Fran News 50th Birthday Party!

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           With messages of . . . Hope, Feathers and Mush.

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Hope - "My advice for someone turning 50

• "Don't get hung up on the number - it's just a number - and never let those damn U30s know how much fun you're having."
  Love Tom

• "Start exercising! It's the only thing that will keep you young and keep you healthy for another 50 years.
  Linda Levine

• "Start making plans for the next fifty years."
  Love, your father

• "Run as fast as you can from the Red Hat Ladies!"
  Mary Thomas

• "Avoid plastic surgery."
  Michael Jackson

• "At 50, you should look back and smile and look forward and smile more."
  Tom Kazas

• "Fifty is great….it’s all the years after that make you look old."
  Ellen Murphy

• "Open a Pita Pan restaurant!"
  Molly Bissell

• You are not alone - Mike New
  Celebrities Turning 50 in 2008
  Ellen DeGeneres (January 26) will be throwing a bash on her popular daytime talk show, Ellen, and including some of her signature original dance moves.
  Sharon Stone (March 10) avoids sticking to a regular exercise plan and loves dark chocolate, but stays youthful and full of life by staying active fighting against HIV/AIDS.
  Michelle Pfeiffer (April 29) came back from her career hiatus to appear in three films last year. The mother of two teenagers also just quit smoking and started using sunscreen to protect herself.
  Prince (June 7) is still a prolific one-man band (high heels and pompadour included) perpetually cranking out CDs. The star also launched a new fragrance recently, 3121.
  Madonna (August 16), mother of three young kids, will release a new CD this year and mulling a “Madonna at 50” tour next summer. “Madonna’s 50th Birthday Countdown Clock” can be downloaded from the web and applied to your computer’s desktop.
  Viggo Mortensen (October 20) just recently became a movie star with his performances in Lord of the Rings and Eastern Promises. The Danish American is also a poet, photographer, painter and fluent in four languages.

• "Frannie, remember the rule.....you only have to admit you're fifty if you want to. It's weird I recall when you were ALOT younger than I was; when did you start catching up?!"
  Deb Foyle

• "Realize that you look better than you did when you were 20. HA! Not really!!! But know that you ARE more mature!"
  Cyndy Patton

• "Have Fun! Happy birthday!"
  Love, Martha, Dave, Perrin and Jonah

• "Happy Fiftieth Aunt Fran - From someone about to turn 30 - to someone about to turn 50 - Be glad - the hard part is over now!!! ( Isn't It?) (Please say yes)"
  Ellen Waters

• "Be proud! Youth is a gift and aging is an art! Fran you have mastered the art beautifully!"
  Tracy Ferrier

• "Fran, Have a happy birthday and enjoy being the best 50 you can be. There is not a damn thing you can do about it."
  Mike New

• "Exaggerate your age no matter what. Unreasonable demands are more respected with age."
  Zorro (a.k.a. Za)

• "Take on a new and meaningful challenge such as finding the world's best chocolate."
  Homer

• "Welcome to the 50’s club. It’s not that bad, maybe that’s because we forget how old we are, and think we are still in our 20’s. Watch out for those aches and pains that come out of nowhere."
  Bill & Susan

• "Enjoy your 50's. The kids are out of the house and your time is your own. Spend it on yourself."
  Kathy Waters

• "Go into it head-on, sis! You still have half of your life ahead of you. Live it to the fullest. Enjoy everything you do and be happy!"
  Elaine Georgiades

• "Change your look. Try a new haircut, or a new style of dressing. It will make you look younger."
  Patty Mahoney

• "Remember 50 is the new 30! Have fun and enjoy this new phase in your life--the angst of your younger years is behind you. Happy Birthday!"
  Laura Waters

• "Fran, You’re not really 50, you are 20 with 30 years experience!" 
  Michael Shahen

• Oh baby, 50 is a great age to be. Life is wonderful. Enjoy it, because from here on out you're on the downward slope of the Bell curve of life, and you start forgetting stuff, and ... and ... now what was I sending this email for again?
  Nick Roumel

• "We're on vay-kay-shon! We're on vay-kay-shon!" Keep doing the vacation dance...just a bit more often now.
  ALexa New

• Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty you get the face you deserve.
  Coco Chanel

• What I like about Fran is her strongly protective maternal nature, which translates into lots of loving affection and care for her children, nieces and grand-nieces and -nephews. What I like, too, is her infectious sense of humor.
  -Fiona Greenland
  
  

Feathers - "My favorite memory of Fran"

• "When we were in Scotland we found the home where my family live before they moved to America, and - surprise-surprise - it's now a pub. We went to visit early in the morning and the owner was nice enough to show us around. Unknown to me Fran bought two full bumpers of scotch and while I was talking to the owner, she tapped my shoulder, handed me my glass and said 'here's to the News!'" She poured her's back and waited for me to choke mine down. We giggled the rest of day..."
  Love Tom

• "Many years ago on a float very late at night in the middle of Lake Katonah. Fran and her brothers in law (Mike and Bob) spent a LOT of time talking and bonding, drinking and laughing. I think both Mike and Bob fell in love with her that night."
  Linda Levine

• "The day she was born."
  Love, your father.

