MS> you better run, cos' we are HERE, A CURE IS ON ITS WAY WITH THE MONIES WE BE RAISIN

Laura

Decked out

yesterday morning

48 degrees in Florida

and when we drove 20 minutes

it was

47 in Oldsmar!

WE' BUSTED SUDS at

"STEAK N SHAKE"

TO

WASHOUT

MS

ONCE AND FOR ALL

WE WANT THE CURE

NOW

Good morning morning and

Happy MONDAY

yep I said it

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!

It's time to dance on desks, like my friend

Joey Graff says~

time to get your

attitude of gratitude on

RIGHT HERE

RIGHT NOW!

How bout' that Laura in her poncho?

Quite spectacular don't ya think?

We thought so... it was a remarkable day

in oh so many ways.

There were so many moments that

literally took our breaths away...

They might just bring a tear or twenty to your eyes, so better get your kleeenex ready just in case!

I know that you want to know all

so

I'll just take the time to tell ya

while hoping with all  HOPE

that you will

dig in your pocket in these

uncertain and hard times

finding your coins from that jar

and

contribute to

MS

helping us to

raise some more dough

for

MS research and end this disease!

lauraroorda@yahoo.com

drop her a note and ask how and who to make that check out to!

Of all the days ... it was 48 degrees yesterday morning when we ventured out after a week of "in bed" misery of the "bug"

Off to wash cars? How crazy is that I ask...

So, on the way to

Steak n Shake we did notice an automated car wash

where for four quarters you could get your car washed with one of those wand things.

Thinking ... I asked my cohort in crime didn't she think it a grand idea, if while folks gave their contribution to the cause and their keys... they could be eating in the

Steak N Shake

and we could take a quick ride to that car wash

deposit 4 quarters

have the car done

and be back

before you know it!

No need to get wet, no need to kill ourselves or

catch pneumonia!

hahaha

Yep, we all thought it brilliant,

until realizing

folks are not real keen to parting with their keys!

Most preferring to watch 4 or 5 grown ups' break their backs while freezing and washing their cars,

while smiling

like cheshire cats.

Dratz, it could have been a fabulous idea!

I was intially amazed upon arriving at ye olde

Steak N Shake that the temperature had

actually dropped a degree!

Oldsmar

47 degrees

OK, need to talk to Andrea about the weather

as soon as she arrives was my first thought to self!

Must have her 

"spirit talk to Jaren,we must have it warmer than this"!

Yep that was my thinkin as I was putting the

"butt warmer" on in the car!

{OK Jaren, listen.. can ya make it sunny and bring on the heat kiddo from the other side,

I KNOW you hang out here alot... so ... let's get busy ok?}

Meanwhile as we prepared for an

OUTSTANDING

day, Shauna was out there in 

Texas

having her first training day on that

bike of hers

So

she and Laura were texting

their love

and

good luck to each other.

Now this mornings

page

is

filled with some remarkable blessings,

so do not get lost.

Pay attention, and you too will receive some amazing gifts of the possibilities

of

the many and tremendous

"gifts"

from here and

the other side

and

the

amazing grace that is yours

that can be

rejoiced

within self and

a community of caring.

Those who have read

Healing Heartaches,

will know and remember

Jaren and her Mom.

It was Andrea;

Jaren's Mom

who secured

Steak N Shake for this

car wash for MS

She is a fabulous woman who has walked a

trail of tears that began when her precious child,

Jaren died suddenly and tragically in a faulty car roll-over

on

07-07-07

Stay with me here.

Wash Out MS

Car wash

11-07

Dorothy & I arrived at Steak N Shake

at

7:43 AM  notice (7)  and 4+3 = ?  (7)

In the morning as we were setting up,

Andrea arrived, {making a fantastic and shocking entrance, that got our attention I might add) WINK WINK ~

and a joyous reunion was had by all

as

we all caught up

learned that she was leaving soon to go UP

to New England for a week to see her beloved Dad

who has been quite ill

and

now recovering

along with her family and friends there!

STOMP!

Andrea managed to even get us a few volunteers to assist in holding up signs announcing the car wash;

Laura's mom and Dad arrived to have their car washed

and

then to pitch in to help us.

All of a sudden

we looked to see

Chris Vitale

drive up!

Chris is a Warrior of this page

a

Breast Cancer Survivor

who has recently returned from her trip to NY

her first check up since a double mastectomy

and

she is

CANCER FREE

STOMP

We hugged, laughed and

caught up! She's waiting to buy a new computer since hers "blew up" she says, and will then re-join the warriors here on this page. She sends her love to all!

And

Chris washed cars; along with our new friends/volunteers,

Andrea bringing us coffee/water and being sure we were

A-OK

AND

We looked up to see

Jean Limongello pull up

in a 3 month old new car

with

500 miles on it

shining like when the sun hits a diamond

and

she wanted us to wash it!

Giving us a crisp $20 for our efforts ~

Jean is a retired hospice nurse

 of

25 (2+5= 7)years

and I proudly call her my friend.

I introduce Jean to Andrea:

[It went like this]

"Andrea, I've been wanting you to meet my friend Jean Limongello. Jean is the

Chapter President of

The Compassionate Friends

Organization.

