I'd like to start today by dispelling a rumor that has been circulating for almost 50 years…

It all started on the morning of March 11, 1973. I awoke to pretty dramatic labor pains and after a call to the doctor and quick shower, we set off on that very rainy morning, for Hoag Hospital. After 9 months of pregnancy 8 ½ months of nausea and a total weigh of 11 pounds, my sweet baby didn't seem to want to hang about and was ready to meet the world. The nurses took me to a room and then changed their mind(s) and wheeled me into delivery. She arrived so quickly, my mother did not have time to take her knitting out of the bag!

There was, in the delivery room, a small window placed high on the wall…there was also a lovely delivery nurse by the name of Jan Petroni. When my baby was born, Jan Petroni took her, swaddled her in blankets and said as she pointed out the window, 'well look up there, you have sunshine for your little girl.' The rain had stopped and the sun was shining. I thought that was a perfect name for my little girl.

That was at 9:56 A.M. Later in the day, when Chuck came to the I said…'wouldn't Sunshine be a great name for the baby. Well, just short of losing his mind, Chuck let it be known that no one was going to name his child Sunshine!

I waited for him to leave and asked the nurse to bring me the birth certificate. Smiling, I penned the name 'Sunshine no middle name Chick', signed the certificate and handed it back to the nurse. If he has been vomiting for 8 ½ months, I may have given him more consideration…but he didn't and I didn't.

Chuck was pretty upset with me until we received a letter from his father, Lt. Col. Lewis William Chick Jr., Retired, Untied States Air Force and WWII fighter pilot. The letter was magnificent and told what the sun meant to a pilot. After Chuck read his father's letter, he was quite happy to tell everyone what 'we' had named our baby girl.

A little more about Charles Rockwood Chick; he was an Orange County Sheriff. When he would help friends build additions to their houses or work second jobs, his friends called him 'Micrometer Chick.' His hair wouldn't have dared move freely about his head…it was combed into place and didn't move. To say he was fairly rigid, was an understatement.

So, the rumor that Sunshine's parents were Hippies is totally without foundation or merit.

That said, didn't she have the most awesome name ever?

She cried for about 4 months, which included cutting her first tooth at 3 ½ months. After that little blip on the radar screen, she spent the remainder of her life living up to her incredibly awesome name.

Well, there was that crazy first week in kindergarten, where she spent her time in class throwing up on everyone because she was so upset. It was really my fault, as I had never put her in pre-school…she didn't get it and more to the point, she didn't like it.

However, she finally acclimated and spent the remainder of her time in school trying her best not to be a star student…however, she received extremely high marks at being the greatest kid ever known.

Sunnie was one of the last in her second-grade class to learn to read. Poor CdM Elementary, I was there weekly, trying to understand why Sunnie wasn't reading. Her teacher said to me "she'll read when she's ready." I thought that was really a cop-out and said as much.

About a week later, I was sitting on the sofa reading a book and Sunnie crawled up along side of me and put her head on my shoulder. Within a minute, she was reading the pages out loud. It took me a minute to realize what was happening and I turned to look at her, she just smiled at me…seriously, that big Sunshine smile. How long had this been going on?

Or course Sunnie skipped Dick and Jane and advanced to Stephen King and Dean Koontz in one giant step. Yep, my girl started early with the scary stuff.

My friends were very helpful in giving Sunnie brothers and sisters. It took a lot of pressure off of me, as Sunnie went through a phase of asking me for a twin.

My dear friends Terry Ann & Milt gave us Heath, our wonderful friends Carol (Gowee) & Stan gave us Emily and twins, Jennie and John and my favorite next-door neighbors, Peggy (Nummo) and Peter gave us Matthew and Adam. And our precious Samantha, my four-legged best friend. It was one big happy family!

I have put the names Sunnie gave Carol and Peggy in parenthesis. She had her own remarkable language and an imaginary friend called Zaime.

Zaime causes some trouble, for sure. She was always into something. Sometimes, she would spill Sunnie's milk at the dinner table. However, most of the time, she just kept Sunnie's room in a state of absolute chaos.

I'd say 'Sunshine, your room is a mess'…she would look at me and say Zaime is here, that's why it is a mess. Zaime would occasionally let the rabbit out of his cage or leave Sunnie's bike out or ruin Sunnie's homework. Zaime kept me on my toes…I just never knew when she would make trouble.

Sunnie never, ever lacked for imagination and she was the funniest child, with the most incredible sense of humor I have ever known…or will ever know.

The relationship she shared with my mother and (step) father was as dear and precious as any relationship could possibly be. They had their own secret club. On occasion, one might be invited in but most of the time, it was just a jolly three-some. I was so happy my mother waited to meet her granddaughter, Skylar. It too, was a love affair however, it was only to last 18 months.

