And Another County Heard From!

Dear Nancy,

Happy 50th birthday from the North Carolina Marinos - Peter, Patty, Bri, Peter, Christina and Thomas! We all hope you have a wonderful day and a fabulous year as you enter the first year of the next 1/2 of your life. It seems like yesterday when all the "cousins" were camping together out at Cedar Point during the summers; hiking and exploring around down at the lighthouse and beach, the campfire sing alongs, etc. etc. - what great times.

As Ben Franklin once said: "One today is worth two tomorrows;" so here's wishing you 50 more great years of tomorrows. Wish we could be there to help celebrate with you and we hope to see you soon.

Happy Birthday! With much love,

Peter, Patty, Bri, Peter, Christina and Thomas

Belated Birthday Wishes...

Dear Nancy,

I'm sorry if this is late, but on behalf of both Ellen and I we wish you the happiest of birthdays and hope that your new career has helped to make it so. Since you come from a long line of long-lined people, you can consider yourself only half way there! Have a wild, wonderful second half!

Love,
Aunt Mary Ellen and Ellen

Little Bro Chimes In

Dear Nancy (my oldest sister and Godmother),

You were 13 when I was born, pretty young for a Godmother, but you took on the responsibility wholeheartedly. You have ALWAYS been there for me and I will ALWAYS remember that. Here's a great picture of you from a few years ago at Cayuga Lake. You look pretty darn happy in this shot and it makes me smile. Love ya! Thanks for always being there!
Paul

And One More From Mom & Dad

Dear Nancy,

Happy 50th Birthday! While we can't fit 50 years of memories into this blog, I can touch on a few of the more momentous ones.

You were our firstborn and the eldest of five siblings. You were very forgiving of the mistakes we as new parents made and grew into a cooperative and willing helper through the years of our young family. Always a help to me and dad, I can still see you carrying logs through the snow into the house to feed our wood stove. You kept your wits about you when the boat you and dad were in overturned and managed to rescue his precious fishing tackle. How about the dog sitting business you started as a teen? Remember chasing Prince through the streets? And the beagle Fred around the court? And here you are now, running your own dog-grooming business. We should have known! Then you were off to college -- SUNY at Plattsburgh, then SUNY Stony Brook. You took everything in stride, and you continue to do so, surviving the valleys as well as rejoicing in the peaks.

And now you're on to a new phase. With Steve as your love and companion, may you continue to gather more memories. We pray that God will continue to bless you with all good things.

Much love from your Mom and Dad

From Little Sis

Wow! Fifty years! Who'd have thought we would ever be old. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were playing canasta in the back of the Suburban, driving through Chicago during a tornado watch, on the way to Madison, Wisconsin. We have some great memories from our many camping trips and we learned a lot about rocks.

But seriously, you have always been a person I've looked up to. As the youngest of the 3 girls, I was almost in awe of you a lot of the time. You always seemed to have it together. And, even if you didn't, you never lost your cool. You were also one of the first people I felt took me seriously as a teenager. I remember you talking to me and treating me as a peer, which I greatly appreciated as a 9th grader among juniors and seniors.

You have lived through some wonderful times and some unbearably difficult times. Throughout it all, you've shown grace, poise, and amazing resolve. Enjoy every moment, every day, every month. Time goes so fast and it's so easy to take things for granted. I hope that the next 50 years are full of love and peace and joy.

love,

Carolyn

Love from Your Nieces

Dear Aunt Nancy,

Remember when we came to visit you? That was 4 years ago! We have all grown a lot since then, but we still think you're an Awesome Aunt! You're super-nice, you love animals, and you have great taste in jewelry! You're fun to be with and a lot cooler than our parents! Have a fantastic birthday - we'll be around to help you celebrate the next 50 years!

Love,

Sarah, Chelsea, and Alana

More Ithaca Friends

Happy Birthday Nancy! Once again, helping friends. You are such a wonderful person!

Cheryl Jewell

I'd like to wish Nancy a very Happy Birthday with special thanks for welcoming me into her circle of friends.

Best, Christine Karatnytsky

It's about time you got to our side of the hill. We love you. Happy Birthday!!

Cheryl and Erich (who is now home)

Happy 50th Birthday Nancy!!! Enjoy Your Special Day!!! :D from Esther Grace