I remember meeting my friend Linda for the first time as we stood next to each other in line, waiting to register at the old high school in Stony Plain. We were both new to the area and didn't know anyone. It was the beginning of a new friendship which very quickly grew to include a great group of friends lasting throughout our high school years and beyond.
Linda and I remained friends for many years after high school. Important life events like marriage, children, divorce and illness, we weathered it all and then unfortunately drifted apart. I'm not even sure what the reason was, but after a chance encounter during Covid we were given a chance to reconnect.
We have been able keep in touch these past 2 years through combined effort on both our parts as we work towards developing our newfound friendship. In early 2023 Linda was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Unfortunately she is much too familiar with cancer with this being the 3rd time she battling the disease. After some challenges and side effects from her chemo drugs she found a treatment that worked and tumours began to shrink, making it through Christmas, as was her wish, surrounded by family.
The chemo drug has now stopped working and the tumours are growing again requiring a change in medication which after one treatment put her in the hospital for 10 days due to all of the side effects. Linda has now made the difficult decision to stop the drug protocols due to the extreme side effects she experienced. While talking to her recently about her decision, I can see she is not giving up. Instead she is focused on spending time with her family and grandchildren and enjoying quality of life.
During a visit this week Linda mentioned she is struggling with a request from her children. Her daughters have asked that she write them each a letter and having very little experience with writing she is finding even just the thought of this very difficult.
My mom had written a letter to her family and friends before she passed so I have some experience and understanding of what the girls might be looking for in a letter. As I talked to Linda about my own experience and my evolving journey with blogging, I found I was able to give her some helpful advice to get her started. I know it can be challenging to put thoughts and feelings onto paper and to get started. I showed her how to break it down into point form, considering each of their personalities, how they have grown as children into adults, spouses and mothers, while expressing the love and joy of past, present and future.
We discussed how expressing herself in a letter can provide an ongoing connection for years and generations to come. I also mentioned writing with intention can be a powerful catalyst in strengthening the relationship her children have with each other after she is gone. Linda keeps a notebook close to her and as we talked she would pick it up from time to time and make notes. At one point she even said "thank you teacher". And in this moment I felt the ongoing value of the IHC requirement of blogging. And I was grateful for my efforts over the years that helped me to provide encouragement and wisdom to a friend in need.
Totals
Push ups & Sit ups: 900/8140
Hand form: 3/136
Weapon form: 6/126
KM: 18/232
AOK: 26/277
Sparring: 0/33
Blogs: 2/11
Yoga: 30min/6 hrs
Tai Chi: 13/139
MM:24/190
Wow this is a beautiful blog, and the line about “thank you teacher” really hit me, like how we bow to eachother in the kwoon, but someone bowed to you outside of the kwoon where there is almost no precedent for that sort of acknowledgment, it realky shows that you are bringing your kung fu, and your teaching, out into the world! Well done!
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