Oklahoma Thank YOU, and Good Mornin FT Worth Texas!

Thank you

Oklahoma

for your lovely welcome

your two days

of such remarkable

people!

This is what I saw as I looked up leaving the parking lot rushing to make the plane after yesterday speaking to a fabulous

group of folks of Tulsa!

GRATITUDE AND THANKS

over the tops of trees!

WOW!

I sure hope to return

next year or sometime

to

Oklahoma City

and Tulsa

and the many beautiful areas of Oklahoma

where I was honored to spend two days

speaking to some fantastic

professionals providing services to the communities there!

Leaving Oklahoma City

I did make sure

to

find

The Oklahoma City National Memorial

and

it was worth the hunt and find.

I stood on that sacred ground

filled with profound amazement

and

found that my face was wet

in the 107 degree weather.

I sat on the grass near one of the chairs

there,

I stood at the reflecting waters

and

I was filled with spirit.

I ached for those who died

on that day in 1995

when terrorism

hit Oklahoma City

and

I wept for those who were killed

and

the ones who were left behind

along with the community

that continue

to come.

The entrance way on each side has chain link fence there, with teddy bears, license plates, notes, personal effects, USMC, US Army T Shirts,

candles, flowers,

all attached to the chain link fence,

some new,

some old,

all there untouched though.

All honored as sacred there.

To stand still there, to walk there,

to remember

to honor

is to know you have entered sacred ground.

To enter there is to recognize

that we should never ever

FORGET

and

that many will live on.

The chairs are remarkable, their beauty stunning and haunting

each powerful

almost speaking to your soul.

THE CHAIN LINK FENCE on each side of the entrance

Entering the

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Standing at the edge of the

Reflecting Waters

the Chairs on the Right

with tears streaking my face

as I felt the power of this sacred place.

I am so blessed that I took the time to come here

after a day of spending time

with many who were here that day

to offer and provide care to survivors

and those left behind grieving their losses

now

living differently than ever before

a city that is filled with lovely people.

In the front of each chair

etched

is the name of each person who died that day.

Seeing this in person

is more than remarkable; more than breathtaking,

it becomes so very personal

and

heart bending

as you remember

and

you are filled with spirit and grace in this sacred place.

You want to stop at each chair

to pay your respects, to linger, to absorb all that is there

and

that was captured in the honoring.

It is a place of honor and grace

built from tragedy.

Before I realized it

I had stayed so long that I knew I would

really be late getting to Tulsa!

But I arrived safely and that was all that mattered.

And we had a fabulous day there

with more OK folks that were just great

and

the laughter filled the room mixed with tears

and

the intstallation of thought and validation

that the work being done by them is hard

as we spent a day together,

before

I had to rush like the wind

to make a flight to Texas!

GOOD MORNING

FT WORTH TEXAS!

I arrived last night late

and was greeted

here at the Hilton in Fort Worth

exhausted by rushing

and by the American Airlines

boogie.

I was met here by a young man named

Jacob "Million"

and he was a kind as kind can be!

What a wonderful asset to the Hilton he is

and

before I knew it,

he had offered to print my boarding pass for tonight

had hooked me up with a car for the ride to the airport for tonight, had arranged for my 6am wake up,

then took my bags to hold

while I headed for the little place to grab a bite to eat!

What a delightful young man he was

and

oh how I loved the extra mile and his smile mixed with

service and kindness!

The view out my window this morning

is a HUGE SIGN

that says

"COORS" along with a parking lot

and

the day holds promise of being with Texans

in the professional caregiving arena

from here!

Then it's off to

American Airlines once again

hoping to see Tampa

by 11pm.

NOTE TO SELF:  return to OK City, Tulsa, and surrounding areas, *(hope they invite me back)

haha

Now I hear Tropical Storm Don is headed to Texas

and

an AWOL soldier of the Army who who grew up in Texas

has been thwarted thankfully from another act of terriorism by a gun shop.

He had plans to BLOW UP,

 FT Hood and those there of the military

once again...

Thanks to a tip from the owner of the ammunition shop

he was caught, his plan thwarted.

Blessings to those who serve

and our country, her people

who take a "stand"

to keep us all safe in "OUR country".

OK, so I am turning off the TV

and

the computer!

Time to get busy and set up for those who are coming

to another

PESI/CMI education seminar

on

Compassion FAtigue today

and

it is 6:57am here in a hot Texas!

So here we go,

another day, a brilliant opportunity to have the best day ever.

I see that traffic is horrible in Ft Worth and Dallas this morning

so

I am thinking there will be a few folks who walk in the doors

with a bit of stress after fighting the traffic to get here

but

let's hope the hotel will keep the coffee flowing

and

the day will be one

filled with an attitude of great gratitude!

Wherever you are

Whatever you are doing!

Stay cool if you can,

Take Best Care of you>>> That YOU can do!

Goin to hit 100 today here.

The sage just was lit, and is filling this room and headed your way

with hope and healing ways from my heart to yours.

Walk In Beauty

DRSES

author of

Healing Heartaches, Stories of Loss and Life

www.drsherryeshowalter.com