A Funny Story about Kelly-Anne

This summer has been a very different kind of summer for me. Despite the erratic weather here in Quebec, I have had the opportunity to enjoy the pool and absence of employment. Oh those lazy days of summer which I remember as a child ...carefree, no responsibilities and just having fun. Well, I can't say that it is entirely the same...but close with the exception of looking for a job.

These past couple of months has allowed me to reflect more about days gone by and about the things Kelly-Anne did in her short but abundant life. Each day at the pool, I ask Kelly-Anne to swim with me. I can say now that I am 95% cured of my post trauma of deep water. I know she has helped me get over that. I can now swim one hour without stopping...yes I do come up for air !

I reflected one day about a time where Kelly-Anne really like Ashley McIssac...a singer from the east coast. Kell had a thing for Celtic music. One day, later in the evening, Kell had come home from Waterpolo practice. She had been to school that day, and decided sometime in the morning to leave school to go downtown to find McIssac. He was in town doing a show and Kelly-Anne decided that she would like to have a one on one with him. I was shocked that she just left school without notifying us or her teacher. I said Kell..".how did you do that?" She responded..."Mom, I opened the front door of the school and put one foot in front of the other and left." She rode the bus downtown, walked Ste. Catherine street and low and behold found McIssac walking out of a resto. She spend her quality time with him alone chatting on the street, then made her way back towards home to go to her waterpolo practice.

Meanwhile, hundreds of other fans waited patiently including her sister Kim at a record store for an autograph. All this to say, when McIssac saw Kim with the same waterpolo jacket, he mentioned that he had met Kelly-Anne.

What determination Kelly-Anne had! The message in all this is that we have to put one foot forward to move forward and get what we want. I am learning so much from my daughter. We can't wait for someone to give us things on a silver platter. Thinking of Kell gives me the daily determination to find my new career. Even in her death, Kell motivates me.

Thanks Kell, I love you.

Another Sudden Tragic Death

We learnt today about a wonderful young women who's life was instantly taken from her while she and her husband dined in downtown Montreal. A vibrant young women with her whole life ahead of her died from a falling piece of cement.

I'll say it again...we all take life for granted. We do not know what tomorrow will bring.

Another life taken so quickly. I feel for her family's and friend's pain. I hope Léa will rest in peace and be an angel watching over her husband and family.

Farrah Fawcett

Today we hear of the passing of Farrah Fawcett. What really saddens me is that she never got the chance to marry Ryan O'Neal. We heard last week that he asked her to marry him. She was on her death bed being proposed to after all this years. Such a waste of years gone by and now it is too late. There is a lesson to be learnt from all this....never put off doing today which you think you can do tomorrow. We are all so good at procrastinating, but life has a way of throwing curves at us. When death comes, it is fast and definite. The loss of that person no matter what the circumstances are is a void for all those who loved that person. I would of loved to turn back the clock and had one chance to talk to Kelly-Anne, to my parents and many others close to me who have passed on. Just one more day to day I love you and I appreciate everything that you have done for me....just one more day.

We need to remind ourselves that the people who mean much to us or have meant a lot to us need to be told so and that reconciliation is so important if we want to live our lives without the guilt once that person passes on. You know those famous words..."I should of "or "why didn't I".......we are all guilty of that.

My heart and prayers go out to Farrah's family and I hope that she will be at peace cradled in the Lord's arms.

The DASH

After attending an intimate funeral this week of the husband of a swimming friend , I was enlightened by the minister's message. I thought I would like to share some of it with you. It somehow touched a cord with me and has made me look at life again, just a little differently. Even though I consider myself a humble person, sometimes we need a little shake up.

Have you ever looked at a tombstone and noticed that each has the date of birth inscribed of the deceased, then a dash ------- then the date of death? What really is important here? Sure we were all born and we will die but the reality is it is the DASH which is the most important. That Dash represents our life, the time we spent on this earth. For some , the Dash is short and for others, very long.

What we have done in our DASH is not measured by how much money we have earned or how much money we have saved. It is not measured by what we have acquired as worldly things. It's about what we have done during that DASH. What have we contributed or gave to our family, friends and society. Who have we nurtured or cared for. What child has learnt something from us. What kind smile have we given a homeless person?

Even though Kelly-Anne's DASH was so short, she was able to do all the above and more.

I want my DASH to be filled of stories and memories that I and my family can be proud of...the giving , the sharing, the love, the nurturing, the selflessness. We all have that inside of ourselves...it's up to us to set the priorities straight and live out faithfully, no matter how short or how long our DASH is.

What will your DASH be?

Baby's First Birthday

Today Jules and I went to participate in the festivities of a baby's first birthday. Lilah is her name. A darling little girl who is the daughter of Kelly-Anne and Kim good friend. Besides the goodies and cupcakes, the house was filled with little children. All happy and adorable little ones playing and munching on treats. The party brought back many memories of birthday parties which we had for Kelly-Anne and Kim.

For Kelly-Anne's first birthday she had a baby sister to celebrate with her. Isn't that something! Kim was just 4 weeks old but nevertheless she was with her sister.

I remember making those wonderful character cakes out of the Wilton cake pans....doggies, Big Bird etc. Some parties were held at McDonald's and Chi Chi's. We usually had one party in between their birthdays. One birthday party, Kim received her first cat....Katnip. He somewhat freaked out coming home to a children's costume party. I think that is why he was always stressed out.

Looking at the gifts that Lilah received today made me see that some things just haven't changed...Strawberry Shortcake was a big thing when the girls were small. Lilah must of received at least 3 Strawberry shortcake cards and we gave her a Strawberry Shortcake book as part of her gifts.


It was a lovely party which really warmed my heart...the sweet innocence of youth.

Kelly-Anne & Rachel

Kelly-Anne's best friend is Rachel. Today is a special day for Rachel as she has married her sweetheart.
It's a bittersweet day as I sit here and think of years gone by and of the relationship the girls had together. They say that there is no greater bond between mother or daughter or sisters but I feel their bond was
the same as blood sisters. I remember the laughter, the fun shared and of course the adventuring. Kelly-Anne, I know would be very happy and proud today for Rachel. I am sure that her spirit is near Rachel as she starts a new phase in her life. I am also glad that Kim is there today with Rachel sharing in the festivities.

Here is a picture taken of the girls adventuring in the USA.

I wish Rachel a beautiful day and a happy and loving marriage.

We are all One

Tonight I experienced the solidarity of a community. I attended the first year memorial service for Andrew Hunte-Longshaw. He was the young man of 22 years who was murdered this time last year in front of Concordia University. Looking at his mother, his grandparents, brothers and little daughter, they stood strong and united. The church was packed, the gospel choir shook the building.

Amongst the people were many families from the English community who lost a child or family member from murder. Between the hugs and tears, I felt that we are a community of soldiers. Our fallen soldiers have only our voice left to speak for them. Pastor Danny Eason said it all too well...we judge people by the car they drive or the clothes they wear...but really those materialist things are not what is important. God doesn't judge us by what we have, it's what we have in our hearts that is important. Also, God gives us as much as we can handle...and for the families who have lost a loved one...we are strong , we can move on, we can give meaning to the loss of our loved ones.

Tonight only reinforced what I have been trying to do......forge forward, find meaning in my life now and keep Kelly-Anne's name alive. The week ahead will bring more changes to my life... I sense a turning point is coming. Change will happen...good things are going to happen and I have to believe that the right job or the right situation will be with the Lord's guidance.

I will be put in the right place and will find meaning in whatever I will be doing. As I learnt from Kelly-Anne in her ability to persevere, I too will continue to do so.