welcome to the club

Hi Nin's,

Being new like you in the 40's club, We feel that everything is pretty much the same 10 years ago. We can still do the same things we enjoy or maybe even better now.  The only obvious change is that everyone else seems to get older.  

Welcome to the club and hope you have the happiest birthday celebration.   

Thanks to Doug, 

Manny and Bettina lozano

Happy birthday!!!

Dearest Nina,

OMG you are now in your forties!!! Happy happy birthday. This blog is such a great idea, kudos to Doug. Anyway enjoy the rest of the day and love to all.

Gene, Maur, Paolo and Camille

♫Nina♪

I remember you initiating a conversation with me when I was new at La Salle. We were 11 years old. You did it by showing me our six degrees of separation through our parents and through your cousins who were on the same LSGH baseball team as my brothers. That early on you were the cool girl with a monster human web and through the years I've always admired the fact that you never belonged to one particular group but have had meaningful connections with so many.



In writing this, I think back to a blood compact in some utility room by the gym, made-to-order tees with fuzzy monsters that say "The Real Group," making telebabad about one day putting up a recording studio together, WKFM, our vocal repertoire that included "Day by Day," "One Voice," "Magkaibigan, Nagka-ibigan," Plus One personalized note pads and low-rise socks, the dreaded bull-sessions, the "Sold Out" concert...





Then you were off to San Francisco. Though you've lived so far away for so long, I love the fact that we've remained connected through some cosmic direct line to one another. The two years I was in a minefield, you were really there to hold my hand and be a source of encouragement. I never really thanked you for that and I don't think you'll ever know how much that meant to me.

You're turning 40 --- which means I'm not too far behind! So to my beautiful, extraordinary, dependable, super-mom, fabulous, amazing friend: Happy, happy, happy 40th birthday! Sending lots of hugs and kisses your way! Love you! XOXOX, Geri

Didn't I Say I Was Lucky?

Check out her sisters!

And as the night wore on.....

they even changed outfits! ;-)

Happy Birthday Nina!

they always do this on Nina's birthday.....

Lucky

We met on Friday, fell in love on Saturday, and have been going ever since. Why? Who can say, all I know is that that Saturday, after watching a funk band in the Haight, we stared into each other’s eyes and couldn’t look away. That same look (and that same smile) still gets me.

I guess it’s not that surprising, since everyone I introduced her to felt the same way. At her first dinner with my parents at a restaurant in Pasadena, when she went to the rest room, my mom looked at me with a smile on her face and said, “She’s a jewel.” That was all I needed to hear. And it was the same with all my friends and relatives – instant.

Nina has often heard me say, in a thick Brooklyn accent, “I’m da luckiest guy, in da woyld,” usually after another of her daily scrumptious dinners (and how lucky am I there, she’s the only one in her family who cooks!). I won’t go into the many ways Nina has “got it all.” The thing I will say is that Nina understands Love. Love the old fashioned way, like in an old poem. It’s the kind where no matter what happens (and believe me, it happens), that Love is not only unaffected, it’s untouched, a given. A lot of that comes from her parents and grandparents; the love in her family is deep. But I know what she gives me will always be mine. How lucky is that?

5 Things I Love About Mommy

from ERICA

1. She’s a GREAT cook!
2. She’s SO smart!
3. She teaches me important things.
4. She’s a GREAT singer.
5. She *loves* me, and I *love* her.

5 Things I Love to Do with Mommy

from ERICA

1. I love to swim with my mom
2. I love to play cards with her or do puzzles that use a lot of your brain with her. She’s so smart!

3. I love to do special mother-daughter things with her.
4. I love to go on trips with mommy.
5. I love to cook with mommy.

10 Things I Like to Do with Mommy

from CY

1. I like when mommy helps me with my homework.
2. I like when mommy helps me with piano.
3. I like when mommy takes me to Pasta Pomodoro.
4. I like when mommy plays games with me.
5. I like to take trips with mommy.
6. I like to snuggle with mommy.
7. I like that mommy sometimes buys me toys.
8. I like that mommy helps me a lot, like when I’m building lego.
9. I like when mommy takes me to places like the Academy of Sciences.
10. I like when she does things like making stuff for me.

Kicking it in Europe :)

4 + 4 monkeys in boracay

Do you like the person who sent this to you?

I don't even remember how we met or how we became friends- that is now ancient history or my own senior moment. Needless to say, we've shared a lot. So two weeks ago, when she tagged me in her 25 additional random things, and I had to reply to the question: "Do you like the person who sent this to?" And I typed: "I love her like a sister!" I got to thinking of all our adventures that have literally made us criscross this continent in the 20+ years we've been here. How many trips we've taken between New York/Boston and San Francisco to hang out and party. I have a vivid memory of living with Nina and Conching one summer on California St. We were so poor, we saved our money to watch the foreign films we couldn't get enough of, then we would microwave our own popcorn and smuggle it into the theater.



From all the New York dance clubs and fake id's in Boston to the time when we were carded in Snoqualmie, they got so shocked that we were actually so much older than we looked... Frederick, MD, Tahoe, Hongkong, Boracay, so many memories.






Marriage, careers and our total of 4 children, often leaves both of us breathless. Nevertheless, no matter who or when one of us picks up the phone (and sometimes it is almost a month between calls), it is as if that month, or these 25 years have barely passed by. Yes, like a sister.



