If you drive down Page Avenue you will see a home with a curved drive way. There you will see, overlooking and protecting all who pass, an angel. She is a special angel, given to me by my Secret Prayer Pal from YLI. I love being a member of the Young Ladies Institute Mystical Rose of Saint Joseph's Church. They are such an amazing group of dedicated women. The Secret Prayer Pal is a wonderful tradition, and those special additional prayers from an anonymous lady are always most welcome. I returned home one day a couple of weeks ago to find a huge beribboned box on my porch with a card wishing me happy every holiday of the year. Inside the box was this beautiful peaceful angel. I felt so loved and so blessed, and so I hope will all of you who pass my home on Page.</p><p><b>Thoughts of sympathy</b></p><p>My sincere condolences to Andy and Valerie Chagoya on the recent death of Andy's beloved father. The loss of a parent at any age is a painful, difficult time.</p><p>For a performer, nothing is more thrilling than to walk on stage and stare out at a packed house. Those filled seats show the performer he or she is adored. I was among the hundreds who literally filled every seat at Bill Marchese Mass on March 27 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Observing the expressions of love and sympathy on the sea of faces that had come to honor this great man, I felt such a powerful current of warmth run through me. Talk about adored, what a moving testimony to a great man. Special blessings to the Brandi's whose beautiful voices added so much to the service, they are a gift to the Parish.</p><p><b>Thoughts of concern</b></p><p>Wishes for a complete and speedy recovery go out to my long time, dear friend, Neva McCormick. Neva recently had open-heart surgery. Neva, the best cookie maker, ever, had recently had foot surgery, so this is not being a very nice year to her so far. We love you Neva. </p><p><b>Birthday balloons</b></p><p>Happy birthday to handsome young gentleman, Derek Mitchell, can't believe that Derek is that old already.</p><p>April 13 is the big day of my wonderful friend, vivacious Victoria Ferreira. She is beautiful through and through and has the voice of an angel.</p><p>Happy birthday wishes to Laura Bettencourt, Caroline Cota, Genevieve Cozzi, Helen Mello, Cynthia Riso, Angie Spina, Ros&#233; Gallichio, Ann Iacopi, and Mary Manzanedo.</p><p><b>Sportsmen news</b></p><p>The Los Ba&#241;os Sportsmen's Association enjoyed an excellent dinner served to a full house last month. This time it was Robert Teicheira and his Los Banos Ag Crew who did the honors. Robert was assisted by Franklin and Jr. Silva, Ken Sadler, Pat and Mike Palazzo, Don Aruba, Demas Lopes, Skip, Damian Aragona, Leo Gilardi, Abar, Antone Giannone, Steve Patricio, Able Salazar, Jack Barcellos, Brandon Teicheira, Joey Bennet, Dillan and Dennis Soares. For information on the Trap Shooting program call Ron Ingram at 564-1430.</p><p><b>As you wish</b></p><p>One of our families favorite movies of all time is 'The Princess Bride,' and lines from the movie such as 'True lub' and 'As you wish' have become a part of our own family language through the years, so it seemed only natural to have them incorporated into the loveliest wedding ceremony I've ever attended. Lara's wedding to Bryan Olson was fairytale stuff and all who attended were touched by the beauty and magic of this one of a kind service. The whole weekend was special. The fun began on March 28, when Lara had her own version of a girls night out before her wedding. Lara, her daughters Amanda and Jessica and I drove down to Cambria and went to Hearst Castle for a tour. Lara and I have gone to Cambria every year and taken a different tour and Lara wanted to start the girls on the tradition. Then we headed to the cottage at the Cambria Pines Lodge where most of the guests were staying. I knew it was a good omen when we entered the hotel lobby and saw a cat sleeping on the bench, you know how I am. And the cat was most tolerant of all my advances. That evening we all attended a wonderful cocktail party held at a rented beach home hosted by Bryan's parents Jim and Bunny, who had come in from Kingman, Arizona and Bryan's sister and brother-in-law, Paula and Norm Nelson from Sunnyvale. It was just a joyful evening with great food, a breath taking ocean view and tremendous laughter and happiness in abundance. Everyone made a toast to the almost bride and groom and there were few dry eyes by the end of the night. Lara's God Parents, Babs and Don Spitler had driven in from Fallbrook to add to the festivities. Babs and I have been friends for 46 years. My best friend, and Lara's adopted Aunt, Linda Allegretti helped make it special along with dear friends Mary and Don Glenn, and Shannon and Shelby Gundry who flew in from Utah to attend. Of course Lara's sister Leslie Barrow and her family, and her brother Brett MacMillan and his wife were in attendance along with Amanda's husband, Craig Gonzales. The day of the wedding was very exciting. The wedding was held outside in a beautiful garden under a flower and chiffon swanked arbor. New Beginnings Pastor Chuck Aruta performed the ceremony in a traditional Renaissance Friars robe. Pastor Chuck and his wife Laura came down for the weekend for the ceremony along with Juan and Brenda Escobedo, who had gone through the wedding counseling process with Bryan and Lara. The music was Celtic enchanting harp. Lara and Bryan were dressed in formal renaissance garb in tribute to where they had become engaged. Lara carried a sweet bouquet of wild flowers and wore a flower garland on her head. Their Ring bear, was the stuffed bear, BJ IZZO, Bryan had made for Lara for Christmas and communion was served in an antique silver renaissance goblet. The lively reception followed at the hotel with music, laughter, toasting and a big feeling of being surrounded by something amazing. I barely made it through my toast without my voice cracking. Bryan and Lara presented Amanda and Jessica with special matching necklaces to symbolize the newly made family and there were tears after those sharing of sentiments. While the newlyweds left for their honeymoon, it left a large group of us to enjoy the rest of the weekend with gusto, and gusto we did. Wow, it's hard to be back at the office again, but back to life as normal, as normal as it gets anyway, and until next time may all your news, be good news.