Yesterday I celebrated more than my birthday. Having sixteen "cancer free" years in the bank prior to battling it again in 2008 with surgery on my birthday that year, I am now calling March 28th more than my birthday. Not wanting to forget the cancer free years I have enjoyed since my first battle in 1992 I called yesterday my "16 plus 2." Next year will be "16 plus 3" and so on...
I guess because I write so openly about all of this in my books many holders-of-the-heart know when my birthday falls. I hear from so many of you each year and this year seemed to be a record year. Not that I am counting, but the e-mails and cards in the mail far out numbered past years. I can't thank you enough - this shout out is to all of you with thanks from the bottom of my heart.
I have just returned from a trip to Grande Prairie Alberta where I had the honour of speaking at a conference at the Grande Prairie Regional College. Life is not all-cancer-all-the-time and this trip was a great reminder of that. Often cancer survivors feel that others treat them (us) differently and see us with a big red "C" for cancer on our face. We work very hard to live a life outside of the cancer arena. I chose to live my life at a time I call half-past-cancer which means I am half in and half out of that cancer arena. It works for me albeit for many survivors - not so much.
In Grande Prairie it was not about cancer at all. In addition to meeting many students I got to spend a week with my sister Lois and her wonderful family. Her grandchildren are growing up - Courtney is about to celebrate her "sweet 16" and 13 year old Justin taught me how to shoot a paint-ball gun. And, by the way, I hit the target first try! It's not something I will be seeking out in Toronto though.
And, I will be driving my new MX5 (new to me) home to Nova Scotia this summer!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Post Olympics
The entire country paused and then cheered when OUR Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal in overtime! (OUR meaning he is from NS of course) Could the game have been more exciting? Like many Canadians I am so proud of our country for many reasons - the Olympics is just one reason.
I am heading West to Grande Prairie Alberta to do some work with the GP Regional College and then I head East to do some work with the NS Community College - Kentville campus. How lucky am I to have work in two parts of the country where I just happen to have family living - Lois and her family in the West and Connie in the East. Life is good and I am packing up very soon.
Winter will soon be behind us and I need a car. I am having Miata withdrawals and am on the verge of making a purchase - another Miata probably - stay tuned. Any car advice out there?
Let's hope winter (what there was of it) is behind us - looking forward to spring.
Enjoy and drop me a note when you can - I enjoy everyone's e-mail and do try to reply to all. If I have left anyone out it was not intentional honestly so give me another chance.
CA
I am heading West to Grande Prairie Alberta to do some work with the GP Regional College and then I head East to do some work with the NS Community College - Kentville campus. How lucky am I to have work in two parts of the country where I just happen to have family living - Lois and her family in the West and Connie in the East. Life is good and I am packing up very soon.
Winter will soon be behind us and I need a car. I am having Miata withdrawals and am on the verge of making a purchase - another Miata probably - stay tuned. Any car advice out there?
Let's hope winter (what there was of it) is behind us - looking forward to spring.
Enjoy and drop me a note when you can - I enjoy everyone's e-mail and do try to reply to all. If I have left anyone out it was not intentional honestly so give me another chance.
CA
Saturday, February 6, 2010
A very active and busy Marthe Legault
This morning I received a wonderful e-mail from Marthe. We share many things including the same birthday - on March 28th Marthe will be 85 years young! She drives, plays bridge twice a week, has seasons tickets to SENS games, has 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Even though French is her first language Marthe composed the following e-mail and I just had to share it with you. (She is J.C. Legault's mother and you can read about him on page 133 of my latest book.)
"Dear Carol Ann
I heard about Carol Ann Cole twelve years ago when my son J.C. (my Jean-Claude) offered me a Comfort Heart and told me about a woman who had experienced cancer, along with her mother. I admired you then, but nothing compared to what I feel for you now that I have read you book. On our last New Year's family reunion, my dear son gave a copy of your book to every one of us - me, his sister and brothers. More than admiration, I now feel love and respect for you. Needless to say we all began reading on page 133! Yes, we all knew than since the death of my husband in 1991, Jean-Claude was struggling through his illness while always being the successful man in his work, the strong man of the family, the perfect and devoted father, the attentive son to his mother's needs and the attentive big brother and uncle. The shocking reflection I had in reading Jean-Claude's testimonial was realizing that through all his life,as a mother, I failed to understand the hell my son was living through until he met "his angel Elaine."
I am so grateful to you for giving to my family, my friends and everyone who will read your book, the opportunity to know J.C. as he really is and to be inspired by his strength of character and his Faith in God.
Your book brings so much love, comfort and courage to all your readers with all the testimonies of so many people you have met in your life. The story of your full life of courage, faith and perserverance is a tonic to the reader. Your incredible sense of humour and your positive way of facing your personal problems is so refreshing.
