Today

Today is the date of the birth of a very special lady.  And a lady she was.  She defined the word.  Today I remember this lady.  This lady, who rarely, if ever, you saw get angry.  This lady who never complained and always had a kind word to spare.  This who always had a smile on her gentle, caring, loving face.  Today I miss this lady.  This lady who held me on her lap and read "The Owl And The Pussy Cat" over and over again.  This lady who showed up at every soccer game no matter how early, how late, or how far away.  This lady who remembered every holiday with a card and a special note.  This lady who shared my love of animals, especially elephants, and would send me a small note just to let me know about the new baby at the Wild Animal Park.  Today I cherish this lady.  This lady I was able to have wonderful memories with.  This lady I was able to grow up the street from.  This lady I had my whole childhood.  This lady I share a name with.  Today I am grateful for this lady.  This lady who was such a shining example of charity. This lady who loved others before herself.  This lady who gave.  Today I honour this lady.  This lady who I hope to make proud. This lady I wish to be half the lady she was.  This lady I share blood with and share my looks.  This lady who I love more than life itself.  My grandmother.  Kathleen Ryan Marquardt.  Happy Birthday grandma,  you are forever missed.  My world is a little less bright without you in it to brighten it up.

Sicky sicky sick sick sick

The past week has been horrible! I have been so sick! Horrible cough, ton of bricks on my chest, hard to breath, sore throat, can't sleep sick. Last Friday I went to the doctor. She looked at my throat, listened to my chest and gave my an antibiotic. I pretty much had to talk her into giving me something to help with the difficulty breathing thing.  So I left the doctors with an antibiotic and an inhaler.  The next few days were no better.  Coughing 24/7, sleeping like 5 hours the most each day (if that) and just being miserable. I had to sit up and couldn't sleep that way and I couldn't lay down cause then I would cough a lung up.  Well Monday I was no better so I went to the doctors again.  She basically said the other doctor was crazy and shouldn't of given me an antibiotic.  She gave me a different inhaler and prednione.  I also took something to help me sleep that night.  Oh my goodness I would like to give that doctor a big fat kiss! My cough is pretty much gone, and because of that the ton of bricks on my chest, the breathlessness, sore throat, and no sleeping is pretty much gone too! Woohoo! I am now done with my self pity rant.

Love to you all ~ KK

A Day to Remember, A Day to Honour, A Day to Stand

Some say we haven't changed.  Some say we've made irrational choices.  Some say it's just an excuse. 

But one day a year we all stand united, we all become the best Americans we can, we all put ourselves aside for a day.  One day a year we remember, we honour, we grieve.  We wave our flags high.  

           Never Forget: September 11, 2001 (9/11)

10 years ago I was in my parents bedroom all ready for school, I was in 6th grade.  The TV was on and my parents and I watched while the horrible events of the morning.  I didn't really understand it, but I knew it was bad. 

Yesterday I met a lady who was in New York that terrible day.She told my mom and me how she could never forget that day.  The sight of people jumping out of windows, the smell of burning flesh, the shock of it all.  One positive thing she did say was the whole city came together and help everyone and anything.  She said to this day she makes sure she is working on the 11th.  She has to keep busy, then at the end of the day, when she is at home she will break down and cry.   I never thought of the witnesses of 9/11.  How their life was also turned upside down.  My heart goes out not only to those who lost family and loved ones, but also to the survivors and witnesses of that horrible day.  To those who had to make the hardest decision of their life that day.  I honour and am so grateful for those who gave and lost their lives. To those who give their lives so that I may have a safe place to live. To the military, firefighters, policemen, paramedics, etc. To those who went back to help those in need, did not runaway from those who tried to tear us down.  To a country that stood united when under attack.

   I am proud to be an American

 I will never forget.