Click Your Heels

The Land Of Oz

in

Kansas City

"Those magic slippers will take you home. click your heels"

Good Morning it's time for coffee

from my lanai

as I think of my recent trip to Kansas

and oh boy coffee is good.

The trip was great,

the

folks at Comfort Keepers and those I met there

even better!

Stephen Bright, owner

of

Comfort Keepers Ks

and

Janet Hessenflow, Executive Director

Crossroads Hospice of

Kansas City MO

the largest Hospice in the area!

Serving:

KANSAS, MISSOURI, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, TENNESSEE GEORGIA,OHIO 

Janet has been the CEO of

Crossroads Hospice for nine years.

She is lovely and had to leave during the day,

but

had returned to meet me at the reception that followed after hearing from her employee about

Dr Sherry E Showalter

and

to talk with me about speaking at their annual

retreat coming up in June.

We had a lovely chat, a handshake and a hug

as

she let me know of their "satellite offices and told me that they are

the "largest hospice in Kansas".

There motto?

"We Do More to be There When You Need Us Most"

I like that, and she appears to be a woman

that makes that motto a reality.

One one piece of their literature for others it says:

"EXPECT MORE FROM US; WE DO"

To that I say: Bravo Crossroads!

Her employee Karen

was also connected to

Comfort Keepers back in its beginnings as well

and touched my heart as well,

so again

the connections and the circle continues!

Crossroads hospice colors are Green

and I thought it coincidence that she and Karen was dressed alike! I like the fact that in their

brochure it stated

"What makes us different? Quite simply it is the idea of MORE""

Now that's my kinda idea of thinking and of hospice as well!

So, bravo Crossroads, I hope to join you at

your retreat

and to fuel your staff

to talk about the pioneers, the challenges, and

the ultimate of change while

being passionate about doing MORE!

maybe everyone in Kansas needs to wear

Red Shoes!

Yep, everywhere I looked there were folks that were just outstanding and magical...

I clicked my heels

and it was just remarkable

the quality of people I ran into

those professional care givers

in Kansas

who were there,

each extending their hands,

their hearts

to welcome me

to share a story

and

to extend their

heart felt congratulations

to

Stephen Bright and Linda

co-owners

of

Comfort Keepers of KS

on

celebrating 10 years of providing care

in the Kansas City Area

to its community

by

providing care to those

needing care.

Stephen and Linda are not just

"co owners" to a successful business

but

they are also son and Mother

who are business partners and friends!

And they have an

OUTSTANDING STAFF pictured below!

It was no surprise that this staff also had their

very own

tornado for the day

and that Linda

was donning an outfit as

"Auntie Em"

as she is

"RN extraordinaire"

and mentor to all!

Stephen Bright was

the

'Lion' sporting his

very large

"badge of courage"

and of course

is a man who is admired by his staff

and it also appears has won the respect of local vendors who were there along with the community of most.

Stephen is a warrior of gentle spirit and

is "hooked in" to social networking that one has to just shake their head in true amazement wondering if he ever sleeps!

Of course

I got a tremendous kick

at the end of the night that he took me back to my hotel, remembering to "take off his ears"

as the lion,

but as we entered the lounge of the

Embassy Suites

(all of which were very kind to me there)

we entered the lounge,

when a woman sitting there

said to him,

"Hey, that's a great tale !

Stephen then exclaimed,

"OH NO, I FORGOT TO REMOVE MY TAIL"

We both got a grand laugh as the

courageous lion then

took off his jacket and removed his tail

for cocktails

and laid it on the table!

Karen and I at the reception>>> Notice the Green? Another who works at Crossroads HOSPICE and who believes in MORE!  Dratz, I didn't notice if she was wearing Dorothy's red shoes though!  But I did get the opportunity to meet her lovely husband, and I did get a wonderful hug from her, and to be welcomed in a fine fashion by her and so many others! And I am most grateful for that!

AND

I did get to see some old friends as well!

"Why anybody can have a brain. Back where I come from we have universities - seats of great learning - where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts, and with no more brains than you have." Leareerow

"You want a heart? You don't how how lucky you are not to have one. Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable. and remember my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others."

Of course then I met my favorite witch

(remember Wicked?) who is also a

Comfort Keeper! I just loved her and she did so wear her hat so well!

Oh my I met so many there including a lovely woman who is an Elder Law Attorney Karen Weber,who I hugged and hugged for all she does for others! Karen is a bright and beautiful woman and quite a friend to Stephen and Linda as well, I do hope to see her again next time invited to KS.

We just had a wonderful time we did!

"I'll get you my little pretty and your little dog too"

Jeepers, Gypsy and Patches were just so tickled to have me at home, quite a bark festival of greeting I got I must tell you

although they are now having a long morning nap, now used to me being here once again

like I never left them!

Yes, Glenda was there, she too a Comfort Keeper and a "hoot" to be certain,

but don't know how she escaped my camera!

BUT

then again, she has never been the same since the house fell on her sister I'm thinkin!

And as for Dorothy, we all know how sweet she is, and hers were the first shoes you saw,

she too a little sweet comfort keeper

and

she made her own shoes,

"If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard, because if it isn't there,

I never really lost it".

PERHAPS THE MOST PROFOUND QUOTE OF

THE AGES.

To end out a wonderful time of meeting some marvelous Professionals and speaking there,

I was entertained and hugged

even having a song dedicated to me

by "OJT&B" Jazz group

BUKEKA and this "hot jazz band"!

Bukeka let the audience and me know

That she was dedicating this song to

Dr Sherry

which got my immediate attention

and even got me to the dance floor beside her

as she sang a fabulous rendition

of Aretha Franklins'

R E S P E C T!

It was "off the hook"

and

I thank you, I was honored!

Blessings and continued success to you

all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmJ5H7a5Z6I&feature=related

So my dears,

there you have it

Monday morning reflections

and

my best wishes

to all you warriors out there!

they sure did roll out the

yellow brick road

for

Dr SES

Blessings on the winds

for the beginning of a new week

and

reflections of my last week

waiting for the sun to shine

and

time for the next cup of coffee!

The fire is burning this morning, the embers are hot

Sage is beginning to fill the air

with thoughts for all who enter here,

near and far away

I am thinking of you today.

Please hold COB aka Mom

in your heart

as she heads for NC to the Cancer specialist

as once again

Cancer has been detected on two places

and she will be now

facing once again

the gut in knots

and

all that comes with it

until we know she is safe.

Walk In Beauty,

DRSES

author

of

Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss & Life

http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/