As Sunnie made her way through school, I was worried that she wouldn't choose college and a higher education. I was so pleased when she came to me and said 'I know what I want to do in life.' I was thrilled to hear this and waited anxiously for her to tell me. 'Mortuary Science', she said. Knowing I had heard wrong, I said 'what did you say?' 'I'm going to get my degree in Mortuary Science.' This was by far more serious than Stephen King and Dean Koontz…but…I hold them (partially) responsible. Good Lord, how did this happen? Right…it was Freddy Krueger or was it Jason in Friday the 13 ^th ! Or was it the Seed of Chucky or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

Sunnie loved these crazy slasher movies…what the heck?

She moved on from slasher movies and her Mortuary Science degree to the OC Coroner's Office. Exactly what every mother would want for her beautiful blonde daughter.

On occasion, she would surprise visit me in the afternoon at the Acacia House…

Me: Hi Honey…how nice to see you. What are you doing out and about?

Sunnie: Oh, just doing pick ups.

Me: Oh? What are you picking up?

Sunnie: Bodies

Me: (hair on fire) Bodies? Where are they?

Sunnie: Out in the van, do you want to see them?

Me: You have bodies in a van outside?

Sunnie: Yes, are you sure you don't want to see them?

Me: Oh My God!

Sunnie was absolutely hysterical

I should have sued King and Koontz!

In 2006, we joined households and moved to San Clemente. Sunnie, Skylar, me and he who shall not be named. During this time, Sunnie was still with the Coroner's Office.

She would come home, full of excitement, and say, 'Mom, guess who I had on the table today?' Of course, my adult response was putting my fingers in my ears and yelling Nope, Nope, Nope, don't tell me!

Sunnie was a strong swimmer, played ice and rollerblade hockey, would paddle outriggers with ne but never really had a sport she loved, (except kickboxing). One day, she came into the kitchen, full of excitement and said 'guess what? I've found a sport I am going to love!' Fabulous, say I, pray tell? She said 'I'm going to join a Roller Derby Team!' I'm not often speechless but this one stopped me cold.

I vividly remember my brother taking me to see the LA Thunderbirds in the early 60's and I was horrified. They scared the sand off this beach kid. Hitting, tripping, shoving, biting, fighting…they left a lasting impression.

And now my daughter was going to sake for a roller derby team. How could this be considered normal? But…look who's talking!

Well, Sunnie had a blast! She met so many great women, made so many new friends…all this while pushing, shoving, tripping, hip checking and bruising their opponents.

Eventually, she found her way to and a job with Erin, Michael and Becky at McCormick's Mortuary. She loved them. Erin was the best badass and Michael was the funniest guy, ever. The stories and antics were numerous and hysterical.

Sunnie was a cowgirl at heart. Nothing would have given her more pleasure than to have lived on a ranch with a decent loving cowboy, 10 kids, dogs, cats, gardens, bees, horses and cows, country music and fired chicken. Hopefully, she would have taken Skyler and me with her!

She was also the most talented person I have ever known. She could do anything, work out how to use those big embroidery machines, design our labels, cut patterns for Skyler's Halloween costumes, make designs to paint 'flames' on our golf cart, fix all of her mother's electronics…I would say 'this damned thing' and she would say 'here, give it to me.' She would have all the patience in the world while she fixed it, glued it, cut it, sewed it, embroidered it, framed it, planted it…

She fought this wicked, terrible disease with everything she had. She had a large tumor removed from her colon, and a colostomy. Several months later, she had the surgery to reverse the colostomy. She spent 51 hours every two weeks in chemotherapy. She had to cut off her beautiful hair. She fought through the nausea. She lost 40 pounds. She got up and lived every single day. She made her doctor's laugh. She made the chemo nurses laugh. She watched them want to help her sooo much. She watched her husband walk out…no of this stopped her unbelievable will to live. Sunnie was the most badass warrior I have ever known. After a stage 4 diagnosis, it took 16 months for this hideous disease to take my girl to the mat.

In the end, it was her sisters, Emily and Jennie, who were with me when Sunnie left this earth. It was Erin and Michael who came to get her and care for her. Michael wouldn't leave her, stayed with her until she came back to me.

Sunnie had a beautiful 49 years…half of what she should have had. She grew up with the sun, the ocean, her friends, her chosen family, her sense of humor and that beautiful smile. She was truly well loved.

For me, the loss is complete…I have lost that beautiful and funny child, that wonderful teenager, my lovely daughter, my best friend, my road dog, my confidant, the sister I never had. The funny thing is…she always considered me her rock and in truth, Sunnie was my rock. It was my honor and privilege to have been her mother.

Here's to Sunnie!

Fuck Cancer