• "I was teaching archeology in Chicago and she owned a bar in Kashmir. I had to meet with her to ask if she had seen the medallion that I loaned to her father. When I got to the bar she was in the middle of a drinking contest..."
  Indiana Jones

• "Seeing Fran cuddling her nieces' newborns revealed the beautiful. loving person she is when I was just getting to know her."
  Mary Thomas

• "In Niagara Falls on the Maid of the Mist. While most of us were running back and forth on the deck in our slickers, Fran and three -or four-year old Alexandra were sitting on a bench down in the hold -- like two children -- hands folded on their laps, content and just as glad as they could be to be safe and dry and away from the tumult."
  Tom Kazas

• "My favorite memory was eating crabs with Fran in Mike’s condo in Maryland. She spent hours literally sucking every last morsel out of every last crab in the bushel. It was a beautiful thing to watch someone enjoy food so much!"
  Ellen Murphy

• "In the hotel room with Willie (Nelson) and Snake Eyes--trying to telling Fran over & over "My feet hurt" --the secret code meaning "Let's get OUT OF HERE!"
  Molly Bissell

• "Sitting around her kitchen table in the late '80's and early '90's, on a Saturday afternoon that quickly blended into evening, drinking (of course) with kids running around...laughter, dress-up, plays and performances, a water repellant green polyester skirt, "juns", tetty tet always in charge. Pulling whatever out of the refrigerator for dinner....just being....that's what Fran is best at....just being. Come to think of it, it's another thing I like best about Fran."
  Deb Foyle

• "Many years ago on a float very late at night in the middle of Lake Katonah. Fran and her brothers in law (Mike and Bob) spent a LOT of time talking and bonding, drinking and laughing. Now this is MY memory, but I guess I've told Linda about most of that night quite a few times. We all have some secrets! And yes, Fran, I do love you.
  Mike Levine

• "Actually…I have two favorite memories. First…When I agreed to go shopping with Fran and I was sitting in a dressing room at Kaufmann’s while Fran is asking me to help her match this blouse with a skirt – that’s in her closet – at home – a skirt I have never seen before. And, just not understanding how I can’t come up with the answer. I realized right then that THIS is why the ‘sisters’ refuse to ever shop with Fran! This leads me to my second favorite memory. When Fran turned 40, all the sisters and nieces spent the day shopping with her and we sang “Happy Birthday” at the top of our lungs in every department we visited!"
  Cyndy Patton

• "At Cape May - I had a lot of fun with her. At a bar one night - and of course I was too young at the time to be there - but I heard about it. My Aunt really took a liking to the young, handsome, Irish singer who was performing there that night. . . . .he probably just reminded her of my Uncle Tom!! (Uncle Tom does have a great Irish singing voice you know!)"
  Ellen Waters

• "Singing and Dancing, in full costume with Boa, doing the “Chicago” skit in the family talent contest."
  Mike New

• "When I think of Fran and I'm flooded by feelings rather than events. Fran's entire being being emanates generous feelings of love and encourages light-hearted laughter."
  Zorro (a.k.a. Za)

• "Most recent favorite is Fran crying as she describes a scene from Terms of Endearment."
  Homer

• "Sitting around the kitchen table talking, laughing, and reliving our youth."
  Bill & Susan

• "How can one choose something such as this? Every moment spent with my sister (and my whole family) is my favorite! There is one, however, that I do remember. When I was about 13, I tried to cut my bangs. Needless to say, they didn’t turn out as I planned. Fran felt sorry for me, so she took me to get my haircut and paid for it. That is truly a sister who cares! Happy Birthday, Fran! I’m looking forward to creating a lot more memories!"
  Elaine Georgiades

• "My favorite memory of Fran? Stomping barefoot on grapes at the festival at Mazza Vineyards.  Nick had just taken me to meet Fran and Tom. Seeing her play with such joie de vivre was an introduction to Fran the beautiful adventuress. May you continue to live life with such spirit, Fran."
  Love, Gail.

• "One summer I took the responsibility of driving both Fran and Tommy to the City. Fran was going to work and Tom to Art School. Every morning I would pick Fran up, and she would be dressed for work, looking very professional and crisp. Every morning we set off with Tommy in the back seat and Fran in the front, clutching her coffee for dear life. Fran was never a “morning person.” And every morning Fran would spill her coffee on her professional looking outfit and complain the rest of the way. I kept thinking the next day would be different…."
  Patty Mahoney

• "Happy Birthday Cuz!!! Sorry I couldn't be there to share your Birthday. It was wonderful growing up with you. Even though you and the rest of the gang tormented me as a child. "Let's remember this one!" Throwing me down the dirty laundry shoot! I still love you though!"
  Mel

