A note filled with love and laughter….

A note filled with love and laughter….

Dear Sis,

Karen, every day I feel so inspired to write to you.    Often, when I am very much in the moment,  I remember the feeling of us talking, laughing, crying together, gossiping and always knowing, “It’s them, not us.” 🙂

I still have so much sadness – but also joy – when I think about Don.  I cannot believe it has been over a month since he left this physical world.   His passing was such a shock.    I miss him so much.   I have been finding dimes all over the place.    So this tells me he is watching over me.   The strong emotions come in waves.

Just the other day, I was driving in my car and I suddenly started to cry.  I hit my steering wheel hard and said out loud, “DAMN you Don.  Why did you have to go ??  Why ????”  I then through my tears I would smile because I could actually picture myself talking to him and saying, “What the fuck is going on?  What the hell happened ??  YOU, of all people?”    And as I would say this, he and I would both be laughing.

A few months ago, I got a ticket for touching my cel phone at a red light.  I need to own this because of past history blogs.  My scooter accident in Bali.  This ticket was $360.00 but supposedly I get another $240ish one just before my birthday.  Too be honest I don’t care what the amount is.   I could not be more grateful that this happened.     I truly believe this was meant as a big lesson to me.

I have to share with you, this video, when I was caught.    Jenna had just had two teeth pulled.  She was on “wacky” gas.    Prior to her going under,  she said to me, “If I do anything strange, film me.  I heard people go weird.”   Well as we were sitting at a red light, she started elevating her legs and arms.  I picked up my phone to film her sitting in a car right outside my window is a police officer.   This video makes me laugh because you can hear Jenna – pretty out of it not knowing what is going on – the police officer making a comment and myself, a typical Canadian profusely saying “sorry”.

Another story to share is that two weeks ago, on Facebook, I got cyber bullied.   I have never in my life gone through anything like that before.   As I saw this and started reading it, I could feel myself start to build with anxiety or something.   But within minutes those feelings subsided.   Because of the place I am in, personally, it didn’t affect me.

Years ago, the “old” Kathy would be thinking, “OMG I need to get that down.  How many people saw it.”  OR I would have defended myself.   Started responding back.   This person wrote  6 or 7 sentences, one right after a another.   I read the first one and then I read the second and by the time I started to read the third one, I went back and simply hit delete, delete, delete, delete, delete, delete and BLOCK.   I was calm throughout the entire process.

When I started reading through these comments, I remember thinking to myself, “Wow, this person doesn’t even know me.  How mean.”   I then started thinking about all the people who do really know me.    That is what I allowed to filter into my head.  All the goodness and love in my life.

Some big news from Jenna is that she got her puppy !!!!!

For years her dad and I have been saying, “You get the dog, no you get the dog.”  Well he got the dog.    Meet Lola.  She is going to be 3 months next week.   She is 50% bernese, 25% border collie and 25% great pyrenees.   Jenna is so in love 🙂

Karen, in two days, Jenna is turning 14.   I simply cannot believe it.  She loves you so much and she loves your kids so much.  Every time she sees a “wishing well”  she tosses in a coin and I know that her wish is always dedicated to you xo

Last week I booked Friday off work and I took the ferry over to Galiano Island.   I joined Dave and Kerri on their sailboat for two nights.  It was stationed in a beautiful Marina called Montague Harbour.  There are so many unique Gulf Islands.    This one had a character all on its own.  It was a fabulous few days.

I am wearing Don’s Canada hat xo

A couple of weeks ago, I also did some ocean and lake paddle boarding with my Island girlfriends….another gorgeous day with great company.

 

Now Karen some VERY exciting news to tell you about DEFEAT MULTIPLE SYSTEM ATROPHY CANADA !!!   As you know it is the new sister charity into the MSA family.    It is the first of its kind in our country.   Like the two US based non-profits, Defeat MSA and the MSA Awareness Shoe, Defeat Multiple System Atrophy Canada is also staffed entirely by volunteers, and each staff member is singularly devoted because of their direct family connection to MSA.

I just went to visit the website.  I absolutely love their Mission Statement, their promise and their approach.     Karen, as I was scrolling down the list of “Board of Directors”, I saw my own name.    Yes,  I am on the Board of Directors 🙂    It was noted…

Kathy Samuel (Board Member, Events Planning) Nanaimo, BC.

The passion behind this charity is Philip Fortier.   Last winter he contacted me asking if I would be a member.  In order to get this charity registered that are so many stipulations.  Phil is the gentleman who lives in the States who lost his brother to MSA.   He is the one who courier the “shoe” to my house pre my trip to Bali.  His  husband is a Neurologist.

Karen,  there is a wonderful team behind finding a cure.   More hope coming our way.

Phil also shared my blog on the MSA US site, with thousands of followers.   All whom are impacted by this disease.  My hope is that when people are reading my blogs, many will find humour combined with love and understanding.   I hope my story of one sister to another is shared.   Karen even if our stories make someone feel “not so alone”, we are helping someone.

In a message to me last week, Phil said, “Thank you for sharing your blog….it was a good day when we connected.”

We all need to support each other – however that looks – we are all connected.

The website is www.msacanada.ca.

I also want to recognize JP.   His birthday was a few days ago, July 11th.  Karen I know you would want to recognize the man you love and then man who cared for you every single day since April 2012.

Karen, JP still has some health issues but I hear he is getting stronger everyday.  JP if you are reading this, Happy Birthday.  You are a good man.  I will forever be grateful that you came into our lives.   Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.

WE ARE ALL THINKING OF YOU XO

This is one of my favourite pictures of JP and Karen. This is when they first met. My sister could still talk and eat. JP has a shirt made with an arrow stating, “I am with Karen.” He thought he would have some fun because every time they would go out, people would stare.

Sis, I am going to wrap up now because I very much want to get this blog out tonight.   I stayed home this weekend because I have so much on the go.  Work is busy, my house needed to be cleaned, yard work and I am off to Vancouver and Seattle for business next week.    So between all my responsibilities and my self care (which I am damn good at) I haven’t blogged to you in weeks BUT I have thought about you every single day.

I miss you.

I love you sis,

Kathy xo

ps.  My “PS” today has a little bit of a story to it.     I am so excited to be sending this to you.  This video makes me laugh so much.    It’s about menopause and how coconut oil is the best lube lol This was taken last summer, driving home from Tofino.    My friend and I had just spent the day on the beach.  The drive from Nanaimo to Tofino is 2.5 hours.   On the way there we were laughing so hard, at “topics” we had on the go.  We decided to film,  I think we filmed at least 8 or 9.    Well this one was POST our amazing day.   We were just starting to drive home.  It is so raw, I love it.

Karen this one is sooooo for you…..xo

Your kids sent me this pic ast weekend !!  I love your smile Karen :). Fifteen years with MSA – you are a warrior.

I LOVE YOU XO

 

 

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