We Adore Paulette

100 Years Makes Paulette A Centenarian

Let's Celebrate Paulette!

Paulette is many things to many people, a favorite aunt, a favorite cousin... She is one of a kind, and we all adore her. Jackie asked her early in the year 2008 if she was up for a party to celebrate her 100th birthday in December. Paulette was very agreeable and excited to celebrate it. Over the years, she has always kept her age a secret. But not this year... After all, 100 years is quite a milestone!

Our Beautiful Paulette

Centenarian Definition

A centenarian is a person who has attained the age of 100 years or more. The term is invariably associated with longevity. The United States currently has the greatest number of centenarians in the world, numbering over 55,000 in the year 2005. The U.S. number is partly a function of America's large population in 1890-1905.

In Paulette's Lifetime

Paulette has lived to see the first automobile, the first transatlantic flight, the first sound-on-film motion picture, and the first men on the moon. Think of women’s suffrage, the civil rights movement, and the Great Depression. Think of Pearl Harbor Day (it happened on Paulette's 33rd birthday) and Nine-Eleven (terrorist attacks). Paulette has lived to see that people, in the worst of times, are sometimes at their best. And these are some of the reasons that Paulette is such a strong and inspirational woman. We are so lucky to have Paulette.

12/06/2008 - Get Ready! We're Having a Party!

Lisa and Gigi

Lisa and I (Gigi) put together a poster that we used at the entrance to the party. Mom (Jackie), Christie, and Paulette helped me to put this collection of photos together. The same photos are on this blog in sections titled "History." Exploring 100 years of Paulette's life in photos was absolutely fascinating!

Paulette's Poster

Cake Table

The party was planned and hosted by my parents, Tom and Jackie Miller. The venue was Paulette's home in Fallbrook, CA. My sister (Lisa) and I also helped in the setup. Above and following are photos of Paulette's lanai with tables strategically placed so that we could serve twenty-seven guests in a small area for lunch. We actually had a showing of twenty-six of the twenty-seven who RSVP'd. Not a bad showing!

Cake and Favors

Lanai Dining Tables

Photos above and below are of the lanai taken from opposite angles. Paulette's chair is the one with the balloons.

Lanai Dining Tables

Party Entrance

Above photo is front door patio entrance with our extravagant poster. If you look closely (point and click for larger view), you will see Paulette's elephant friend, "Edison" on the table.

Flowers by Christie MacLean

Christie MacLean decorated the cocktail and dining areas with fresh flowers. We had baskets and/or vases of white flowers on every table. It was beautiful!

Lisa and Mary Hanging Balloons

Here (photo above) are a couple of country girls hanging balloons down the country roads of Fallbrook.

12/06/2008 - Party: Champagne Toasts and Lunch

We had champagne and cocktails in the living room. However, I didn't bring the camera out until we moved to the lanai, where lunch was served. Much at the suggestion of the hosts, Jackie and Tom Miller, I would like to thank all those who helped make this party happen, including...

Dee Nuser, Brother's Bistro, Fallbrook, CA for catering the event. www.brothersbistro.net tel. 760.731.9761. Menu included their Award Winning 5"-high Lasagna. Steve and Holly Chabre for hosting the champagne ("the good stuff"). Christie MacLean for decorating the place with flowers. Lisa Eshelman for being the best sister in the world (to Gigi) and helping with favors, posters, setup, this blog, and all you do! You always give 120% and make chores seem fun! Vera Nemecek for organizing, decision making, and being serogate mother (to Lisa and me). You are our rock. Tom Miller (my father) for your selfless generosity in hosting this party and letting us borrow your wife for two days while you worked by yourself in "rehab" recovering from a STROKE! I am no longer worried about you, Dad! Nothing can get you down! Although you were not able to attend, you were so much a part of this event. We love you, Dad. Jackie Miller (my mom) for hosting, organizing, and creating this event. Mom, you are the most beautiful person. You think I am so different from you, but I hope I have a fraction of the love in my heart that you have.

Paulette and Steve

Above photo... Steve! And they say the kids are bad about playing with their iphones all the time!

