5 NEW ANGELS

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Merry Christmas Norm!!!   Good to see you post/  have a great time!    Hugs!   Lucy

Norm, Sharon is so very correct...... it's like we're sitting here watching a butterfuly emerge right before our eyes. I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo grateful to you for sharing what's happening in your life. The stories of the shopping adventure, with the dad having a melt-down, mid-store. I can just picture you and Ed giving him the grip of encouragement that he needed at the moment of his shopping-crisis. We can step outside of our own stories and reach out a hand to a stranger in need. We have that capability.

Your having come back from the brink-of-it-all makes you so keenly aware.

Norm, you've weathered a horrific storm and as you and Stan's widow recognize, this is the time when you miss them the most. Of course it is. This is the season of "togetherness" and it's hard to be together-on-your-own. But we are here for you. Yes we are!! We're your "together" and we're cheering for you and celebrating with you.

Norm, I've never told you just why I felt so compelled to stand by you thru this year. I hesitate, even now to tell you, but I think perhaps, the timing is literally "right."

When I was a very young teacher, maybe about 23 or 24 or so, I taught in a school for young children with special needs. We returned for the new year having read all of the headlines regarding one of "our" families. The husband and wife had left their family sleeping soundly in their mansion-like home, and had gone hand-in-hand together to their midnight candle-light Mass at their church. They returned together, little more than an hour later to find all seven people in their home had died. All four of their children and one grandparent plus two other visiting relatives died of smoke inhallation, from the fireplace embers gone awry somehow.

Tragic. Horrific. Unthinkable. On Christmas Eve, while they sat worshipping, EVERYONE perished.

At the time I was so overcome by the story that I never once made an effort to reach out to those parents. I couldn't think of anything that I could possibly say to these dear people in so much grief. I never told them how sorry I was, how heartbroken I was on their behalf. (Their son Tommy had 'graduated' from our school the year before this happened..... )

The day that I first read your story, it immediately transported me back nearly thirty years. How could this happen? How do these tragedies unfold? How on earth could someone overcome these circumstances? Not that I've ever known-what-to-say to you, Norm, but I made a vow to myself, that I would stand by you. That I would lumber along thru the awkwardness. That I would offer you whatever accompaniment and encouragement that I was capable of creating for you. That I would do it because of Tommy and his sibblings and his grandparent and his other relatives...... who were taken so prematurely from their loving parents.

I'm sitting here now crying at my confession. They're good tears Norm. I would imagine as you read of this family, you might have some tears on their behalf as well. When I wrote to you the saying, "Other people feel this" this is the story that was heavy in my heart. These people had 'everything' as he was a prominant doctor in town, living large in an upscale suburb..... and literally in the blink of an eye, it was all gone.

Now you know "the rest of the story." Our friendship has emerged, in part because of my inability to support people who were desperately in need at the time. Thank you for giving me that opportunity to reach out, atoning for my youth and inability/unwillingness on Tommy's parents behalf. My posts to you have been one of the best "do-overs" that I have been granted the privaledge to participate in. Thank you Norm for allowing me to be a small part of your story.

You've still got a couple more hours to find the true meaning of Christmas. Here's a pic I just posted, over at the beach, which summerizes much for me:

That's my first-born with her first-born. My grandson is saying, "Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus."

Norm, I will second that!!!! 

Faith, you have over this year (and I know before this because that is who you are) given so much to so many, and what a glorious gift that family's tragedy offered up to you...our lives- all living things- are so intricately entertwined...the world truly is so small...and we are all here to help eachother learn to love one another in the purest sense...It is tragic that sometimes those gifts aren't received until after such sad and unexplainable circumstances, but that makes the gift all the more precious. Thank you for opening up your heart and letting us all in...what a loving gift.

Norm, to see so many posts in a short amount of time, and so chatty just fills my heart with joy!!!!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, and Merry, Merry, Ho, Ho, Ho…

I went out with my twinsis yesterday. We played the elves to a gentleman at her work’s Santa and passed out Christmas cookies and calendars, and everyone took a picture with Santa. That was fun to see adults let their inner child out to play. We also did our annual stocking stuffer shopping, that’s all we do for each other since we do our charity gift, and that’s helped lift the spirit. Family arrived yesterday and Christmas music is playing, too. So, I’m feeling more festive.

Greg’s 50th was yesterday. We went out to a nice dinner, and he was very happy with the gift I bought him. A thing for the back of his bike to store stuff in on long rides…can’t recall with it’s technical name is, however.

It’s pretty chilly here, but I tell you what, I’ve had some flashes lately that had me in no sweater or jacket leaving the mall after Kathleen returned something she bought before her surgery. People thought I was nuts. HeeHee

Speaking of hotflashes, my appointment with the surgical OBGYN went well. He’s very nice…my age… and gave me a “good for you” when I responded in the negative to being on any kind of medication.  Sounds like the ooph/hysterectomy is a go.  Both he and my onc agree that since I’m not doing Tamox, and being at higher risk for ovarian and uterine cancer that I really should do it.  I asked if my symptoms of menopause would be any worse than they are now since I’m technically in menopause, not having had a period for almost a full year (February will be a year). He stated he seriously doubted it. Whew, that is a relief. He also stated that they’d keep an eye on bone mass and do everything none medicine related to keep my bones strong for as long as possible. I like this guy!!!!

OK, gotta run. I’ve got stocking stuffers to wrap and more baking to do.

Be listening for the sound of reindeer on the roof tonight.
SIS Kimberly

 

Norm,

I am not at all eloquent as Faith is with her beautiful words, plus i am sick with a head cold that is making my brain feel mushy.  I just want to say to you that it is wonderful to see and read that you are finding a new life from the ashes of the horrible tragedy that changed your life forever, and you are finding a way to help others with meaning in their lives.  I am so proud of you. 

Merry Christmas to you and prayers for you for a new year filled with the promise of better things to come!!!

hugs, celia

Merry Christmas to everyone.

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Merry Christmas Norm, May it me a peacfull one filled with little blessing.

I sat in my plow yesterday for hours clearing snow grudgingly until I realized how far I had come. Last year on Christmas day I was a few weeks into Chemo and as I sat in front of the mirror I found out this was the day my hair was falling out in clumps. I felt sick, emotionally spent and traumatized. I could barely help out with our small family contracting company or trying to make "Christmas" happen in our home. And yesterday there I was giving to my 100% to my family and our company. A year ago I didnt think I would be here. I am so glad we all are.

Faith your post brought me to tears, good ones. Its such a blessing to be allowed to try to give back after a time in our life when we werent emotionally able too.

So again Merry Christmas all my friends, Someone commented to me yesterday that I must have an angel watching out over me to do the work I do..... I just smiled, I think maybe I have a few. Love Suz

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Merry Christmas.

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Our Joy is one of those angels, Suz. Literally looking down over each of us.

Good morning (((((Norm)))))

(((((Norm)))))  Sweet dreams.

 Hi Norm,  He knows, He cares and He answers your prayers. I am sending you a special hug, I have been alone threw Christmas and it makes me feel greatful to have friends like you! God bless you for your friendship! Huggggggggggggggggggggggggggggs Debbie