Saturday, March 12, 2011

I think I Brought MN Home To Tampa!~

My PLUSH sweet Room
AT
THE BEST WESTERN "PLUS"
in
Bloomington MN
(across the street)
from
The Mall of America

Welcome home to ME!

JUst had to show you this fabulous room I enjoyed
briefly at the new,
DID I MENTION
BRAND SPANKING NEW
BEST WESTERN PLUS
new
HOTEL
in
Bloomington MN
where I spent my last day
in
MN!
And I have to tell you,
they did a fantastic job with this property,
the place is just lovely.
The art, the colors, textures
and
STAFF
all
5 star!
Claire at the desk
was top notch
Randy, the one with "evidence of cookie crumbs" on his chin,was the shuttle driver
and
gave me directions on navigating the
Mall of America
(only lost myself 3 or 4 times)
was kind, efficient and friendly
and
then
I met
Brandon
who was in charge of the
Ballroom
where I spent the day with
the lecture
on
Compassion Fatigue.
Now that was after a night in that spectacular room,
a room that was just splendid
with its decor of rich chocolate
bedding, its textures and colors inviting and top notch,
the art on the walls wonderful to look at as well.
AND LET ME TELL YOU...
YOU
could bounce a dime
on those sheets that bed was made with such perfection!
And oh what a grand bed it was
with pillows everywhere,
too bad there wasn't the godsons and Olivia there
to have a pillow fight with!
I was just thrilled to realized
that
Premiere Education
had booked the
first conference of my speaking there
in this new and wonderful hotel
where the service was spendid
the catering staff and AV staff
so kind and accomondating during the day!
and to think:
I was the first speaker to take the room by storm
to a fantastic
group of
mental health and Professional Caregivers
as
we spent the day
together!
In that room
sat
folks from
those with 1 year of experience
to practioners with 40 years of experience
who collectively
we counted had more than
"1000+ years of PROFESSIONAL YEARS"
of Professional Care giving experience"
for
those in the state of Minnesota!
They included
Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Marriage and Family Counselors, those working in Mental Health, Psychiatric Nurses, Private Practice Therapists, Chaplains, Head Start Counselors, Managers,
Crisis Call Centers, Hospice....
Professionals working with those who have been sexually abused, domestic violence, mental issues, physical and chronic pain, Cancer patients, divorce, rape, trauma, and the list continues...

It was quite a day, It was a wonderful day,
I was honored to be with them all.

It was a FULL DAY~
I shared with them my desire to help with
PROTECTING THE NORTH AMERICAN BLACK BEAR
OF ELY MN
suggesting they join us at
and sign the petition there!
I told the that Lily the Black Bear gave the world
HOPE
and
told them of the Facebook page
and that Lily has 180 thosand fans
without leaving her den
while
I
travel around the world
and
have 1400 fans
They laughed as hard as I did over that one!

Imagine, some had never heard of Lily and they live right there in MN,
some did not know there was a need to protect collared and brightly colored ribboned North American Black Bears either,
but
they cannot say that anymore!
I helped them to understand how we as Professionals and as humans can learn much from the
North American Black Bears
by being creative
in having
tenacity in purpose!
By stretching to "get what we need"
and
yes I also shared with them
that a man named MOE in Duluth bid
$1,000.00 for Bear Scat
and won it on Facebook on an auction to benefit
the Wildlife Research Institute
and
that
Healing Heartaches had also been auctioned
and
fetched
$500.00
and
yes
I was well aware
that my book
only fetched half the price
of
Little
Hope's
bear poopie aka SCAT!!!
Did I mention
they laughed a lot yesterday???
BUT
most importantly
when we said
"so long"
I believe they walked out a bit taller than when they walked in,
feeling
"refueled with passion and purpose"
for the important work that they do
and
I thanked them for the
HARD and dificult work that they do each and every day.
I do hope to be invited back someday,
preferably when it is not so darn cold
but
I was told a "heat wave" was coming in
as it
hit 40 degrees and not to be surprised if I saw
some in their flip flops!


MALL OF AMERICA
Just another view of that Mall!
Looking at another angle of the many ways
you can get lost on those levels
and those many options
of where to go!
So I'm thinking
everyone should experience that just once
at least,
and when you go,
you can stay across the street at that
fine new hotel
The Best Western Plus!
Tell them Dr Showalter sent ya!
I hear they even have a suite there with a fireplace in it.
I of course expect to be given that room should I ever return, and to just be stuck there in a warm month
but sure to fire up that fireplace
just for fun!
Cos' in my way of thinking
you would need to go for a few days
if you were really to visit that mall properly,
and
heaven knows you will need
Randy to shuttle you back and forth
for naps
on sheets that you can bounce a dime on
to rest between those many miles of walking
and
shopping.

Meanwhile
you are guaranteed to meet some lovely folks along the way
and have a ball if you are there long enough.
At the end of the day
and after good byes and hugs
and signing books for many,
I was standing outside
when somehow the sliding automatic doors
opened and
I got "caught"
by one of them
in my "back"
OUCH
so now at home
and ever so grateful
I am nursing a quite painful
"wing area of my back"
preparing to apply ice on it and to lay low
today.
But while outside I see a car whip into a parking space
and a lovely woman jump out of her car and come
running to me,
she hugged me and thanked me
for what she said was the best seminar ever
and then
said,
"Dr Showalter, I would like to gift you with a CD of mine"
and handed me a CD
with the title "Foreign Soul"
her name
Rebecca Aadland.
I was touched beyond measure and cannot wait to listen,
she is a psychotherapist
and has expressed herself through music,
some of the song titles are :
Vulnerable, Racing Heart, Heal Me Baby, Woman, Breathe easy...

Now that is something isn't it?

