The Next Generation

Sadly, I wasn't blessed with any children of my own. These three delightful, uniquely talented nieces will carry on the Whittingham promise into the future. The oldest, Elizabeth Ruhl, 24, (at her graduation from UNC @ Chapel Hill in 2012) is sensitive, caring, and so responsible. The younger two are the same age, 16: Kate Whittingham (goofing around here at about 7) is smart, strong-willed, and so determined; Claire Whittingham (having her portrait drawn by our family friend Lucy Phillips in July 2012) is athletic, brave, and so personable. Each has dealt with much more real-life pain than I had to in my childhood: Elizabeth's dad's winning battle against colon cancer; Kate's loss of her young uncle and her grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's; Claire's abandonment by her alcoholic dad, my brother Philip. May they take the steps in 2013 that will bring them to the realization of their dreams.