a big bouquet of roses.
Also at the reunion was Fae Moore, a producer with PBS. She was involved in the PBS show "NOW" that aired in October 2008 called "Nurses Needed." The show featured Nicole in the first 5 or so minutes, and focused on the care the nurses provided her at NYP. It has been the most-watched PBS show online and they had plans to run it again this October. Nicole's return to NY was perfect, because the show will now include an update on Nicole's progress. The updated show will run on Friday, October 16. Check your local listings for times! To see the original half-hour show in it's entirety, log on to http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/442/index.html then click on "Video."
After the hospital reunion, we fulfilled the second part of our promise: to treat all the nurses to a beer at Coogin's, a wonderful Irish pub around the corner from the hospital. Many of the staff members at NYP go there after work, and we ate several great meals there while Nicole was in the hospital. Off we went to Coogin's, where we were met by Peter Walsh, who has run the place for over 25 years. He was the most jovial host, and we had about 12 nurses join us for a great evening of fun and laughs, courtesy of NYP!!! It was so special for Nicole to get to know them in a different way, and for them to get to know her. It was a night for celebration, and it reminded the nurses how important their role is. They were all amazed with Nicole's progress and they loved her personality. To get a taste of Coogin's, log on to www.coogans.com.
We finally got in a cab and headed to the New York Hilton about 11:45pm...Nicole and Kate were in one room and Larry and I were next door. I think we were all asleep almost before our heads hit the pillow!
Saturday we awoke to a beautiful fall day. Blue skies, cool temps and a slight breeze. It was heaven in New York! We all got ready and went to breakfast at the Starbucks downstairs before heading to Central Park. Nicole had arranged a picnic with all her NY friends in Sheep's Meadow, one of her favorite spots in Central Park. (History note: sheep once grazed at the meadow, and were housed in the sheep houses across the street, in what is now Tavern on the Green!). There were tons of people in the park, because it was such a beautiful day, and luckily a group next to us had a big bouquet of red helium balloons, which was a great way to tell everyone where we were. Kate and Nicole scouted out the perfect spot while Larry and I walked to the Whole Foods on Columbus Circle to grab some picnic grub...gourmet sandwiches, steamed asparagus, mini cupcakes and brownies and other yummy things. Katherine Harber was there with the girls when Larry and I arrived, and then came Ruthie and Jake...followed by Sal, Kermit, Zdenko, Sarah, Jacqui, Emily and several others (I can't remember everyone's names...). There were lots of laughs, reminscing over old times at college, the Berkshires, Actors Theatre in Louisville, KY, and memories made in NY. Everyone was amazed at Nicole's progress--most all had seen her in NYP with a neck brace on and a ventilator tube down her throat. To see her walking, talking, laughing and having so much fun was a joyful event for everyone.
We could have stayed there all day, but we still had places to go...next stop was Chinatown where Kate and Nicole lost their minds! We bought wraps, purses, and other treasures at ridiculous prices before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the night.
It was a quick turnaround for us...we all got dolled up and headed a couple of blocks from the hotel to the Richard Rogers theatre to see the Boradway production of "In the Heights." It was the perfect show, as takes place in Washington Heights, a Dominican neighborhood where NYP is located. For a month last year, Larry and I lived "in the Heights" while Nicole was in the hospital. It's where we ate, had our laundry done, and even had a manicure and pedicure while Nicole was having surgery. The music and dancing in the show was wonderful and we all enjoyed it immensely. Afterwards, we were invited backstage to meet the cast (thanks to a phone call from Gary Wright!!!). The cast was awesome. They knew Nicole's story and they made her feel so welcomed. We visited with them on the stage and took photos, of course. It was just a wonderful experience! Read about the show at http://www.intheheightsthemusical.com/
Our next stop was The Bubble Lounge. (http://www.bubblelounge.com/new-york/) The owner is Fae Moore's husband. It's a chi-chi champagne bar in Tribeca. When we arrived, there were two little tables reserved for us, and a bottle of champagne chilled to perfection. We sat on comfortable sofas and drank champagne and ate tapas (little appetizers)like we were somebody! Nicole's old roommate, Rafi, and his girlfriend, Dana, joined us and we had a wonderful time visiting and catching up with their exciting lives. (They were apprentices with Nicole at Actor's Theatre). I knew I was getting a little sleepy, and when I glanced at my watch, I knew why--it was 3am! We got back to the hotel around 3:30, just as a light rain began to fall.
We slept in Sunday morning and woke up to a miserable wet, rainy day. But we didn't care. The day before had been wonderful, and we were comfortable and cozy in the New York Hilton! Nic's friend Mimi came to meet up with her in Starbucks, and they had a great visit while Kate ventured out in a cab to try to get her Blackberry fixed. In the meantime, Larry visited with the hotel's concierge and got a tip on a good Venezuelan restaurant on the lower east side. We headed out to lunch and met up with Nicole's friend, Lizzie, whom she met in the Berkshires. We ate arepas and drank fresh tropical fruit smooties until we were full as ticks.
