Dear Friends,

I hope this blog finds you all well.   It has taken me some time to write this one, only because I can’t seem to get started.   This blog site is very special to me.  Over the last so many years, I was debating if I should continue it.  However, I have made a decision to officially close this site.  However, one final page.

The premise of this site was to honor my sister Karen, and bring awareness to MSA – Multiple System Atrophy – the disease that she carried for 19 years.  We lived in two different Provinces – my sister was in Ontario and I was in BC.

Since the begining of this site, in 2018, I posted 75 blogs (now 76) however in the last so many years, only a few.  Post January 2021 when my sister Karen died, it felt challenging for me to write in this space.   Prior years,  when she could no longer eat, move or talk, it was an outlet I used often, to stay connected to her.   When I would write, I could feel her with me.   Many would read her my blogs, even the care aid workers at St. Vincent Hospital, where my sister resided for 10 years, would read them to her.  Especially during the COVID days.

I have shared so many personal stories in these blogs.   Stories relating to:  Sisters.  Connections.  Travel.  Solo Travel.  Relationships.  Frienships.  Marriage.  Girfriends.  Siblings.  Children.  Divorce.  Parenting.  Love.  Death.  AND LIFE.

One evening,  I will pour a glass of wine, and read all my past blogs.  My experiences, my stories,  my growth.   I have never gone back and read any of my blogs.   Often, when I would hit “PUBLISH”, (not even spellchecking oops) I would be filled with so many emotions.   So yes, my blogs are very much in the moment.   I would feel so nervous and excited all at the same time.   Nervous, because at times I was sharing many raw emotions and feelings.   But I always hit “publish” because I was doing something that I have always loved to do.  Story telling.

Writing this blog site kept me not only connected to my sister Karen, but to so many of you.    I wrote these blogs with so much of my heart, often with laughter and tears, all combined into one emotion.

I am not done sharing stories.  Life IS about connecting with each other.   I will move forward on a new platform.  Not sure when or what or where but I always like to give myself a challenge.  There is so much in this world, that needs to be talked about.

“There is beauty in vulnerabilty.  It is where the honesty, courage, and genuine connection begin.”

Of course, being a Death Doula,  I have interest in talking about Death.  And when you talk about Death, you inevitably find yourslef talking about life.   We as a culture, need to talk more about it.  I want to be a catalyst for people to be ok to talk about Death, Dying, Aging and LIVING.

So yes, as I wrap up this site…..

To my daughter Jenna, I love you.  You are the most precious gift that life has given me.   I know my plan was to continue this site in your honor but I thank you for understanding that this site was for your Auntie Karen.   I am so proud of the young woman you have become.  You make me smile every single day.   You have an adventurous spirit, and that spirit will guide you to so many wonderful experiences.  Always say yes to challenges that are outside of your comfort zone.  If it feels scary and exciting all at the same time, do it!!!

To Carter & Samantha, I love you both.  Losing my sister, your mom, changed my world, but loving the two of you has given me another way to keep her close to me.   You are both my surrogate kids, a part of my heart, and a connection to your mom.    You will both always have a very special place in my heart.

To all who read my blogs and stayed with me on this journey –  I love you.   THANK YOU for the support and for sharing this space with me.  I know my sister touched many people, and that makes me smile.   My sister was a social being right till the end, who thrived on connection.  This site, and the love that so many of you showed, really helped her along the way.

To my sister Karen, I love you.  I feel you with me every single day.  How different my world is without you.  Your journey towards death taught me so much about so many things.  I am a different person from when I started to write in this blog site.  My love for you lives on in the memories that I carry, the stories I share, the people I love, and the way I choose to live my life.

Just because you died, doesn’t mean that I don’t feel your love every single day.  It is just different.

I will miss you forever, and I know that our souls will reunite.

I love you,

Kathy

ps.

I am down to my last couple of nights in Sechelt.  I was just dancing to Fleetwood Mac, looking out at the ocean.   Feeling so much PEACE.  Thank you all so much xo

Some of my favorite moments since last post in March 2025 in 2025…

Hawaii….

 

 

Kelowna….

Raft Cove….

Sault St Marie…

Christmas and holidays with the kids.  What a great way to end AND start the year….

And now,  here is to an amazing 2026, and still more to come……

January 2026, business trip to Montreal tied in with spending time with my family and a train ride to Quebec City….

 

I spent 4 days in Cache Creek, BC – I kept saying, what a weird little place this town is ha but I loved the uniqueness, the natural beauty, how this was a part of BC that I hade never seen.  Carter, congrats to you and the lovely Shyama with your new home.  What a special visit that was with you, Shyama and her ENTIRE (haha) family xo I loved every moment.

The Greek Islands with two (Mario & Paul) of my favorite people….

 

5040 hike, Vancouver Island…

Dave Matthews Band celebrating Kerri’s milestone birthday xo

AND A FEW OF MY FAVORITE PICS FROM THE YEAR, RANDOM, BUT THE BEST NEWS AT THE TOP XO 

Samantha, what a year for you AND your mom.    My sister would have been a Grandmother.  Gulp.  These are the occassions that are so very difficult.   Keep feeling her love inside of you.  She would have loved that little Miss Karsen to the moon and back xo

 

I offically moved back in my house, after being a local Nomad for 2 years, 3 months and 7 days.  However these last 6 weeks I have been on the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt, assisting my good friends while they travel, with their home, cat Peesh and aging (as Papere would say, “I am reaching my expiry date) wonderful parents.  I work remotely in BC so it really is a win win for us all.  I have had the most incredible time and some wonderful visits with friends who live here, and visiting.  And two fun work events in Vancouver.   I will be travelling home to Vancouver Island this week.  Back to my ebike, paddlebaord, weekend and daily hikes / walks – continuing my ocean dips as often as I can (I don’t like the wind lol) but yes, life is good xo

Some pics from the last 6 weeks, feeling so very grateful for my life xo 

 

THANK YOU XOXOXO