The group I told you of for parents, grandparents, siblings of those who have had a child who has died in New Port Richey.

Jean's beloved son Duke was murdered in Vegas,

 and the trial keeps getting postponed. She is the one you send the photo of Jaren to for the

COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS

WORLD WIDE CANDLE LIGHTING

DECEMBER 12, 2010

7 PM (notice the time of the world wide candle lighting)

http://www.tcfpascocounty.org/

(to submit a photo of your child in the area and inquire about the directions/attending)

and then:

"Jean, this is Andrea, she is the Mom of Jaren who died on

07--07-07

in a horrific car accident.

You read about her in

Healing Heartaches."

During this introduction, Jean's car was being washed.

After this introduction;

they exchanged hugs, and spoke as two women who shared a bond or were members of a secret society, each having "the look" that only those who have walked that walk know so intimately.

Andrea will submit a photo of Jaren;

Jean will look for the email, will hug the many that walk through that door

on

12-12

around 6:15 that special evening of remembrance

of

precious children from the littliest to

those who were grown but

all

gone to soon.

BUT

this year

It will be held on Jean's  beloved Dukes' birthday.

It will be yet another layer of an anniversary of

painful loveliness along a journey that is arduous

and at times

dark,

sometimes filled with the laughter of memories

but through the rough, the good, the tears and time

support

belief

and

great care

the flame has continued to burn brightly

with

HOPE

But, yesterday two women met at a car wash, being held to wash out MS

where Jean knew Laura from hospice... Laura having worked at hospice for 17 years now, a warrior with MS.

Jean coming to provide support to Laura,

meeting Andrea a woman who has lost a daughter tragically, connecting providing and receiving support ...

mother to mother both adjusting to the light

differently than ever before

brought together

by giving to "other"

and

stepping outside of "self"

receving so much

to feed the fire that

will allow the light to burn brighter

within.

and

in those precious moments

we had the ultimate connections

of greater purpose

of connections

of community

Jaren Gasse

Jaren was a force to be reckoned with while here,

a free spirit, a loving child, sister, and friend.

and

she still is here with a strong presence differently now, but is a force to be reckoned with

in the Next Place too!

A powerful spirit

filled with light, love and tremendous energy

as she lets her Mom and others know

she is but a heart beat away

often

oh so very often

in remarkable, brilliant and effervescent ways

always and all days

and

11-07 at the car wash

her presence was felt all day long!

Well

you know how there is always

"one in every crowd"?

Well the car wash was no exception to that rule.

There was a Mr.

"Joe flash cool" who drove up in his 7 foot tall

Black SUV

I don't even know what kind it was

but

trust me when I tell you

IT WAS HUGE...

PLAIN OUT HUGE

AND

I COULD HARDLY REACH THE TOP OF THE DRIVERS WINDOW.

So, Mister "too cool for words" hops down out of the truck wanting to get it washed and to

SUPPORT OUR MS FUN-RAISER

while whining like a puppy of the cold

in his "too cool shorts" drinking his

Starbucks coffee and watching us ...

WE, All in Warrior mode, we took on his

"Too cool gas guzzling SUV" and his cool self

with our great fun attitudes!

I even engaged him and his sneezing fit self and whining. We kidded him about being "cold and wearing his shorts, blessing him with each of his little sneezes; poor baby that he was."

 Blessing him more than 10 times I am sure, just me alone. Now that was just spiffy of me don't ya think?

So

much later as we are done making that "huge thing" shine for "Mr Little Cool - the whine machine"

I go to collect the dough, while my fellow warriors were hanging the wet towels, and going to the next vehicle waiting.

He hands me a

$20.

I say

"thanks for supporting MS

and

helping us raise money for research!

HE SAYS:

" I need change"

ehem

"Excuse me?"

"I need change" he says!

I say:

"OK need $5?"\

He SAYS:

" You wish, I need $15!!!"

Incredulous,

I say

"Are you kidding me?"

So I give him $15 and say:

"Thanks for helping to find

a cure

for

MS."

(I'm still thinkin' are ya kiddin me here") as I watch, and bid so long to:

"LittleMan Joe Cool" climbs up in the big SUV

and

happily and most merrily drives away

while

I am still standing and shaking my head

ARE YOU

KIDDING ME?

haha

There is always "ONE" in every crowd.

[Bet Jaren has a ball with him and that big ole truck finds a mud hole soon] LOL

Right afterwards, a lady drives up in a little bitty car

that is already clean

gets it washed

gives me$ rolled up in my hand.

Right afterwards, with a most serious expression... she asks,

 "Who is Ms. Cure and why are you raising money?"

I was dumbfounded when it really hit me she what she was asking!!!

She thought we were raising money

for a lady, Ms. Cure

and just wanted to meet her and know a bit about "her"...

Trying hard to not laugh, and not choke...

 I explained, 

after getting my breath,

"See that funny looking woman there that looks like a banana in that poncho?" She said, "yes?"

I said, "Well that is Laura, and she is the face of MS, multiple schlerois, and today we are doing this car wash in her honor raising money for

MS

for research to find a cure for

MS!"

