American Cancer Society Relay for Life: Celebration of Hope

Friday was a very special day. I got to spend it with wonderful people in my family: my sister, niece and grandniece. Lore had asked if I would like to go to LaConner to see Nicolette's and Tim's home (I've been wanting to do that for some time) and later in the evening, there was to be a special event in Oak Harbor to honor Nicolette. How could I say no!

We got to LaConner around 4 pm, just in time for me to take a few shots of the downtown. What photo opportunities! And we only had time to walk a few blocks.

Nicolette had gotten home from school, so we headed a few blocks to their home. She teaches art in Oak Harbor at Broadview Elementary School. Her husband, Tim, works for a number of the Indian tribes in the area on their environmental issues. He's also a craftsman extraordinaire. They are truly a talented couple and have turned a very old, not very attractive house into a beautiful and inviting home. The work is far from done, but during dinner we all toasted to the groundbreaking of a new building in the backyard that will house a woodworking shop for Tim on the ground floor and an art studio for Nicolette on the top floor. I'm looking forward to going back later this year to see the results.

About 8 pm, all but Tim and Lore headed for Oak Harbor. (My sis has just started her chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer and she didn't want to get chilled). We had to make one stop at the Deception Pass Bridge, which I hadn't seen in years, to take pictures. We didn't quite make the best light, but it was still beautiful. On the way, we'd picked up one of Nicolette's best friends, Anniece, who is also her hairdresser, and a cancer survivor herself.

Nicolette had been invited to see what some of her art students had done for her. We arrived at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life about 9 pm and were amazed at the number of people who had been walking and would be walking the track all night to raise money to fight cancer. What a surprise to see that 31 of Nicolette's students had made luminaries in her honor, as a cancer survivor.

Around 10 pm, all the luminaries were lit and Nicolette had the pleasure of lighting some of her own. What a wonderful experience to be able to participate in this celebration of recognition and hope. We all look forward to the future when we can celebrate for my sister, Nicolette's mom, as well. BonnieKingPhotography.com