Another Day in Vancouver, Blessings Abound

My Morning View

in Vancouver

What a day it was yesterday!

The Blessings are remarkable,

as I stood admiring the mountains

and the wonderment

lost in thoughts

of taking the stage

at

The Annual Assembly of

American Academy of Hospice

and

Palliative Medicine

and

Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association

I am brought from my thoughts with a voice

that I remember hearing;

"So how do you like Florida"?

I turn my head

and

Look at the most loved young man

Steven Skobel

a dear and treasured friend

that I have not seen

in many many years

from Northern Virginia!

Now my mind is racing, my eyes are feasting my old

friend

and my face is exploding into a grin as big as

tomorrow!

And my brain is still processing the

"So how do you like Florida"

as casually as if he had asked me for a match!!!

We hug, laugh, and both are thrilled to see each

other, particularly since he had only learned the day prior that I would be speaking!

He had purchased Healing Heartaches the day before,

had skipped a session of the conference he said,

settling for an over stuffed chair at the massive

conference center and settling into the book and

found himself crying like a baby!

Steve said

"something made me just walk out here"

and

we both laughed knowing better than that

since there are

oh about 3000 people milling around!

So here we were

two old friends,

both tied by the  bonds of hospice of years

ago,

he then a young nurse,

together we had published together

and

had celebrated our success with

Eileen Dohmann!

Then he had a baby girl

who he would tell stories of

getting home after seeing patients

and put shaving cream on the floor of the kitchen

and they would have a grand

time

just slipping and sliding

and playing

daddy and daughter

having a ball!

NoW?

she is thrilled Daddy is in Vancouver

she is a teenager with full use of

the car while he is gone!

Oh my where have the years gone???

We will have dinner tonight

and

catch up on his journey

whew,

might take a cocktail

at this rate!

Then as I listen

as grand gents of hospice receive distinguished

awards

I am amazed at their lives

and their dedication.

Funny

they were all doctors

and

all

Were Dr Charles ........

Then Dr Sandra Bertam was the first speaker of the

morning; she spoke of art in care of Hospice.

This piece of ART

is outside the Convention Center

and

It is really just like YOU see it!

Orca

As I was listening to Dr Bertram,

I felt a "tap tap tap" on my shoulder.

Quite frankly, I had been very aware of the

presence of Granny around me, and

I was almost afraid to turn around!

Given I had my recent shock

of

old friend Steven Skobel,

I figured

since I had felt the presence and smelled

and sensed
Granny

NOW

I was feeling

"tap tap tap"

while Dr Bertram was speaking...

AND

I was the next speaker...

SO

if I turned around and

IT WAS GRANNY

I knew I would just fall out right then and there

and

be done!

So with great caution,

I turned my head

and came face to face

with

Dr Loren Friedman

(shock)

who I have always adored,

the Medical Director

of that little house that mercy built

up there in Arlington VA

where many of the stories of

Healing Heartaches

were written about!

It was Dr Friedman who I worked with many many moons ago!

And have not seen in many many

I mean many years!

AND

it was his lovely eyes

that I was looking into when I turned my head!

So we kissed and hugged

as Dr Bertram was speaking,

he said,

"I love you"

and looks great,

he then left and went back to wherever he was sitting!

AND

I haven't found him since!!!

I then found that I was flooded with many memories of our times together,

times of great fondness

times of wonderment in work

and

I admire him and so hope our paths reconnect while here in Vancouver.

When introduced to the stage,

I found my way across it...

and looked out to a sea

of hospice folks

from across the globe.

I let them know I was honored to be there,

acknowledged the doctors receiving their awards

and

then invited them to the book signing afterwards

encouraging them to

TAKE ALL BOOKMARKS

as I am having new one made!

I then asked if they minded,

and

re-introduced myself:

I said,

Given that our esteemed award winners today

are all Dr's and all have the name Charles,

I would like to let you all know who I am:

I

AM

DR CHARLIE SHOWALTER

AND IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE~

The room all were howling,

including our esteemed award winners,

and many times since then

and

at the book signing

many called me

Dr Charlie!!!

The morning ended with folks being

reminded

"they are doing THEIR BEST"

and

We MUST remember

those who walked the walk and talked the talk

from the beginning,

and

"That which is to provide light must endure burning"

by taking BEST CARE OF SELF

There was a book signing afterwards

and

the lovely Julie Bruno escorted me there

(did I mention how huge the Convention Center is)

and

bless her heart

she carried my coat and bag

and

I would hear her

as I paused to speak to those wonderful

people who enjoyed our time together

"Dr Showalter, keep walking, just keep walking"

I think that will stay with me a long time,

"Dr Showalter, keep walking just keep walking"

Thank you Julie my friend

Thank you

AAHPM and HPNA

Thank you to all I have met during our time

in

Vancouver for taking the time

to speak with me

after my address to all

"YOU MATTER BECAUSE YOU ARE YOU"...

WADO

The fire is burning, its embers are hot, prayers on the wind, and thoughts to all

and

sage is being sent through the air of the Pacific Northwest!

STOMP

Walk In Beauty

DRSES

author of Healing Heartaches

http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/

visit

http://www.twowolvescreations.com/