Sunday, June 19, 2011

Carolynn


It's not about waiting for the storm to pass,



but it is to learn how to dance in the rain.










This was Carolynn's favorite quote and she certainly lived by it. Carolynn passed away on Friday afternoon. She would have been 39 next Thursday. Needless to say there is a big hole in the hearts of all who knew her. She was one of the Nurses in our radiology department but she was known by almost everyone in the hospital. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 6 months ago. This picture of her was taken shortly after she was told she had 3-6 months to live. She wanted to capture family pictures while she was still rather healthy and still had her hair so her children would remember what a beautiful and wonderful mother she was.

A few months ago I had posted the journals that I had made for each of her girls. I knew Carolynn would want to write down random thoughts and words of wisdom to each one individually. The youngest just turned one last month and I am so happy that Carolynn got to witness that as well as her first steps.

As I sit here trying to decide on a color of paint for my kitchen it seems so trivial in the broad spectrum of life. I really feel guilty that the most trying thing in my life today is simply choosing a paint color when I know what Carolynn and her family have been through. I am having a hard time finding the justification in all of this. I really wish there were some other circumstances that would wake us up and show us what is really important in life.

I can't think of anything else to post today. My thoughts are with Carolynn's family and I'm not finding the joy in stamping these last few days.