The gifts one receives ....
During the break yet another woman walks up to me, hugs me and says I would like to give you this, and hands me a stone... it is a heart; a black perfectly shaped heart. She said she carried it in her purse, and as I was talking, she thought of it and said, I need to gift this to Dr Showalter > the kindness of spirit filled the room yesterday, my heart is filled.
Thank you MN for your hospitality, thank you for spending the day with me!

So I arrived at the airport (one of the weirdest of airports evah)
and the number of people there were amazing, it was just nutz.
Busy busy busy it was;
only to find out my flight had been delayed by over 40 minutes (as in late).
Then I see it:
folks in shorts in MN, flip flops too, or
shorts with "muck-lucks" boots on
and
t-shirts
and
guess where they are all going it seems?

YEP
you guessed it!
The plane was full >>> MN was coming home with me
all bound for Tampa!
Guess they are sick sick sick
of the cold weather
so the plane was at capacity
all heading to Tampa!
I sat with a family from MN, a young woman named Sara who does NOT like to fly and her Mom. Sara and I became pals, as I talked her through the flight with breathing work to help her overcome her fear and her urge to use that "bag" they put in the seat after telling her that "puking was unacceptable to me"! LOL
She did great and then I would almost have her in my lap showing her the brilliance of the night lights below.
I asked her what her favorite smell was, her favorite fragrance, and for the first time in my life...
I had the experience of someone unable to answer me right away!
FINALLY
SARA DOLAN FROM MN FINAL ANSWER?
POTATOS
hahaha
Sara have a great time in Naples kiddo, and have the best life,
remember you have to breathe, to get up in the air
in order to see the splendor below
so breathe in the favorite fragrance of mashed potatoes
then
blow out the candles!
LOL
Life is such a beautiful gift always!
Don't BLINK~~~
AND
on board was on
Soldier.
I thanked him for his service.
And
in my heart as I watched him take his seat back in row 23
I felt so sad for a long time during the flight
and
then I felt a bit a "mad"
...
Maybe it was pain from  my back that was increasing by the minute
or maybe
it was being tired
or
maybe
<>
BUT
not one person in first class
offered
him to switch seats
NOT ONE
gave that American Soldier their seat
from MN to Tampa last night.
And
I was upset about that all the way home.
And oh how I had wished
that I had a seat in first class last night
just so I could insist
that this
Solider
sit there
and enjoy a bit of comfort
as I could tell
he is preparing to ship out
and
defend this country
and all of us.

May the Creator bless you Soldier
and
as I told you last night in MN
I appreciate you, I thank you
and
I want you to take BEST CARE OF YOU
AND
COME HOME SOON AND SAFELY.

The fire is burning brightly this morning
the sage is fired up
with thoughts on the wind to all
I wish you all that you dare to dream.

Walk in BEauty
DRSES
author of
Healing Heartaches,
Stories of Loss and Life



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your words about the soldier on the plane...were very moving to me...Bless you, for your thoughts on wishing you had a first class seat for him...Sherry, you are a first class act! Penny

Irene M said...

Morning ! I have been without Internet/Phone/Cable TV service all morning.
Back on now and just read today's update.
I love your stories within stories, the blessings you receive just because you are YOU,
the cast of characters you attract along your journey. You are one of a kind, Sherry.
I am also glad that you travel and share yourself, your knowledge, wisdom, love, compassion and self with everyone open to receive you. Prayers to Japan and all involved
Bless us all with the safety we have today.
I am sure and FIRM, too.

Anonymous said...

DRSES what beauty you create around you. Your message is loud and clear. The soldier what a wonderful gift you gave him by just speaking to him and shaking his hand. He will remember your kind words and that will keep him safe. I loved the answer to the smell, potatoes. That is cool. I thought what if someone would ask me that question what would the answer be? After great thought I am going to say I love the smell of a Vanilla candle. Of course we all love the smell of fresh flowers blooming in the yard. My heart and prayers go out to all of the people affected by this disaster in Japan and all of the other places. I cant imagine what life would be like during and after that disaster. My prayers are with them, the soldier and all of our policemen and women. To all people I pray you will respect and love the USA. Thank you DRSES.

Anonymous said...

GLAD YOU ARE BACK HOME SAFE AND SOUND FOR THIS PICTURE PERFECT WEEKEND. SUN SHINING, BLUE SKY, TEE SHIRT AND SHORTS THE ORDER OF THE DAY!
ENJOY.

Anonymous said...

I had a delayed reaction to your words yesterday at Compasion Fatigue. The best way I can describe it is that it's like the delay reaction when eating really good spicy food. Not the type that is so hot that it immediately burns your mouth. It's more like the spicy food that tastes good and then while savorying it comes the heat. Thank you for coming to MN...even though you thought it was cold. To us it was a heat wave & I didn't have to wear my winter coat. Glad you made it home ok.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your words today. Your thoughts are very uplifting. I am sure you could not know how many people read your posts. Many are given hope along with a moment of joy. Thank you from one of the many...

Kelly 2 Wolves said...

Always the best Sissy! Many lessons to be learned maybe someone will hear that! can you affford to give up a little comfort so someone else can have some ! Can't wait till We talk !Love on the winds girl arm and arm ! whens your next travels going to start ! Love to all!

Anonymous said...

hellooooooooo.
welcome home.......
welcome home to me too ! I have not
had a second of time all week to come home,
here,
to read your wonderful words... feels like
I have been away sooooo long..
I must say, I feel as if I have traveled
by your side, in your shadow, as I read of
your travels... love the stories and the multi
messages..
I was , once upon a day, not very long ago,
also given a small, smooth stone by a woman
who has shown me how to be a rock when I thought I would never breathe again...
I am still inspired daily by her words...
wickedcool..
hope you get your back back to feeling
Aokay..
hugging my angel ♥,
sign me. A.