Columbus Ohio thoughts

Looking down from the

4th floor

of

The Embassy Suites

in

Columbus Ohio

this morning

Good morning

with coffee beside me

and

a safe arrival to Columbus last evening

to the Embassy Suites

where I was greeted with memories

that flooded all my senses

of days long long ago

...

Wearing Red for our Troops today

won't you STAND UP with us!

We'll Stand by you

We Believe in YOU

We Thank YOU.

<>

AND

Tampa and St Petersburg FL

we mourn still

one of our finest in blue.

David Crawford, 25 year veteran

killed

St Petersburg Police Officer

killed.

Now joined the Thin Blue Line.

___________

The Cop Killer has now been arrested

he is a 16 year old

who was carrying a 38 that he bought

"for the helluva it"

and bought it for $140. cash

on the street

was carrying in his waistband,

and the officer motioned him over

to him to talk

and

the kid came to him

reached in his waist band

and opened fire

for no reason.

His parents have been interviewed and tell us

he is a "good kid and this is shocking to them",

They go on to say, the only trouble he has ever

been in is  " a little school skipping" and they ask for "forgiveness for his actions".

I'm certain that Officer Crawford's loved ones feel much better now, aren't you,

as well as those who are protecting and serving our county and community.

<>

Another fine man, a vet, a man with those who love him, just living his life, doing his job, wanting to talk to a kid, who knows about what... now

has joined

THE THIN BLUE LINE

and

Tampa Bay weeps

and

my heart aches

' ' '

And an awakening of thunder in the middle

of the night

and torrential rains here

awakening to black ice and weather warnings

all over the areas

of ice, snow delays around the area

and storm warnings for Ohio

It is 30 degrees

as I look out the window and

recognize the "black ice"

on the pavement.

I wonder how it will impact the many

participants of today's seminar

and I still find I am flooded with memories

of days gone by

and the photo above.

Many thoughts as that photo

is similar for many who have ever

stayed in an

Embassy Suites hotel

and

oh how I do enjoy staying here.

Have spent much time

in that photo in the DC area

dressed as

"Bearly Bear"

loping around, laying on floors

and silently and compassionately

listening to little children

with a diagnosis of

Cancer who would come

to the holiday parties

there at the

Embassy Suites

to be entertained; to see Santa, to eat

and

forget for the day their illness!

They would suddenly see

"Bearly Bear" on the glass elevator

headed down

and would scream their delight

often finding their way to the doors

as they opened

and follow, and pull on the fur

as they hollered

"Bearly Bear I've been looking everywhere for you"

or

"Bearly  Bear Bearly Bear, LOOK AT MY HAIR"!!!

and

The parents would smile, and the day was a mixture

of painful loveliness

as

Bearly Bear would smile and cry at the same time.

While looking for children from last year

and

when they could not be found

ole'

Bearly Bear

would wonder

and

then would pretend that perhaps

they got a better offer of fun for the day.

You would see the bears that had been gifted from the year before;

some had worn fur from chemotherapy treatments

others had on bandages on their heads to signify recent surgeries

or

legs that were bandaged

or recent IV's that had been inserted

in their fur.

Some kids were in remission

and they shared that with an over stuffed bear

and all

ignored the fact that a human was under the costume

funny

the adults ignored that as well!

And when

Bearly Bear was a

"Human"

no one associated who the human was

not the kids, not the adults!

And

The Embassy Suites and staff were the only ones

who knew,

but those were different times...

Now

the Embassy Suites is the Hilton

the staff has changed

and

few folks remember

the magic that was created

for those special children and the adults who loved

them through the most difficult times and journeys

they walked.

But

they were magical times

and magical people.

And when I arrived here safely yesterday,

before the torrential rains came

and the storm warnings came,

it all came back,

and I was filled with gratitude.

Perhaps the thunder that woke me from the deepness of sleep

was the little ones

that were celebrating my memories,

that were celebrating

Bearly Bear

Who knows

it may have been

Walter

riding a "Harley In Heaven"

with

Rolling Thunder

along with those

on

The Thin Blue Line

"from the other side"

thanking me for letting folks know about him

in

Healing Heartaches

and

for thinking about him and the memories of all the children as I came in the doors last night!

The fire is burning brightly and the sage has just been fired up this morning

as

I think of all who know who they are

and

as

I remember the children

Walk In Beauty

DRSES

author of

Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss and Life

http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/