• There was the time we played "House" and we used scraps from our new carpet for our pretend "living room" which Fran and I arranged in the garage. We were so proud of the way we decorated it, until the Egg Lady visited. Our mother came and snatched the largest piece to use as a throw rug "so the Egg Lady can wipe her feet." From that incident, Fran and I wrote the now-famous song "All because of the Egg Lady! All because of the Egg Lady! All because of the - huh! - Egg Lady! And-her-stinking-feet!"
  Another time we were going to play house but we couldn't agree on what our family name would be. I wanted it to be something normal like "Wilson." Fran insisted it should be "Clemente," singing, "Listen to how good it sounds. Cle-MEN-tay!!!" I got mad and quit.
  Fran and I invented the game "Help, Papouli!" One of us would go sit on the stairs while the other one would sink into the La-Z-Boy chair in the living room, pretending to be stuck, and crying out "Help, Papouli!" The other one would rush to help, saying "Don't worry, koukla mou! I'm coming!" This was very entertaining. We would play it for hours on end.
  I have so many more memories of playing these games with Fran growing up. Of course, Elaine never played these games with us because she hadn't been born yet.
  Nick Roumel

• "Everyone should experience having a Greek mother. One night, I walked into the kitchen to find Mom rolling grapeleaves. Instead of asking for my help, she decided to lay on the guilt. She called me over and said, "Alexa, you need to learn how to make grapeleaves. Who is going to make them for Zachary when I die?""
  Alexa New

• "My favorite memory of Fran is a Cabbage Fest family performance of Chicago - or is it golf lessons during a Sister's Weekend trying to decide whether to go over or under them!?"
  Chris New

• "Convincing her to get a dog...and having her regret that decision every day since..."
  Zach New

• To the hottest tomato in all of Bloodymaryville. I'll never forget, 'cause you say it every year, "I didn't think 5 bushels was going to be enough, so I threw in a few extra." Other favorite memories, '01, '07, and especially '04. Love ya, Andy

Mush - "What I like best about Fran"

• "The purring noise that she makes when she's asleep. It's a cross between the sound of a robin's feather falling on grass and a Seattle saw mill in full production. It's comforting. It whispers a message that all is well - the moon didn't crash into Ohio, the house isn't on fire, and the kids are safe. And if a sound could smell it would smell like kids and dogs and chocolate."
  Love Tom 

• "Her laugh. She laughs better and more often than any one I know. I wish I could laugh like that (I think I'm too busy exercising)."
  Linda Levine

• "She's my daughter."
  Love, your father.

• "She gives great advice - I'll never forget her telling me that 'there is no place like home."
  Dorothy

• "Fran gives the best hugs in her entire great, big Greek family."
  Mary Thomas

• 'Her ability to laugh at herself."
  Tom Kazas

• "She is a straightforward, organized, professional woman who loves her family more than anything else in the world."
  Ellen Murphy

• "Her infectious laugh."
  Molly Bissell

• "I love everything about Fran, especially the way she loves my girls."
  Deb Foyle

• "There are so many things that I like about her that I am having trouble thinking of just one."
  Cyndy Patton

• "My favorite thing about Fran is how genuine she is. From her hugs to her Special K bars, she is as real as real gets."
  Kate Roberts

• "Fran is a hugger. I am an awkward, uncomfortable, hugger. Fran makes hugging much easier."
  Mike New

• "The love that shines through, especially when holding her children."
  Zorro (a.k.a. Za)

• "Fran's laugh - but a close second is what she laughs about."
  Homer

• "We know we will never go hungry as long as Fran is around, and the food is always great!"
  Bill & Susan

• "Fran is always happy. She is the life of any party. She always brings great appetizers to sisters' weekend."
  Kathy Waters

• "Well, aside from that fact that she’s my big sis….I’d have to say it’s the way she’s always kept me under her wing. I may not always agree with the things she’s said, but I appreciate the fact that she cares. But, the most important thing is the way she is with my daughters. She treats them as if they were her own, shows them unconditional love and provides them with the best “Camp Fran” moments that they will remember the rest of their lives!"
  Elaine Georgiades

• "I like that Fran can eat a chocolate bar every day and not feel guilty. I can’t ever remember eating a whole chocolate bar."
  Patty Mahoney

• "Aunt Fran makes the best Bloody Marys!"
  Laura Waters

• The way she stands with her hands on her hips, laughing. Her generosity of spirit. Opening her home for holiday visits, and "Camp Fran" for the kids. Her complete and unconditional love for everyone in her life, no matter what they're doing, even if it's something crazy like running around her back yard wearing togas and roasting a lamb without letting her know in advance.
  Nick Roumel

• She is the BEST mother Zachary and I could ever ask for! She has given us so much...mounds and mounds of grapeleaves for her Honey Boy, countless renditions of "You Are My Sunshine" to carry me through my worst days, those black strappy sandals she knows she is never getting back, tons and tons of advice we never admit we actually listen to, and the kind of big, whole body hugs that only Greek mothers can give.
  Alexa New

• "She is always up for a good time - and she shares her recipes for fancy things like melted M & Ms."
  Chris New

• "Grape leaves."
  Zach New

 
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