An amazing act of friendship

Today, Katie's best friend forever, Alex shaved her head.


As it turns out she really has quite a lovely noggin.


Regardless, this act of solidarity and support for my wife is non pareil.  Additionally, Alex raised around $5,000.00 for UK Cancer Research.


For one of the few times in my life, words escape me.


I couldn't let the day pass though without some effort to record what her actions mean.  So, I wrote a letter to her children - George and Sofia.  I am sharing it here because it is the most accurate reflection of the deep and abiding respect and love and I have for Alex and indeed for my wife.


Thank you forever Alex.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Dear George and Sofia,

Today, your Mommy did something very, very special.  She did something that I will remember for the rest of my life.  Years from now you may sit back and have a fond remembrance of that time Mommy shaved her head.  And, while the act of cutting off her hair is certainly remarkable I hope you’ll recall the true meaning of what your very special Mom did.

What she did was prove herself to be one of the most rare commodities on earth - a genuine, true friend.  

You will learn, unfortunately, that people such as her are very rare and that many of us will be able to count on the fingers of one hand those people who stood with us through the peaks and valleys, the trials and triumphs, the bitter and the sweet.  

Your Aunty Katie is a very lucky person to have a woman such as your Mom in her corner.  I am incredibly fortunate to have both of these wonderful women as part of my life and I hope beyond hope that many years from now, the four of you will sit down, perhaps with a glass of wine (obviously when you’re much older!) and laugh about the wonderful memories that are created when true friends find their souls bonded as one.

With much love and gratitude,

Uncle Don

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Living intensely

The following is a slightly more expanded version of my last update to Katie's Karma Corps.

Can you recall a time when to escape and re-create your self for a moment that you lit a few candles, turned out the lights and just listened to the sounds of silence?  I am sure you can.  You may also recall that the candles would suddenly gutter and almost extinguish themselves from some sourceless zephyr of breeze.  

That is rather what December 15 was like for Katie and our family.  With the power of our angels supporting us, we approached the post-surgery consult with Dr. Reedijk with hope and a belief that the worst was surely behind us.  We expected that our movement forward might not be as swift and without obstacle as we would wish, but that the road would be relatively smooth.  

Regardless, you’re probably tired of this preamble and wondering what the hell happened.  In a nutshell here it is:  The appointment was not quite what we were expecting, cancer found in 1 lymph node, and we did not get 1cm clear margins around breast tissue (0.3mm clearance). So now Katie  will undergo CT scans and bone scans on December 23 at Mt. Sinai and PMH  then meet with chemo and radiation teams probably at Credit Valley Hospital.

I have written to you before that as you experience this you become familiar with an entirely new and previously foreign vocabulary.  One of the most frequent terms encountered is that this is all just a journey.  Well, I am here to tell you that this journey makes the rape of Nanking look like a slightly raucous Sadie Hawkins dance.  It makes Masada appear as a somewhat difficult to access picnic spot.  This is no journey folks.  A journey is something with romantic overtones that you pursue voluntarily.  This my friends is a forced march to an uncertain future where shock and anger become daily realities.  Where the candle flame of hope does indeed gutter relentlessly.  Where the will to persist is challenged on almost every front.

I noted with sadness the passing last week of Christopher Hitchens.  Whether you agree with some, all or none of his stupendously contrarian views, no one can deny the brilliance of his writing.  I came upon the following quote and it seemed more apt than anything for this period of our life.

“Life on this earth, with all its mystery and beauty and pain, is then to be lived far more intensely: we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. There is nothing more; but I want nothing more.”

Christopher Hitchens

With your help and continued support we will live intensely.  We will cling to the belief that the collective power you provide and the super feisty attitude of Katie will some day lead us to a point where the flames never gutter.  Where the light shines brightly and we feel the warmth of the sun.

Thank you from Katie, Gabriel, Samuel and one very tired old man.   We appreciate you and continue to honour you.  We send you great blessings for Christmas and whatever else you choose to celebrate.

Blow your mind

Ever find yourself looking for something to blow the cobwebs out?  Something to remind you of why we need to fight to protect mother earth?  Images to inspire you and recreate your child-like sense of wonder?  Pictures that define the real meaning of awesome?

Then, please, do yourself a favour and click this link right now.  

I promise you will feel better and you will want to share it with anyone you can imagine who might need a little pick me up or just a moment of genuine inspiration.  

Now this is what I call going to church!

And, thanks to Tony Pickard for sharing this with me originally on FB. 

 http://vimeo.com/30581015

gracehannainc.com updated - again!

I just updated my website and thought you might want to check it out.

Grace Hanna Inc. http://www.gracehannainc.com

Take a look and let me know what you think!

My boys like it.

Gabriel

Samuel

Clanmore Montessori

Clanmore Montessori

Here is the link for Gabriel's school. It will also be Samuel's next fall.

I couldn't more highly recommend this family. Children are the absolute and utmost priority and Gabriel has completely blossomed during his three years (and counting!) with the great teachers of Clanmore.

Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog: Innovation Creates Uncertainty

Leading Blog: A Leadership Blog: Innovation Creates Uncertainty