You've been a partner in books and music, dreams and travel, partying and parenting, my rock, my sounding board, my pen and phone pal, who still can't sleep without leaving the tv on...Happy Happy Birthday. I know the world to which you have given so much will keep on giving back to you, today and everyday.

happy birthday nina

hi nina happy birthday!!!!! 40 ka na pala....anyway i am so happy to have the chance to be part of your celebration. How nice of Doug to get everyone together to greet you. Anyway hope you have a great day and will keep praying for more more birthday celebrations for you.

Nina may be much younger among the cousins in the Nolasco clan but i noticed that we all look forward to our get together regardless of the big age difference. This must be the influence that our parents have shown us with regards to the relationship they have with their own siblings. We are truly blessed with a great family and the bonding that we do will always be one of the best activities that we will forever treasure.

More power to you lovely wife mother and cousin. Take care and enjoy your big day. Happy birthday from chichi, myself, carlo, miki & leah and monice.

Nina's BOYS before Doug

These were Nina's MEN before she met Doug--this is NoT a JoKe.

Yes, she only had 2 before she ran off and married (at age 22!) THE "Tall-Slim-140 pound-6plus footer-Handsome-VERRRY Cool-Verry Loving-Double Major Stanford Graduate-Studious bordering Nerd but just very Cool-PATIENT-Bagel and Strawberry Jam with Hot Tea-Pinoy Speaking-Piano Genius-Hell of a Skiier-Politically Aware-So PATIENT with Nina and his kids (May they have the Thompson genes in the way they behave in public!)-Super easy going-Super Marathon reader-Adobo Sinigang and anything with Rice-"Asian eater"-Matthew Mcconaughy lookalike but we think he looks better-Reggae dancer even if it's blasting Rock and Roll- American Guy".

We Love You Tita Nina

Many Outings

One of the things I love about you Nina is that you are always up for something - such a positive and adventurous attitude. We have gone on many outings with the kids over the years - Tahoe, the Russian River, camping, theme parks, Napa, zoos and parks, beaches and malls, movies and museums. Always a good time. Thanks for making our lives fun!

xoxo and Happy Birthday!! Anita

My dearest daughter, Nina

Dearest Nina,

This is mom trying my best to write on this very creative gift, my beloved son-in-law has created for you. I am asking Mia to help me. You will be proud that I am using the computer so much more nowadays and through this I am able to take part in greeting you a most momentous and happiest 40th birthday, my Nina!

You were the cutest little baby who had the entire Little Baguio crowd in one room. You were OUR FIRST and as you know, there is always something very special about first borns and first apos. Nina, I can never forget the day Dad took me to the hospital to deliver you. It was just him and I. Because you were our first, we really did not know what to expect but we were bursting with excitement. We wanted to know if the little black belt inside my stomach was a boy or a girl but we were almost sure it was a boy because of the way you kicked! Oh, what a dream it was for all of us to see you for the first time! You were like a dream to your Dad (of course at that time, we didn't know we would have 5 more!) and a gift-from-heaven for Papi (who was crazy over little girls so he went googoo eyed over you).

Going through these messages and all the friends who always approach me to ask how you are, makes me realize what a fine and wonderful person you have become. I am so proud of you my Nina and I am sure, Daddy up there is all smiles, as he sees how you have turned into a perfect mother to your kids and a perfect wife to Doug.

Daddy sure designed his journey to be timed with your spending Christmas with me. He made sure it was our year and really, having you and Doug and my two loveable Erica and Cy, made Daddy's absence a lot easier to bear.

I wish I could be with you on this special year Nin. You know how it feels for a mother to be away from her children so you know how I miss you each day and each hour. But, I will not be selfish because I know you have found your home in San Francisco where Doug and you have put together a wonderful home and a wonderful family.

Happy Birthday to you my dearest daughter!

I love you (and Doug, and Erica and Cy) very very much! Dad does too! He is proud of you because you have turned out to be just like him!

I love you,

Mom

Stefan and I love to visit you and Doug in SF!  We know how busy you are between your projects, your work, your children, and your many friends.  So don't think that we take it for granted, and do know how much we appreciate all the time you make to be with with us when we are in town.

Happy Birthday from Stefan (who just discovered text messaging - so adding a post to a blog is way advanced for him).  He wants to know when you're going to visit us again - this time in Germany. 

Ok Nina, you know what I'm talking about when I say that you were the "responsible" one whenever we went out as teen-agers. As we were all throwing up in some corner, passed out on top of the hood of the car, or lip-locked with someone we would regret the next day, you managed to get us all home pretty close to curfew - and if not, you managed to sneak us in so we wouldn't be grounded and ruin next weekend's plans. So! As I read all these previous posts, how the hell did you become the "Wild-One"!

Coconuts!

Although I have known Nina since pre-historic, pre-k days, when dinosaurs and strict-assed teachers roamed the halls of STC, one of my most vivid memories of our friendship is from our 6th or 7th grade at Zobel. Nina taught me a very interseting chant..."Under the Coconut Tree!" Hmm...since this blog invitation came with a warning about under-aged readers, I will refrain from publishing the chant in it's entirety. "Under the coconut tree (what did you do?). That's where she showed it to me (what did she show?)." This is where I stop. Remember, Nins? I'm sure you do.

It was at that moment that I knew we'd be friends for life! Hehehe.

Seriously, though, I am truly grateful to have a friend like Nina - compassionate and caring, smart and witty, strong and independent, yet wacky and great fun to be with!!!

Happy, happy 40th, Nins. May your wildest and most heartfelt dreams come true. It is an honor and a pleasure to be rockin' this juvenile-middle-aged-never-act-your-age-never-surrender boat with you! Hugs, licks, and kisses!!! Love you heaps!

Angie