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!
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!
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!
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
