A.N.N.A.’s Ball

Posted by April on November 21st, 2009 filed in Family

The kids and I had the pleasure of attending the 8th annual A.N.N.A.’s Ball this evening.  This charity event, a dinner and silent auction, raises funds for neuroblastoma research — with the majority of the funds being sent right back to the lab I work in to support the work of Dr. Linda Malkas and Dr. Robert Hickey.

As with so many things in my life, it was a bittersweet evening for me.  I remember attending last year’s A.N.N.A.’s Ball with Joel.  Joel and I had enjoyed ourselves last year.  And although the kids and I had a good time at the ball this year, it just wasn’t the same.  (The kids did truly love the orchestra!  I could barely pull them off the dance floor this evening!)  It is with great sadness, as I look at last year’s pictures, that I realize that the suit Joel wore to last year’s A.N.N.A.’s Ball is the suit I choose for him to be buried in.


4 Responses to “A.N.N.A.’s Ball”

  1. Connie Matalon Says:
    November 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Hi April,

    What wonderful pictures !!! My favorite one, of course, is the one of you and Joel taken last year. Thank you for posting them. I think you should attend A.N.N.A’s Ball every year; it would be a great tradition for you and Rachel and Daphne and Vincent.
    Cousin Connie

  2. Paula Cooprider Says:
    November 22nd, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    April,
    Thank you so much for showing us the pictures-you all look so beautiful. I can see that Rachel, Daphne and Vincent enjoyed themselves! It had to be very difficult for you to go this year. I am so glad you included your picture from last year-it is such a good picture of both of you. I appreciate your sharing the pictures with us. See you Friday. Paula

  3. Erin Carr Says:
    November 25th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

    I remember when you and Joel went last year, the kids were at our house that evening. I overheard Daphne squealing with delight that mom and dad were going to ‘a Cinderella’s ball’. Looking at the picture, I can see why she said that.

    That smile, man I miss that smile.

    I know you don’t feel strong, and you are just getting through each day, one day at a time, but those around us are in awe of you.

    The way you pull yourself out of bed each day, and continue on with these important events, (with a camera in hand, even), is such a blessing to all of us around you.

    I am so glad the kids came down today to help me cook. Rachel chopped green pepper, celery, some onion, and peeled TEN POUNDS of potatoes. I was really glad for her help cooking because she was able to share how dad sliced and diced, which I needed to know.

    However, we didn’t work 10 minutes before I declared it ‘snack-break time’ and the 4 of us played ‘Sorry’ and ‘Green Eggs and Ham’. I couldn’t have been happier, afterall, isn’t our biggest blessing family?

  4. Erin Carr Says:
    December 7th, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Hi Vincent, Daphne, Rachel and April~ Were you excited to see the snow this morning? We sure were. Mackenzie and Elaina and the other neighborhood kids got to go sledding while they waited for the bus (it was 20 minutes late). I hope you have so much fun at all of your really neat places you get to go to this week, you will have a lot to share when we see you Saturday.

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