2010 Blaney Family Christmas

Greetings and Merry Christmas!

2010 began with Erin moving to the John Felice Center in Rome. She moved to the Eternal City in January. Her blisters from walking began the day after her arrival as did her love of art, wine and gelato.

Cathy and I went to visit her in February. While she attended classes during the week, we took trips to Assisi and Florence. Assisi was a stark contrast to Rome. A small village, it is the home of St. Francis and St. Claire and is built into a hill with many cobblestone roads and sidewalk passageways that lead to the many levels of the city (think Belle in Beauty and the Beast). Florence is the home of the Renaissance, Michelangelo and as a fellow tourist told us, "a butt full of art". We saw Michelangelo's David, the Uffizi and more famous art than we will ever see again in our lifetimes. But Rome is ...well… Rome. It's home to the Trevi fountain, St Peter's Basilica, the Pope, the Vatican, the Vatican Museum, The Borghese Gallery, the Forum, the Colosseum, four of the most important churches in Christendom…and Erin.

Erin did not want for company during her stay there. After our return home, she was visited by Jon, Mary Jo and Kathleen and just before she left, her grandfather went for a visit and to escort her home. His visit was highlighted by late dinners and a horse drawn carriage ride thru the old city of Rome - a memory that they will both cherish forever. She also managed to fit in some traveling with friends including a desert camping trip to Tunisia where she learned camels are still used for transportation.

Upon her return to the states, Erin settled into her apartment in Milwaukee, worked at Barnes and Noble, readied herself for her senior year at Marquette and it was Kathleen's turn to move. She had spent her post graduate year studying, volunteering at Notre Dame High School and being a nanny for Brian and Martha's two children. Her time at NDA was highlighted when she helped chaperone a group of students on a service trip to Canton, Mississippi to rehab homes. Between Kathleen and Erin this was the 5th trip to this very impoverished area. Her nanny job caused her to fall in love with her two charges, Emmett and Claire, a love which they returned two fold.

In August, it was time for Kathleen to pack her bags, say good-bye and drive 1200 miles to Providence, RI with her mother to begin working on her Master's Degree in Public Health at Brown University. I flew out a week later for a visit and to drive the car back to Green Bay. Her adaptation to Brown, Rhode Island and being away from home, family and friends was made easier by a visit from Mary Jo and Jon. During their visit the three of them met young Ted Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy and Joan Kennedy and saw the Kennedy compound in Hyannis. Also helping her to settle in was my cousin and her husband, Barb and Bruce Hoag who invited her to their gorgeous home in Connecticut.

Other highlights of the year included extended visits with friends and family and time at the cottage. We have been truly blessed.

Greetings and Merry Christmas,
Ken, Cathy, Kathleen and Erin