Accomplishing Great Things

Jessika's Bridal Shower

I had such a lovely Sunday afternoon attending the bridal shower for Jessika, a life long  childhood friend  of my daughter Aria and of our whole family.  It has been a gift  to watch her grow up and become such a lovely young woman. I'm so happy that our family can be part of these monumentally happy moments in her life.  Here is a slideshow of Jessika's shower held September 28, 2014.

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Discovery

On Of My Favorite Quotes

When Things Get Heavy

A Window To Your Joy

Why Wait?

Happy Birthday Mike

 

Though the competition may be tough

Will the real Godfather please stand up!

We'd always pick you as our favorite leading man!

 Happy Birthday Mike! 

For my husband Mike:

I wish that this Birthday teaches you something new and beautiful.

I wish that you have a day that you'll remember forever with a smile.

I wish that such days keep coming in every single day.

The Pursuit of Art

Saturday we were able to spend a very enjoyable afternoon at an art opening/reception for several artists two of whom are my dear cousins Nancy Enkoji and Peggy Nishio. Another among the featured artists, a dear friend, Linda Stevens (pictured at the far left) .   Ever inspiring to see all the different paths a creative heart can take.  Here is a little slide show of our afternoon at the Whittier Art Gallery in Southern California.

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Each Step Is A Journey

"Here is the road: the light
comes and goes then returns again.
Be gentle with your fellow travelers
as they move through the world of stone and stars
whirling with you yet every one alone.
The road waits.
Do not ask questions but when it invites you
to dance at daybreak, say yes.
Each step is the journey; a single note the song. "

Arlene Gay Levine (from Bless the Day)

Don't Settle

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.

And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

 -Steve Jobs

Expansion

Tanti Auguri Luisa!

I love my Italian teacher and today we celebrated her birthday with our little gruppo italiano Italian language class.
Happy Birthday Luisa! Buon Compleanno e tanti auguri!

 

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Pay Attention To The Signs

"To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work." -Mary Oliver

That's Why I Like Them

Wendy: But what were you doing there?
Peter: I came to listen to your stories.
Wendy: My stories? But they’re all about you.
Peter: Of course! That’s why I like ‘em! - From Peter Pan

A Little or a Lot?

"Listen, are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?" -Mary Oliver

We Are All The Same

"We are all human beings, and from this point of view, we are the same. We all want happiness and we do not want suffering. If we consider this point, we will find that there are no differences between people of different faiths, races, colors, or cultures. We all have this common wish for happiness."-Dalai Lama

The Point Is

Through Rose Colored Glasses

Venice photo: Aria Cabot


"The dew rose and turned to golden mist, thin as a dream, enveloping them until they seemed gossamer relics of the late night, infinitely transient and already fading. For a moment sea and sky were breathless, and dawn held a pink hand over the young mouth of life..." -F. Scott Fitzgerald

Celebrating the Life of Jan Naritomi-Hart

Photo courtesy of Robert Mepham

On Friday we gathered together to celebrate my cousin Jan's life.  Old and new friends arrived to share how Jan has touched their lives. In 2004 Jan was diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.  She has spent the last ten years as an advocate and activist for newly diagnosed patients.  Jan started the first neuroendocrine tumor support group in San Diego and has devoted countless hours providing advice to her fellow cancer patients and their families.  Jan also was a loyal supporter of the San Diego
Cancer Research Institute a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients through integrative approaches to treatment. She personally introduced the benefits of yoga, meditation, acupuncture, gentle exercise, healing touch and the support of group therapy with other cancer survivors. In 2011, she received the Warner Advocacy Award, a national award given to people who are dedicated leaders in the neuroendocrine cancer community.   The list of her generosity and love to others is endless.  On Sept. 11, 2014 we celebrated her life.  Here is a small slideshow of that celebration. Aloha Jan, until we meet again may you find eternal peace and tranquility.

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Venezia A Place To Fall In Love

Photo: Aria Cabot

"What you are in love with seizes the imagination,

it will affect your everything.  It will decide what

gets you out of bed in the mornings, what you do

with your evenings, how you spend your weekends,

what you read, what you know, what breaks your 

heart, and what amazes you.  Fall in love, stay in

love, and it will decide everything."

-Pedro Arrupe

I'll Drink To That!

Drin

Jan Naritomi-Hart

 A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 at 3 pm at the SeasideCenter for Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Rd., Encinitas  92024. Guests are invited to wear zebra prints, the symbol for neuroendocrine cancer, or Aloha wear.

Jan's obituary

By Pati Naritomi — 9 hours ago

                                                    Janice Rae Naritomi-Hart 1951-2014

Jan Naritomi-Hart passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014 at AviaraHealthcare Center in Encinitas, California, with her sister by her side.  She was 63 years old. She died following a valiant, ten year battle with neuroendocrine cancer.