Finally, there was a break in the rain, so our next stop was Times Square. Kate took the subway with Lizzie and Larry, Nic and and I grabbed a taxi. We met up in Times Square and had alot of fun people watching and street shopping. Kate bought a hoodie and Nicole got a gangsa airbrushed trucker hat. They were both ready to get their thug on fo sho! The rain started again, so we all cabbed it to the hotel where we settled in at the lobby bar. More of Nic's friends were going to come, so Larry and I headed up to the room to give them some space. Just as he was leaving, Larry said the Kansas City Royals were checking in, and the rookies came in dressed in drag as part of an initiation of sorts. They had been forced to walk several blocks and into the lobby of the hotel. Lizzie and Nicole loved it and told them to come back down to visit after they "manned up" a bit!
Later, Larry went to a pizzeria straight out of "The Godfather," next to the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where David Letterman does his show. He brought back a huge pizza for the girls and the bartender let them eat it in the lobby bar. They killed it! Lizzie ended up staying the night in Nic and Kate's room.
Monday morning we woke up and got ready to head to the airport. It was a beautiful day and we just soaked in all the sights in the city on the way to catch our flight. We made it home with no problems...just lots of happy memories, which is exactly what we were supposed to do!
Many thanks to Southern Living at HOME and to New York Presbyterian Hospital for treating us to such a memorable trip!
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
If you remember, back in June I attended the Southern Living at HOME convention in Dallas (because I'm a consultant for SLAH). They did a video on Nicole, her accident and the fundraising event (Southern Living at HOME party) held at Green Oak Nursery in Jackson to benefit Nicole's medical fund. Gail Pittman, a sweet friend and the creative director of SLAH, came to the party and did a demonstration/presentation. It was a huge party (thanks to all who came!) and the whole story was told for almost 3000 consultants at the convention. After the presentation in Dallas, Nicole and I went out on the stage where our family was presented with a trip to New York--this time to make happy memories!
So, we scheduled our trip for late September to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Nicole's release from New York Presbyterian Hospital. It was a magical trip and many, many happy memories were made! Joe wasn't able to go, because he didn't want to miss too many classes. (He's not a big-city kind of guy anyway!). So instead, Kate, Nicole's assistant, went with us, which was so helpful to both us and Nicole.
We arrived in NY on Friday afternoon, Sept. 25. NYP sent a car to pick us up at the airport and off we went to the hospital. We went straight up to the Neuro-ICU where we had a wonderful reunion with the nurses and staff who took such good care of Nicole. Brian Dotson, the PR director of the hospital, arranged a wonderful reception, complete with a canoli-filling cake that was decorated with the word "Bravo!" The president and vice president of the hospital were there to greet Nicole as she fulfilled her promise to "be back in a year to dance down the halls of the NICU!" And that she did, to a stripper tune she sang...I was dying of embarassment, but everyone else had huge grins on their faces as she shimmied and shook, taking one step after another in between grabbing her breasts and her butt. That's my girl... After her show, the hospital's president presented her with a big bouquet of roses.
Also at the reunion was Fae Moore, a producer with PBS. She was involved in the PBS show "NOW" that aired in October 2008 called "Nurses Needed." The show featured Nicole in the first 5 or so minutes, and focused on the care the nurses provided her at NYP. It has been the most-watched PBS show online and they had plans to run it again this October. Nicole's return to NY was perfect, because the show will now include an update on Nicole's progress. The updated show will run on Friday, October 16. Check your local listings for times! To see the original half-hour show in it's entirety, log on to http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/442/index.html then click on "Video."
After the hospital reunion, we fulfilled the second part of our promise: to treat all the nurses to a beer at Coogin's, a wonderful Irish pub around the corner from the hospital. Many of the staff members at NYP go there after work, and we ate several great meals there while Nicole was in the hospital. Off we went to Coogin's, where we were met by Peter Walsh, who has run the place for over 25 years. He was the most jovial host, and we had about 12 nurses join us for a great evening of fun and laughs, courtesy of NYP!!! It was so special for Nicole to get to know them in a different way, and for them to get to know her. It was a night for celebration, and it reminded the nurses how important their role is. They were all amazed with Nicole's progress and they loved her personality. To get a taste of Coogin's, log on to www.coogans.com.
We finally got in a cab and headed to the New York Hilton about 11:45pm...Nicole and Kate were in one room and Larry and I were next door. I think we were all asleep almost before our heads hit the pillow!