Jackie, Paulette, Marie, Steve, and Lisa

Paulette's nephew, Steve, was the most handsome one at her table (see photo above). Steve's dad, Pierre, was Paulette's first cousin. There were eight first cousins born in the Los Angeles area who grew up together like brothers and sisters. They loved each other and were always very close. You will see photos of Pierre and the other cousins throughout the history section of this blog. The only two that remain are Paulette and Marie, also shown in photo above.

Annie and Mary

Above photo is proof positive that sisters love hanging out together!

Eddie and Gina

Eddie MacLean and Gina Luffman (photo above) travelled all the way from Bishop, California to celebrate Paulette's special day!

Edie and Christie

Doug, Lisa, and Paulette

Mary and Jackie

See photo above... Did you see the movie "Legally Blonde?" Look out, Elle, here come your two fashionista buddies, Mary and Jackie!

Vera

Vera had a great time helping Jackie, Gigi, and Lisa put together this party... enjoying it here! (Photo above)

Jennifer, Scott, Peter, and Sharon

Photo above is the Carlsbad crew hanging out together. Scott is Marie's granson. Peter and Sharon are dear friends of Paulette's.

Peter, Sharon, Kristin, and Billy

Kristin and Billy (photo above) are Paulette's neighbors. In photo below, you will see Kristin's husband (and Billy's dad), Nick. Nick and Kristin were nice enough to supply extra parking for the party.

Nick, Jiri, and Vera

Toast by Holly

Sorry Holly (see photo above)! UGH! My only photo of Holly. Her brilliant blue eyes were blinking shut as she made a memorable toast to Paulette. I think Lisa took a photo of Holly with her eyes open. This one is still a good photo. Holly is a beauty... even with her eyes shut. Love ya, Holly!

Doug, Paulette, Joel, and Steve

In photo above, Joel gets sentimental with Paulette. Paulette is so lucky to have such an excellent nephew like Joel.

On another note... I managed to get a photo of every guest at the party except Joel's son, Lucas. Did Lucas manage to avoid my camera and Lisa's too? Lucas is almost 18 now, and he has great memories of growing up and spending time with his great-aunt Paulette and great-uncle Chuck. Have you ever noticed the funny little trails in the hillside next to Paulette's driveway? They are not tiny animal trails or some sort of strange geological phenomena. As young boys, Lucas and his brother would spend hours chistling trails in the embankment for their miniature car collection.

Joel and Others

"Mother-in-law"

Above photo speaks for itself! Doug had a great time at the party, and he was definitely Jackie's favorite son-in-law at the party.

12/06/2008 - Party: Family and Friends

Behind the Scenes

Behind the scenes was a story in itself. My mother (who considers Aunt Paulette her mom and has been loved as a daughter by Aunt Paulette) and father had planned the gala for months. The hours and hours of work and love they had put into making the party to the standard that our aunt deserved. All was coming together when two weeks before the party my father had a stroke. We were all heart broken that this left Mom and Dad unable to attend. Mom asked Gigi and me to step in. Of course without hesitation we jumped in. The only worry for us was could we pull a party off like Jackie and Paulette would. For two sisters this was a tremendous bond and of course Aunt Paulette jumped in to supervise.

The "Gift"

The greatest present of all was the night before the party. Gigi and I had spent the week with Aunt Paulette, telling stories and even shedding a few tears. But to Aunt Paulette’s surprise the greatest gift arrived. Mom walked into the room to be at the party. Paulette, Jackie, Vera, Gigi and I huddled together and cried. FAMILY. It was a magical party.

Viewing My Photos

This is set one of two taken by me (Lisa). If the photos look dark on your computer, point and click on the photo to get a full view of the photo, which will be not as dark as the smaller ones. To easily navigate back to the blog, just hit your browser's "back arrow" button.

Holly, Steve, and Gigi

Gigi "The Crazy Photographer"

Mary, Jackie, Doug, and Paulette

12/06/2008 - Party: More Toasts

Viewing My Photos

This is set two of two taken by me (Lisa). If the photos look dark on your computer, point and click on the photo to get a full view of the photo, which will be not as dark as the smaller ones. To easily navigate back to the blog, just hit your browser's "back arrow" button.