The daughter of Walter and Rae Naritomi, she was born at the Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles on January 3, 1951. In spite of that beginning, her father always called her “my little devil” because she was always "testing the waters". Jan was raised in Pasadena and lived in Hawaii for nearly 20 years before moving to San Marcos with her husband, John Hart, who pre-deceased her in 2001.  But she always loved Hawaii and kept the aloha spirit inside her heart, even after moving back to the mainland. 

Following her father's death in1988, Jan moved her mother to San Marcos where she cared for her while working full-time. She used her determination and strength to great advantage during these difficult years. 

In 2004, Jan was diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrinecancer. She spent the last ten years educating herself about this rare form of cancer, and became an activist and advocate for newly diagnosed patients. She started the first neuroendocrine tumor (NET) support group in San Diego, and led the group until last month. Jan devoted countless hours providing advice to her fellow cancer patients and their families, and was a cheerleader for education and fundraising for this little known and often misdiagnosed cancer.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Lois Merrill Foundation, an organization devoted to raising awareness and helping people affected by carcinoid cancer, a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer. She was known for her omnipresent yellow note pad and pen, always feverishly taking notes and collecting materials that might be helpful to others.

Jan also was a loyal supporter of the San Diego Cancer Research Institute, a non-profit organization in Encinitas dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients through integrative approaches to treatment. There, she benefited greatly from its many forms of non-traditional treatment therapies and supportive services.She personally introduced hundreds of frightened cancer patients to the benefits of yoga, meditation, acupuncture, gentle exercise, healing touch, and the support of group therapy with other cancer survivors. In 2011, Jan received the Warner Advocacy Award, a national award given to people who are dedicated leaders in the neuroendocrine cancer community.

She became a source of strength and guidance for cancer patients of all kinds. She affected hundreds of people who credit her help and optimism with changing their lives.  She had a larger-than-life personality,a winning smile and a ready laugh. When you were in her presence, there was never a dull moment. She always put others first, sometimes to the detriment ofher own well-being. She was generous by nature; her heart was big and filled with love.  She was a kind and loving member of her family and her  community. She will be dearly missed by so many whose lives she touched.

Jan is survivedby her only sister, Pati B. Naritomi (husband Stuart Bennett, nephew Taka and niece Emiko) of Vermont; sister-in-law Jeanne Hart Gillette (husband Lon, niece Nancy, and nephew Marshall) of Carlsbad, CA and numerous, beloved cousins. 

 

Gifts can be made in memory of Jan to:

The San DiegoCancer Research Institute,  www.sdcri.org (1200 Garden View Road, Suite 200, Encinitas, California 92024;

The Lois Merrill Foundation, theloismerrillfoundation/org (1345 Encinitas Blvd #314, Encinitas,CA 92024);

Caring forCarcinoid Foundation, caringforcarcinoid.org

Let the Music Play On

Like a Camera

Life is like a camera...
Focus on what's important,
Capture the good times,
Develop from the negatives,
And if things don't work out,
Take Another Shot.

-Author Unknown

Early Morning Light

"I'm so glad my window looks east into the sun rising.... It's so splendid to see the morning coming up over those long hills and glowing through those sharp fir tops. It's new every morning, and I feel as if I washed my very soul in that bath of earliest sunshine." ~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Be Here Now

"Have you noticed how often we use up the present moments of our lives, the very precious currency of life, consumed with a longing to be someplace else, doing something else? Or we waste present moments feeling guilty about the past or apprehensive about the future. Slipping away from the present happens because we are living our lives with an attitude of depreciation rather than appreciation. We can ease this dilemma by learning to pay attention to what’s going on in the inner world of our thoughts." -Dr. Wayne Dyer

 

Between You and God

Life

"Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze."- John Denver - Bill Danoff - Taffy Nivert,

A Restorative Day In Laguna Beach California With Family

Our mothers were sisters and like our mothers, we cousins,  feel like sisters. 

This was a much needed restorative day. A day for us to hold each other close and to celebrate and toast our cousin "Jan". Laguna Beach holds a special place in the hearts of all our family.  It was a natural place for us to meet up for lunch.  

Being by the beautiful blue Pacific ocean at Hotel Laguna was the perfect choice.     It was a very happy time for us to be together.

One of the prettiest patio views in all Laguna.

Mojitos, Mimosas and Bloody Mary's are in order

Let's not forget our dessert.  Mmmm Pineapple upside down cake, oh yeah!

Some time to stroll on the beach

Our very own Laguna Beach Selfie!

My brother in law Vicente wrote this about  today :  "Reassessing the meaningful relationships, the relationships that represent lives co-written by family ties. Should be a time of celebration of Jan's life and work, and also a restorative meeting for all attending. Much love to Pati and all of you, cousins."