Thank you Grand Rapids, Hello Lansing Michigan!

Let me begin by saying;

it is currently 3am, and I am sitting outside the hotel, with a glass of ice water after once again, doing the

toss and turn and look at the clock!

So, I figured, might as well come on down, and feel the city of Lansing and talk to my readers~

First things first:

I recieved a text from cuz Angie yesterday during a break in Grand Rapids letting me know that mom, aka *(COB) was out of surgery, and was fine... She was released from the hospital as planned and being watched over by her nephew Tony, and was in "la la land" doing fine!

Sure wish cuz Angie, aka "my chauffer" was here on this tour to drive me, and to see first hand and experience the beauty of Michigan and her peeps!

Thank you all for "holding Cob" up yesterday...

I held her up as well and even ordered a delicious

COBB salad for lunch in her honor and it was

YUMMY!!!

Bet she will be hungry today!

Hello COB, time to get your feeling better on,

and

to stay out of docs' offices and be well!

Oh boy are u in trouble by the way, for not letting folks know early about what was happening with YOU.

haha

Oh what a day was had

in

Grand Rapids MI

at the Radisson Hotel!

The clouds of the day welcomed me

there after just a remarkable time

and welcome to Michigan

in Traverse City

where the hospitality of the

Holiday INN,

the Director and her staff,

the views of Lake Michigan, the FOOD,

and the atmosphere

the "cherry" and the "Wallyeye"

were just stunning

but

then those I had the honor to be with

just had me overjoyed!

And

then the trip to

Grand Rapids

and

well, er, ehem... I didn't meet the GM, nor the staff,

but the meal was great...

The view from my bed was of the TV

and the waking each two hours was rather disturbing, but then again,

I was in a comfy bed, so it served as a great reminder each time I woke up,

that I could enjoy the benefits of the bed all over again!

Grand Rapids

when I woke and got my coffee I met a lovely coordinator who drove from

"Lansing Michigan" to Grand Rapids to coordinate and be there for the day!

And set up, got my coffee and went and found the great view of the river, and then

looked up and saw those great clouds above that magnificent weeping willow!

I then said my morning prayer

*which I forgot to share with the

absolutely bombdiggedity professionals of

GRand RAPIDS during the day*

so maybe they are reading this and will now know it!

[Creator, this is a new city, a brand new day. I am filled with gratitude today, and so very excited... Thank you, for the many gifts that you have given me here in Michigan, thank you to PESI/CMI...

Now let's get this day going,

Creator...

use me UP...

*wisper*, just take you time!

Wado, *thank you* for all our relations,

I am tickled to life, to be here!

><

So with grand memories of a day spent in

Grand Rapids,

I arrived safely in

Lansing, after signing copies of

Healing Heartaches,

after a great day with so many

who participated and shared openly with each other as they

dug deep within addresssing issues of

Compassion Fatigue

while exploring tools

that will help them to restore

the passion for their work in their lives.

A few krumpled kleenexes were found

many laughs were shared

and the sounds of group laughter

during profound stories of the horrors and traumas and hard work being done by so many was welcomed into the hearts and brains of each that were there.

And oh such beautiful people were there;

those who are social workers, psychologists, nurses, those working in probations, with troubled teens, abused women and children, those working in trauma, in the schools, in hospice, and in homes...

One was pregnant and going to have her baby in four weeks, and oh how we tried to "induce" her and entice her to have that precious baby during the day,

just so we could "spring into action"

and

say

"we did it"

WE BIRTHED A BABE DURING A SEMINAR ON COMPASSION FATIGUE!!!

Now wouldn't that have just been a hoot???

We laughed and said, can't you just hear it now,

those who would scream and say,

"oh lawd, I don't know nuthin bout birthin no babies",

but not to fear, she was sitting right behind three nurses,

we had social workers, psychologists,

and

more than 670 years of collective experience

in the

professional helping professions in the room ~!~

We had her covered

in my way of thinkin~!

WINK

I was again honored as

several folks told me they were tempted to show up here in Lansing today

just to spend the day

doing this all over again,

hearing me speak again

and taking it in, knowing that it would further help them

and

empower them

in their work.

I am just over the top

feeling the love of Michigan and

those who care for so many !!!

AND

that babe is still within the Mama, 4 weeks til the birthin!

Sure hope she sends me a note to let me know that the babe was born with a dimple,

as she allowed me to bless the babe

by touching her belly,

and

I told her I was giving the little one a dimple

in the process!

LOL

Thank you, all of you

in

Traverse City

Grand Rapids,

it was truly an honor

to be with you,

I hope our paths will cross again!

HELLO

LANSING!

The home of

Michigan STate...

Just think, the place where Magic Johson played basketball and captured the eyes and the admiration of basketball fans!

Needless to say, Kamryn (the next MJ)

will be insane

when he gets this jersey

from

"da Godmother"!

Here we are again...

The Radisson at the Capital

at Lansing MI

I'm getting pretty good at taking you along

on these virtual trips aren't I?

BUT

hang on to your coffee, cos once I got here

it was not too long after that when I gazed out my window at the river

and a statue wondering what I was looking at,

I soon became

weak in my knees!

I'm on the 5th floor

oops my pic only shows the three floors!

BUT

I think there are 11!

I am facing this side

it is the "river view"

and behind is

the

Capital View!

Quite a lovely city from what I can tell as I set out in hot pursuit of Kamryn a

Michigan State jersey!

That has become our "tradition" now on my travels

as he is quite the athelete and is jersey crazy!

