Family Elizabeth/Bonnie (mom) John
(dad) Hannah (sister) Liisa (sister) Corey
(brother-in-law) Wyatt (nephew) Katie (cousin) Special Friend Joe Francese Friends Gina Barbieri Shawn Bachan Melissa Bustos Jeanette Campos Noah Cooper Christopher
Crew Laurie Fila Veronica
Gross Scott Howard Nik Lochmatow Emmett Luty Chris Mastrangelo Craig McMannus Ryan Mooney Melissa Novak Moriah
Nutting Sean O'Daniels Mark
Pickett Jonathan Robadue Grey Sample Lawrence Solomon Charlotte Taylor Elizabeth Thompson Ellen Tuzzolo Kara Yopak In addition,
there are
groups too large to be mentioned on an individual basis, but trust me,
you all have made an impact in some way and yes, you are all my
friends. This includes the many students at BUMP, the random people
who always make my days brighter, and the various people I've met in
my travels and adventures.
My mother is an amazing woman, and
I'm not sure she really believes that or not. Primarily she has been
and continues to be probably the best mother I've encountered, and not
just because she can get out any stain I can acquire. She's absolutely
hilarious, super caring, and very creative.She always let me and my
sisters be individuals and applauded us for it, and how well we have
turned out is a testament to her abilities. I am sure that my sense of
humor, my musical ability, and my need to help others come from her.
Einstein, Edison, Fermi, Marconi, my father. He is a
genius, an inventor who loves to revive the creations of the past and
dream about those of the future. He knows how to control the elements
and use their synergy to improve the world. He has taught me to not
just perceive, but understand, to explore the science behind
everything, and to not lose myself in the drive to know everything
there is to know.
I remember the day
Hannah was born, I was sitting on the couch with my babysitters Helen
and Ralph, and we were watching the moon. Sometimes looking at the
moon reminds me of her, in fact. Hannah has been my sidekick (or
perhaps I have been hers) for a long time, forming the other half of
my comedy team, keeping my peculiarities in check while still
understanding the value of talking in accents and making up songs. People
have always said that I was more like the typical younger sister and she
was
more like the older. Despite being dramatic, she always has had a grip
on reality that I was more likely to place in the background of my
dreams and schemes. Most of all, we have always entertained each
other, and now that we hardly see each other anymore, I sometimes get
bored. Hannah has helped me to extend the reaches of my personality.
When you're young, the coolest person
around is usually your older sibling, and in this case that definitely
holds true. Even now, when she is my "little" sister, she is still
forging a path through life and making it easier for me to survive, by
demonstrating important stages of life before I get there. Close
enough to my age to be a peer still, yet old enough to provide
guidance from experience. She is more talented that she believes. I
should know, because I laid inside the piano while she played "Great
Gates of Kiev" 20 some odd years ago. Regardless, she always seems
brave whatever she's doing, and I attribute some of my courage to her.
I say brother-in-law, but I really mean
brother. We were always all girls, no brothers...and it is very
cool to finally have one. He always greets me with a hug and a
smile, and he emits an aura of energy that is amazing and
indescribable. He has contributed to my humor, taught me to listen
carefully because some of the most interesting things being said
in conversations aren't the loudest, and not to discount shy,
softspoken people.
Unformed potential is the most
beautiful thing, and Wy has it in spades. He is brilliant, inquisitive,
has
an awesome sense of humor, and best of all seems very happy. I
can't even comprehend how amazing he will be because he is
amazing already. Truthfully, young children never seemed very
interesting to me, but I have completely changed my mind. I
want to teach him so many things because I can see that he
wants to understand, and that is the most important part of
learning. Warning to Wy's future classmates: If you harass
this boy because he is intelligent, has freckles, and red
hair...you will have all of the above people and myself to
contend with.
Katie is the only cousin that I spend
a lot of time with, because the rest are in New York. She is
definitely the spunkiest person I know, and is like a ray of
sunshine in a room she enters. She exemplifies success and grace
in the face of difficulties that would have stopped anyone else,
and her choice to become a Navy medic and nurse is amazing and
super-respectable.
Imagine my luck, to be able to find someone who just might be my
ideal complement. We're tall, we're scientists, and we're gonna
confuse and delight you with our sarcasm. We can
practically read each other's minds. He integrated seamlessly into my
life, gets along well with my friends, drives almost the same vehicle as I
do, and fits me perfectly when hugging. He beats me at everything, even
things I thought I was good at (Trivial Pursuit, swimming, Scrabble, to
name a few) and I hold the one time I beat him at Chinese Checkers as a
special trophy. That said, it's not a competition, and it makes me proud
to see him win things.
She lived so close to me, yet I never saw her enough. Gina B.
understood the value of summer boys, beaches, and most of all fun.
Definitely the liveliest person I've had the fortune to spend time
with, his cooking, fashion sense, and sense of humor make him an
excellent companion.