Annie, Paulette, and Mary

An Amazing Day

Dec. 6th was an amazing day for more than just Aunt Paulette. It was a day when family could come celebrate life together. Some of us had never met before, but had the strong link of Paulette, whether family or friends we celebrated. We all had stories some of our adventures with Paulette, some of adventures we had heard through the years. I cherished the thought of my children having the opportunity to celebrate a wonderful woman who has influenced me, my mother and my children. She has taught us to be strong and graceful.

Jiri, Vera, Christie, Jennifer, and Scott

Jiri, Vera, and Christie (Background)

Jennifer and Scott (Foreground)

Nick

Jiri

Above photo is Vera's husband and Paulette's good friend, Jiri. Vera and Jiri are originally from Checkloslavakia, and they are fun, fun people.

Mary, Jackie, Doug, and Paulette

Thank You, Paulette

I thank Paulette for bringing all these amazing people together for me to enjoy. This is going to be one of my greatest memories and my children have experienced what family is all about.

Doug and Paulette While Holly Toasts

Marie, Steve, Holly, and Kathleen

12/06/2008 - Party: Photos with the Birthday Girl... Coffee and CAKE!

Annie, Paulette, and Mary

"Four Generations"

Thank you, Steve Chabre, for taking this lovely photograph (see above) entitled "Four Generations". From left to right are Lisa (Age 43), Jackie (Age 70), Annie (Age 14), Paulette (Age 100 -minus one day), Gigi (Age 48 -minus one day), and Mary (Age 17). I say -minus one day for the two birthday girls who were born on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. Paulette was born December 7, 1908, and Gigi was born December 7, 1960. Gigi and Paulette often love to spend their birthdays together! Annie is also a December baby. Although she was 14 in this photo, she actually turned 15 on December 22, 2008.

Joel, Paulette, and Kathleen

Above and below are photos of Joel's mom, Kathleen MacLean. Kathleen lives in Colorado, and she often vacations at Joel's home in Capistrano Beach. Kathleen and
Paulette are sisters-in-law and very good friends.

Joel, Paulette, and Kathleen

Mary and CAKE!

Mary (photo above) had a nice big slice of birthday cake!

Jackie, Joel, Eddie, and Gina

Vera and Paulette

Jackie, Vera, and Paulette

My mom (Jackie) and Vera pose with the birthday girl in photo above. Growing up, my mom was an only child, and she always wanted a brother or sister. So now, she thinks of Vera as the sister she never had!

Vera, Paulette, and Jiri

Mary after Cake is Gone

Joel's son, Lucas, avoids the camera. Lisa's daughter, Mary, hangs out in front of the camera. ... just an interesting observation made by me, the li'l ol' photographer.

Mary and Jackie after Cake is Gone

1908 to 1919 - When She Was Just a "Babe"

Paulette MacLean was born Paulette Ferran in Los Angeles, California December 7, 1908 to parents, Marie Louise Alhau Ferran and Paul Ferran. Her parents died in the flu epidemic in 1918. In 1919 Paulette traveled to St. Gauden, France with her aunt Juliette Chabre and cousin Pierre Chabre. While in France, she lived for a year with her aunt (Paul Ferran's sister) and uncle in Strasbourg. Then she returned to Los Angeles, California to live with her god parents. She spent every summer in Newport Beach with her cousins, Juliette and Raymond Dessens just having FUN!

Did you know? The year Paulette was born 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T, priced at $850.

Los Angeles, Circa 1910

Circa 1911

Newport Beach, Circa 1913

Paulette (in front) must have been about 4 or 5 years old in the above photo with her cousin Juliette Dessens, uncle Guillium Dessens, and mother Marie Louise Ferran. Paulette has tons of photos and memories of her childhood summers in Newport Beach. What a lucky kid!

Newport Beach, Circa 1914

Here are a couple of really cool beach babes! (They didn't allow girls to wear bikinis or board shorts in these days? - I guess not.) Paulette and Julie were very, very close their entire lives. In later years... we kids can remember that they always told secrets over the phone, speaking in French so we couldn't understand what they were talking about. Kindred spirits... BFF's... that is what these two were.