The jerseys are "real" if the Godmother can get them in the actual state,

and

if by chance I should encounter a real player

or have access to an autographed football

basketball

or similar

oh boy am I really  somebody then!!!

So

needless to say

I am on the look out for

MIchael Jordon #23

"the man"

at all times

and

all cost!!!

Anyone out there with connections to him

or

any football/basketball players and autographs

please let me know!

*signed a desperate Godmother"!

LOL

So now I can tell you,

here I sit at 3am

and

now I will share with you

the

remarkable power of

Lansing Michigan

and

this place that I now am again staring at

across the street from where I now sit.

As I speak across the country,

I let folks know of that day

on

September 11,2011

and

the day that forever changed our lives.

I was a first responder at the Pentagon,

and proudly served, lives forever changed,

and

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

9/11

as soon we will again find ourselves

standing on the anniversary of that day

that the world stood still.

Just yesterday

we talked about the vicarious trauma

and

secondary traumatic stress that was suffered when folks could not remember to turn their televisions off

during 9/11

and

the scenes of that horrid day were played over and over and over

and then played in the nervous systems of those who witnessed it from distances across the globe.

Many of us continue to remember the sights, the sounds, the smells... and there are times when those times may be triggered.

A prime example was that of Sandy and Stuarts recent fire of their home as a result of arson, and the sights, sounds, smells

and seeing the street blocked off when I returned home from a speaking tour on May 21st at midnight and my street was closed.

I immediately flashed back to 9/11 with the sights and smells and the darkness and the soot!

It is remarkable the gifts that Michigan has brought, and the great and most

amazing gift of this day of arriving here.

I looked out my 5th floor window and

saw the river, then saw what looked like a sculpture.

BUT

I could not tell what it was...

So after my getting lost in Lansing,

and

my grand find of the

Michigan State Jersey..

I returned, meeting the most kind

Valet fellow named Jason!

So far the kindest of the folks here at the

Radisson I might just add!

And then I wandered across the street.

Here's where you hold tight to your coffee, grab a kleenex and prepare to "krumple" as Granny would...

There in front of me, was the most

incredible sight...

And I felt myself go

weak in the knees,

I have no idea of how long I was there,

I was lost in time.

MY HEART STOPPED

Tears were falling on my face

and I was filled with

Amazing Grace

I was alone

here

in Lansing Michigan

and filled with

such memories

and

filled with the grace of the Creator

It was truly amazing

IT IS amazing now

A huge Steel Girder

that fell from

The Twin Tower

in New York

on

September 11, 2001

now

here in

Lansing Michigan

in Memory

right here

across the street from where I am staying,

as I prepare to speak

on

Compassion Fatigue

at 0800.

I finally just went and touched it,

and then found my way to sit and place my back

against it, and the tears fell

for the 3,000 lives lost

the many many first responders,

the thousands of loved ones;

the families, children, friends, communites

and

those who ran

to enlist.

The tears fell

for those who have returned in flag draped caskets

who gave all,

for those who have returned with images seared in their hearts wounded warriors

and the families and friends and communites

as they worry

and have sleepless nights.

The tears flowed

in great gratitude

that we are free because our

colors

DO NOT RUN.

That we are a people who gather

in the face of crisis

and

stand UNITED

in times of threat and sorrow.

My tears flowed

in sorrow that we do not do that when the sky is blue

and that we do not back whoever it is sitting in that White House in DC

no matter what,

out of respect,

in order for other countries to see us as

UNITED ALWAYS.

Knowing that the

USA

is

UNITED

in times of great threat

and

great times

NO MATTTER WHAT, WHO OR WHEN.

Perhaps that is why I am awake at this ungodly hour when the rest of Lansing is sleeping,

although I have watched and heard a young man pull up to check in with his stereo blaring, and he had his "drunk on"!

He was rather funny and tried to say hello,

but then had to apologize to me

and let me know

(guess I looked like his priest)

that he was checking in cos' he had been to a stip joint and needed to sleep!!!

Then apologized when telling me

"I love strip joints"!!!

Almost lost it lauging, and told him

no aplogy needed

and

*I do love your music pal, get some sleep*

><

With great gratitude,

I thank you Lansing

for remembering.

Wherever you are today,

whatever you are doing

Go buy yourself a flag,

FLY IT PROUDLY

NEVER FORGET

9/11

or

those who served,

are serving

those who were lost on that day,

those who responded.

STOMP!

And please know:

"I'll STand by YOU"

Just sayin... turn up the volume please~

Don't blink friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU_JL-f0AN8s...

*sure hope I can get my swagga on for this day, cos' I got a feelin, it's goin to be outstanding*

"keep walkin Dr Showalter, keep walking"!

The sage just got lit, prayers goin up for all

with blessings to all... "won't let nobody hurt U"

I'll stand by YOU.

I'll be here til' Friday early morning when I board Delta to Detroit and lay there for an hour then headed home to Tampa!

Should arrive home about 1pm to hug me some four leggeds ... by then maybe the sun will be shining since the liquid sunshine is there now!

*Final note:

I too have been wondering where our Breast Cancer Survivor warrior Chris is... We have missed her ..

So given that our Warrior here Irene, aka "Firm/EyeScream has asked...

How bout it FIRM?

I think you need to seek her out, check on her for us, and get her back on this page!!!

You have her number dearheart, call her and roust her out of hiding for us!

Tell her WE MISS HER

AND TO GET HER WARRIOR SELF BACK!!!

Blessings to all of you

gentle warriors here!

stomp

Walk In Beauty,

DRSES

author of

Healing Heartaches

www.drsherryeshowalter.com