With that she burst out laughing and said,

"Aren't I silly? I thought is was someone named

Ms. Cure! Wow! I'm even more glad I stopped now

I know a few people with MS, so I think this is great

and

Laura looks fantastic. Glad to help!"

So when she left, I looked at the money she gave me

$27 rolled up

The little man in the big truck just disappeared from my thoughts after that!

Isn't that a great story? I kinda like it that

Laura is now "Ms Cure", I like it alot!

I feel sure Jaren sent her

to remind us of the reason we were there

and

to restore HOPE

and to balance

the

Little man

with the

big TRUCK

and

then

I hear and see someone you all know!

Here comes

Irene/ICESCREAM/FIRM from this page

with her friend from Jersey

Dolly~

They drove all the way From Siesta Key

just to encourage, to hug everyone

and

to join in our community of

care

of support

and

loving connections.

NO

car wash

just cash from both of them

and

laughs and pictures, and more laughs and hugs.

With Andrea  checking on us,

 sharing a story or 7

and

her staff coming out long enough for a car wash.

Her friend

Julie bringing her children to hold signs

to help, Julie herself joining in our

family of  choice

bonding quite well

as

if we had all travelled similar paths before;

must be that pass of loss I'm thinking.

She too appears to be a warrior of great strength.

Seems many have had a story of loss during the day.

Julie stood on the corner with signs and in a poncho like Lauras' for hours on Tampa Road, beckoning.

Only later to return with her car to be washed.

It was then I found out she had worked until 4:00AM and had returned just hours later to help and was due back to work in the afternoon. She had gone without much needed sleep just to help US!

But then,

she returned again

with yet another vehicle for us to wash!

Each time with goodness in her heart

and cash in her hand.

THank you Julie, and your children for the kindness, compassion and joy. She is a great friend of Andrea.

So at the end of it all

We hear from Shauna out there in Texas

and her first day of training on that bike of hers

for the April

MS150 she will be riding in.

TODAY

SHE RODE

77 MILES

Are you paying attention now?

We are counting money:

We made:

$377.

(noticing anything yet?)

There was

.43 in change  4+3= ___ (7)

There was:

(7) 10 dollar bills

(7) 1 dollar bills

Getting cold chills/messages of anything???

Hello?

Are you feeling me here!~

It started out in

Oldsmar when we arrived at

Steak N Shake

at

47 Degrees

After the hysterical laughter upon these discoveries and

sharing all with Andrea

who

said

she had asked Jaren to make this day a success

and good weather, as she "whipped that car of hers into the parking space she was listening to

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

the special version that played at Jaren's service

A daily ritual for her on her way to work! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xsrhH3Hh8E&feature=more_related

Perhaps this fueled the success of the day!

we were all laughing and crying so much

I googled the weather

in

Oldsmar FL

and Laura and I both said,

"I will bet ya anything it is 67 degrees now, wouldn't that just be the insane and

really put the icing on the cake?"

After looking at each other and with others around the table,

and intense gratitude of all that had happened

during that special day

we almost screamed for

Andrea in the restaurant

as

she came to us grinning and wondering why we were laughing like crazy;

we showed her our find

on the phone

OLDSMAR FL, currently ... 67 DEGREES

HIGH for SUNDAY... 75

And

as I told you

Laura's brother works for

Home Depot

and

they are matching funds for

MS

that he receives

so

$377x2= 754 (see the 7) 7+5=12+4=[16]

1+6

=

[7]

Oh my... with amazing grace

I am telling you now

we were crazed, we were blessed!

STOMP

Have a day filled with joy, with peace

with goodness

and please

do not

block the blessings

The fire is burning brightly, the embers are HOT

sending thanks

 and

HOPE

and

great gratitude 

on the wind to all

to all that lent their HOPE and

that helped us yesterday,

to warriors and survivors everywhere

with the deepest desire

that the thoughts and stories found here

walk with you

and

illuminate your heart

and

lighten your spirit always and in the dark months!

Walk In Beauty

DRSES

http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/

Thank you Andrea, for all that you are

and

thank you for sharing Jaren with all of us!

STOMP

MS

you better run, you might as well just go on and leave now

WE are on you...

WE are comin on strong

AND

We will NOT fail

Laura, we are with you and 400,000 others

with this disease,

it has out stayed its welcome,

hell who are we kidding

IT HAS NEVER BEEN WELCOMED

and it is time

past time

for it to be gone.

Montel Williams is after it too

along

with the many that ride, the many that run

the many that have said

MS SUCKS

and

A CURE IS ON ITS WAY.

So today my dears,

STOMP

Stand UP

and know

We are blessed

We have each other, no one battles alone

We are together in this.

Warriors like

Laura, Shauna, Dorothy, Grandma Edith and her muffins, Mitch, Andrea, Jean, Judy, John, Julie and her kids, Emerson, Irene, Chris, Ashley, Glenda, Montel and 400,000 with this disease

and

thousands of others riding, running and researching and doctoring to restore quality of life

and control to those who are diagnosed

making sure that although they may have MS

MS does NOT have them.

Folks are

wearing their warpaint

"It's ON"

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