I was volunteering in the ER Thursday night and it was the first time I had seen a person die. The EMS brought him in and the hospital staff continued to try to save his life. They tried so hard, but it was no use.

I was asked to talk to the family in the waiting room to tell them they will be told shortly when they could come back, but their loved one had already passed away. I'm so glad it wasn't up to me to tell them the news, but I felt guilty knowing and yet trying to act calm, while being liaison between the doctor, nurses, patient and waiting family.

I didn't know the family as they are from another town. I prayed so hard that the life saving procedures would work, but at the same time was so fearful he couldn't be revived. I know so many of the patients who do come in, and I pray that I will never have to see any of them pass away.

Last Thanksgiving we heard over the EMS radio about an accident that claimed a local man's life at the scene. When they said who it was, it was unbelievable to realize he was a friend of many years.

Thoughts and prayers to all of my fellow Streamers. So many things happen in this earthly life that are so unexpected. Tell your loved ones on a daily basis how much you love them and how important they are to you. I was witness to a grieving wife, a grieving mother and grieving friends all because of a bee allergy that was never known.

Karen

Well, I bet many of you are having an unexpected weather change this holiday season. We are down in the 30's and it is sleeting. In some areas just north of us they are having snow and building Easter snow bunnies.

Friday my granddaughter and I dyed eggs. It was her first time, so we had a great time.

FIVE THINGS I DO KNOW!

1. I miss all of my kids, especially during holidays.
2. This messy weather makes me sleepy.
3. My five days off have dwindled down to two days.
4. On Thursday my husband and I had our first outing to a state park in years. His 3 wheel scooter made it possible for him to get around. It was an amazing, wonderful day.
5. Today is hubby's 63rd birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!

Karen

Heidi tagged me, so now I am supposed to write 5 things someone else has told me and I have never forgotten.

I really had to think about this one.

1. "If you're not bleeding, you're not hurt," Dad would always say.

2. Dad used to tell us, "Uh oh, another lion has escaped from the zoo and the searchlights are trying to find it." The spotlights at night actually meant there was a grand opening some place in town, but us kids didn't know that and were always on the lookout for rampaging lions.

3. "Go ask your dad if he has a skyhook!" Some boys were over at the house fixing a car one night, and like an idiot I ran into the house to ask Dad. I was sure embarrassed when he started to laugh, and more embarrassed when I went back outside and the boys were laughing hysterically.

4. My sister Marsha told me, "I don't want you coming all this way just to see me." So I told her our other sister, Donna, her husband and my husband and myself had been planning a vacation to Salt Lake City,Utah for quite sometime and while we were there we hoped to visit her. She accepted that, so while we were there we had to play tourist to placate her. You see, she was dying from cancer. She rallied and was able to come home from the hospital the day after we got there. We stayed several days and between visiting the sights of Salt Lake City, we visited with Marsha and her family. We also were staying with them. After we had left her husband Fred said she just laid on the couch and stopped eating. She had to go back to the hospital and she passed away a week later. She was always worrying about other people and never about herself. She was truly extraordinary.

5. "Out of all of you girls, Karen, I'm glad you are the one that had twins, because none of you others have the patience to handle it." That was over 29 years ago at lunch one day not too long after giving birth to my twin girls. There were several of us younger Moms who were sort of taken under an older friend's wing. Funny, but I don't even remember her name because we moved around so much back then because of Chuck's job with an oil servicing company. I thought it was really strange for her to say it, because at one time in my life I wasn't the most patient person in the world, but one day I realized screaming at my two kids was driving us all nuts, so I prayed many times for patience and boy did God answer my prayers. See, Chuck had had a vasectomy 9 months earlier than the time when I got pregnant, and on the top of that, having twins! SURPRISE! SURPRISE! I didn't have a choice but to develop patience.

Now my turn to TAG 4 other people. Ummm, who will they be? I think,
Chells, Theo, Mindpower (Hailey), and Sr William.

Take care and thanks for letting me in on the game.

Love, Karen

I posted this sometime back and with everyone sending me not only birthday well wishes, but also thinking about me as I'm on the brink of retirement because of my husband's health issues.



I am truly blessed with so many extraordinary friends to share my joys and sorrows. I wrote this for one of my dear friends. I hope you like it.

I felt the touch
of your soul today
It echoed the kindness
you always display
The warmth it radiated
touched my heart's core
Giving me a feeling
of wanting much more
You knew my needs
and you sought out God
Along the prayer path
you tenderly trod
On my behalf
you bowed your head
Seeking God's source
in my stead
You quietly prayed
making a plea
That I once again
be heartache free
I want to thank you
for your kind way
Of dealing with problems
during our earthly stay
You are so unique
such a dear soul
I fervently pray
for His blessings to flow
Did you feel the gentle touch
upon your heart today?
I asked God to send it
in a loving, caring way.

Blessings to each and everyone of you.

Karen

I'm not sure how I got to this age
But the feeling isn't too bad
Especially when people I know
Are surprised I am at this great age
Young-looking family genes sure do help
Plus a few extra-care steps
Like not being a drinker nor smoker
Nor of getting that all-important tan
So my skin hasn't been baked by the sun
Oh I have age spots, some wrinkles
And my mind has experienced Senior moments
But all in all Being 60 Feels Pretty Good
And the best reason is
The alternative to growing old
Means you are dead, and that isn't
Too appealing to this mother of five
Grandmother of three
Wife of one.

To all my fellow baby boomers on the Stream
Isn't it great to have been teenagers in the sixties?
The music was awesome
And has withstood time.

Of course we had the Drive-in theaters!!!!!!!
The Drive-in burger joints!!!!!!!!
Anybody out there grew up in San Antonio,Texas?
Just wondering!!!!!!

I'm just rambling tonight
But that is okay
Because I'm 60
And glad to have an excuse to ramble,
So what is your excuse?

I would have put an emoticon right here but there isn't one resembling a 60 year old hot babe that doesn't look her age and feels like a teenager and a lot of times like the 5 and 6 year olds she gets to be with during the school days.

This is as close as I can come:

TO ALL OF MY FELLOW STREAMERS WHO WISHED ME A HAPPY BIRTHDAY I THANK YOU. YOUR WELL WISHES HELPED MY BIRTHDAY JUST BE THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL.

KAREN