My roommate for freshman year and friend forever, even though we've
left Brown. She and I gossipped over Ben and Jerry's, the A&F
Quarterly, and whatever was going on in our lives. She's going to
publish my book someday.
Jeanette has been a lab partner, but she has
also been a reading partner, a chatting partner, and a laughing at silly
stuff partner. She might be coming to BUMP...I sincerely hope so.
Intense and highly intriguing, I've known Noah
since my freshman year (although he isn't a fellow Brunonian.) A big fan
of exploring the "roads and rails" of
various cities, we always have a lot of fun together, and he is one of few
people who challenges me appropriately.
Guys this sweet should
be illegal.
A brilliant poet and super caring, he's always happy to see me it seems
and ready with an offer of a hug and great vegetarian food.
Laurie was my roommate for my
first summer here in Woods Hole, when we were both interns.
She is a wonderful listener and the sort of person that you
really feel caring about you. She is also a lot of fun.
Veronica was my neighbor for my senior
year, sure, but she's also the most empowered woman I know. She knows
what she wants and gets it, and I can talk to her about things that
few are willing to listen to.
He lived in the town next to mine but we
didn't figure it out for a long while, when we did, the fun began.
He's highly magnetic, unbelievably fun to talk to, and
consistently leaves me smirking. Unfortunately I've lost contact with
him over the past year...so Scott, if you read this, get in touch.
Class, comfort, and knowledge combine in
Nik, who is as happy riding a motorcycle for 2 hours just to get pizza
or clams as he is getting dressed up and going out for an expensive
dinner. He and I bond over cars, good places to drive, and interesting
places to eat.
Once in a great while somebody comes along that fits you perfectly, and
being with them makes you feel comfortable and happy. Em is overwhelmingly
wonderful in far too many ways to list them all, although I've tried.
Indeed a master
of
angels
as well as demons, Chris is a catalyst that makes the ordinary world an
interesting place to live. His art is compelling, his mind is
unnerving, and his conversation is brilliant.
Craig is a troublemaker, and I love him for
it. He and I filled the waters of Discovery Bay, Jamaica with mischievous
snickering, and generally entertain each other whenever we're together. He
rocks for many reasons, one of which is his tardigrade tattoo.
The only person who seems to always know what
to say and how to say it, Ryan is the focal point of much adoration.
Although he is in Australia, I know we will be life-long friends and
that I will get to spend more time with him someday.
Melissa is my "going out" partner. If the
evening is boring, Melissa knows where we should go and who we should talk
to. It's always an adventure, and we have tons of stories to tell about
our evenings ravaging the Cape and South Shore.
The only beach friend that is still
near the beach and still my friend, she is always willing to go out with
me, to go to movies, sit at Bickfords or Friendly's, and drive trying
to get lost. She's wonderful company and has made many a summer night
much more interesting.
Sean is polite, kind, and absolutely
hilarious. He was my dive buddy in Washington, my Halloween date (I was a
Nereid, he was a hockey player), and my fellow American at the Canucks
game. We've stayed in touch, and I am very glad of that. I hope we can
live closer to each other some day.
Mark is amazingly funny, fun, and intelligent. He's
currently far away in North Carolina, but we visit when we can and
always have a wonderful time. He knows me very well and because of
that can always make me laugh.Whenever I feel remotely unhappy I know
I can call him and within a few minutes feel wonderful again.
Jonathan was my boyfriend for about 3
years. I am so glad that I have always loved him as a friend
because it has made the transition so much easier. He's brilliant,
talented, and very introspective, and I hope I can always rely on him.
Grey is vibrant, in everything that he does.
His musical and acting skills are very entertaining, and he loves the
ocean almost as much as I do. He's in Jamaica now for Peace Corps, making
the world a
better place.
Of all the people I've lost contact with, I
am the happiest to be back in regular conversation with Lawrence. His
talents are abundant, his opinions are well-defined and very interesting,
and it is all tempered with an easy to converse with nature that is truly
an asset.
Charlotte and I have always been close
friends, and we continually find more things that we have in common,
like sailing (although I haven't sailed for a long time.) Like all
close high school friends, when I see her again it's as if we have
never been apart.
Liz and I have been best friends at
Brown, and I hope never to lose contact with her even though she has
moved to Seattle. We've shared so many stories, experiences, and
problems that we could probably recite each other's lives.
Ellen and I have been together since first
grade, when I started talking to her because she was tall like me. We
sang together at assemblies, supported each other through various ups
and downs, and now we still see each other when we're both home. I
always have fun with her.
This woman shares my brain. She's always
right there with me and for me, and we agree on so much. She's a
partner-in-crime, a fellow creative scientist, and a source of fun
and comfort. She's going to New Zealand in February but we'll write
lots of letters...some friendships don't mind distance.