Saturday we awoke to a beautiful fall day. Blue skies, cool temps and a slight breeze. It was heaven in New York! We all got ready and went to breakfast at the Starbucks downstairs before heading to Central Park. Nicole had arranged a picnic with all her NY friends in Sheep's Meadow, one of her favorite spots in Central Park. (History note: sheep once grazed at the meadow, and were housed in the sheep houses across the street, in what is now Tavern on the Green!). There were tons of people in the park, because it was such a beautiful day, and luckily a group next to us had a big bouquet of red helium balloons, which was a great way to tell everyone where we were. Kate and Nicole scouted out the perfect spot while Larry and I walked to the Whole Foods on Columbus Circle to grab some picnic grub...gourmet sandwiches, steamed asparagus, mini cupcakes and brownies and other yummy things. Katherine Harber was there with the girls when Larry and I arrived, and then came Ruthie and Jake...followed by Sal, Kermit, Zdenko, Sarah, Jacqui, Emily and several others (I can't remember everyone's names...). There were lots of laughs, reminscing over old times at college, the Berkshires, Actors Theatre in Louisville, KY, and memories made in NY. Everyone was amazed at Nicole's progress--most all had seen her in NYP with a neck brace on and a ventilator tube down her throat. To see her walking, talking, laughing and having so much fun was a joyful event for everyone.
We could have stayed there all day, but we still had places to go...next stop was Chinatown where Kate and Nicole lost their minds! We bought wraps, purses, and other treasures at ridiculous prices before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the night.
It was a quick turnaround for us...we all got dolled up and headed a couple of blocks from the hotel to the Richard Rogers theatre to see the Boradway production of "In the Heights." It was the perfect show, as takes place in Washington Heights, a Dominican neighborhood where NYP is located. For a month last year, Larry and I lived "in the Heights" while Nicole was in the hospital. It's where we ate, had our laundry done, and even had a manicure and pedicure while Nicole was having surgery. The music and dancing in the show was wonderful and we all enjoyed it immensely. Afterwards, we were invited backstage to meet the cast (thanks to a phone call from Gary Wright!!!). The cast was awesome. They knew Nicole's story and they made her feel so welcomed. We visited with them on the stage and took photos, of course. It was just a wonderful experience! Read about the show at http://www.intheheightsthemusical.com/
Our next stop was The Bubble Lounge. (http://www.bubblelounge.com/new-york/) The owner is Fae Moore's husband. It's a chi-chi champagne bar in Tribeca. When we arrived, there were two little tables reserved for us, and a bottle of champagne chilled to perfection. We sat on comfortable sofas and drank champagne and ate tapas (little appetizers)like we were somebody! Nicole's old roommate, Rafi, and his girlfriend, Dana, joined us and we had a wonderful time visiting and catching up with their exciting lives. (They were apprentices with Nicole at Actor's Theatre). I knew I was getting a little sleepy, and when I glanced at my watch, I knew why--it was 3am! We got back to the hotel around 3:30, just as a light rain began to fall.
We slept in Sunday morning and woke up to a miserable wet, rainy day. But we didn't care. The day before had been wonderful, and we were comfortable and cozy in the New York Hilton! Nic's friend Mimi came to meet up with her in Starbucks, and they had a great visit while Kate ventured out in a cab to try to get her Blackberry fixed. In the meantime, Larry visited with the hotel's concierge and got a tip on a good Venezuelan restaurant on the lower east side. We headed out to lunch and met up with Nicole's friend, Lizzie, whom she met in the Berkshires. We ate arepas and drank fresh tropical fruit smooties until we were full as ticks.
Finally, there was a break in the rain, so our next stop was Times Square. Kate took the subway with Lizzie and Larry, Nic and and I grabbed a taxi. We met up in Times Square and had alot of fun people watching and street shopping. Kate bought a hoodie and Nicole got a gangsa airbrushed trucker hat. They were both ready to get their thug on fo sho! The rain started again, so we all cabbed it to the hotel where we settled in at the lobby bar. More of Nic's friends were going to come, so Larry and I headed up to the room to give them some space. Just as he was leaving, Larry said the Kansas City Royals were checking in, and the rookies came in dressed in drag as part of an initiation of sorts. They had been forced to walk several blocks and into the lobby of the hotel. Lizzie and Nicole loved it and told them to come back down to visit after they "manned up" a bit!
Later, Larry went to a pizzeria straight out of "The Godfather," next to the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where David Letterman does his show. He brought back a huge pizza for the girls and the bartender let them eat it in the lobby bar. They killed it! Lizzie ended up staying the night in Nic and Kate's room.
Monday morning we woke up and got ready to head to the airport. It was a beautiful day and we just soaked in all the sights in the city on the way to catch our flight. We made it home with no problems...just lots of happy memories, which is exactly what we were supposed to do!
Many thanks to Southern Living at HOME and to New York Presbyterian Hospital for treating us to such a memorable trip!
Blessings to all who read this!
Susan
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