This is a very exciting week to be a part of the Prandini family. I know that sounds like I am stating the obvious but this is something that this family really needs right now. The last 10 months or so have been very difficult and it’s really nice to get together to celebrate.
My mother-in-law was born Barbara Prandini. She is the youngest sibling of Carlo Prandini, SR. Carlo JR is her nephew and Jenna is her great niece. I actually knew the Prandini’s before the teNyenhuis’ since I attended Clovis High and ran track and cross country. Carlo was one of my coaches and he also coached my sister Dawan. After graduating from UCLA Dawan worked for John Prandini for a few months before she left for graduate school at Columbia. During this time she helped me get a job with John and I met Patrick when he came to work over the summer. I always admired all the Prandini’s I knew and I was really excited to be joining the Prandini and teNyenhuis families.
The Prandini family has had to go through more than their fair share of heartbreak. I previously mentioned all of the family members we have lost but the last 10 months we were hit especially hard. In November Tony Prandini JR, Patrick’s cousin, died after a short battle with cancer. This was still very much on our minds when Barbara Anderson, daughter of Ann and Steve Anderson, granddaughter of Carlo SR and Jenna’s first cousin, died suddenly and unexpectedly. We gathered in early April for her funeral and remarked that we needed to plan some happy occasions to get together. Two weeks later Patrick died tragically and the next day his Zio Angelo passed away.
We have done a better job of getting together since then and this has really helped get us through. Now we have Jenna to cheer for and I know we are all grateful to be celebrating her achievements! In addition to being an accomplished athlete she is a very sweet girl and really this couldn’t happen to a more deserving person! Regardless of what happens next she won her first race at the Olympics. How cool is that?
So I will enjoy the final week of the Olympics and be grateful that the Prandini family gets to experience a little Joy. And honestly the teNyenhuis and Boyles families are enjoying it too! We ALL needed this! I can’t wait to watch her in the semis tomorrow!