I wish with all my heart that one day I will have the pleasure and the honour to be present at one of your conferences.
The only subject I disagree with you on is your love for the Toronto Maple Leafs! I would rather say, "Go Ottawa Sens Go!"
God bless you,
Marthe Legault"
"Dear Carol Ann
I heard about Carol Ann Cole twelve years ago when my son J.C. (my Jean-Claude) offered me a Comfort Heart and told me about a woman who had experienced cancer, along with her mother. I admired you then, but nothing compared to what I feel for you now that I have read you book. On our last New Year's family reunion, my dear son gave a copy of your book to every one of us - me, his sister and brothers. More than admiration, I now feel love and respect for you. Needless to say we all began reading on page 133! Yes, we all knew than since the death of my husband in 1991, Jean-Claude was struggling through his illness while always being the successful man in his work, the strong man of the family, the perfect and devoted father, the attentive son to his mother's needs and the attentive big brother and uncle. The shocking reflection I had in reading Jean-Claude's testimonial was realizing that through all his life,as a mother, I failed to understand the hell my son was living through until he met "his angel Elaine."
I am so grateful to you for giving to my family, my friends and everyone who will read your book, the opportunity to know J.C. as he really is and to be inspired by his strength of character and his Faith in God.
Your book brings so much love, comfort and courage to all your readers with all the testimonies of so many people you have met in your life. The story of your full life of courage, faith and perserverance is a tonic to the reader. Your incredible sense of humour and your positive way of facing your personal problems is so refreshing.
I wish with all my heart that one day I will have the pleasure and the honour to be present at one of your conferences.
The only subject I disagree with you on is your love for the Toronto Maple Leafs! I would rather say, "Go Ottawa Sens Go!"
God bless you,
Marthe Legault"
Friday, February 5, 2010
Life can change in a minute
A friend of mine, a wonderful young women I worked with at Bell, lost her battle with cancer this week. She leaves behind a wonderful husband and beautiful twin daughters - life is not fair.
Bonnie, I know you are reading my blog from "above" and will always be watching over us. You left us too soon but we will catch up with you one day - thanks for all that you brought to my life and to the lives of so many others. Like everyone who knew you, I am very sad today.
Life really can change in a minute. Work on your bucket list this weekend!
Love
Carol Ann
Bonnie, I know you are reading my blog from "above" and will always be watching over us. You left us too soon but we will catch up with you one day - thanks for all that you brought to my life and to the lives of so many others. Like everyone who knew you, I am very sad today.
Life really can change in a minute. Work on your bucket list this weekend!
Love
Carol Ann
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Importance of Soft Skills
Many, if not all, of my presentations include a discussion on what I call the "soft skills." The skills that life teaches us as we carve our way in the world...small things like calling others by name; a pat on the back when a peer has had a bad day; or a call to a friend who we want to speak with today not tomorrow. (And ingoring that voice in our head saying, "It's her turn to call me.")
I believe any success I have enjoyed in life is in part due to my Maritime roots and my attention to these soft skills. A few days ago I received an e-mail from a former student at Middleton Regional High School. Karen is younger than I so she was a few years behind me in school - meaning our paths did not cross on a daily basis. After not seeing Karen since approximately 1964 her e mail arrived - I am humbled to know that she remembers my belief in soft skills from so many years ago. Her e-mail is proof that it truly is the small stuff that people remember us for. I will reconnect with Karen this summer at our MRHS Reunion. In part, Karen's e-mail reads as follows -
"...I picked up your latest book. Please let me say how proud I am of your many accomplishments. But the one thing that stands out the most for me is how down-to-earth you have stayed throughout it all. I remember being at high school and how you were one of the few seniors who would speak to me on a regular basis when we passed in the hall. I was enthralled with the compassion, openness and sincerity that came out in your discriptions of your battle with cancer. I also appreciated the chapter on what to say and not to say when someone you know is going through the battle. Again thank you for all that you do for those around you.
Regards
Karen Hasse January 31, 2010"
I believe any success I have enjoyed in life is in part due to my Maritime roots and my attention to these soft skills. A few days ago I received an e-mail from a former student at Middleton Regional High School. Karen is younger than I so she was a few years behind me in school - meaning our paths did not cross on a daily basis. After not seeing Karen since approximately 1964 her e mail arrived - I am humbled to know that she remembers my belief in soft skills from so many years ago. Her e-mail is proof that it truly is the small stuff that people remember us for. I will reconnect with Karen this summer at our MRHS Reunion. In part, Karen's e-mail reads as follows -
"...I picked up your latest book. Please let me say how proud I am of your many accomplishments. But the one thing that stands out the most for me is how down-to-earth you have stayed throughout it all. I remember being at high school and how you were one of the few seniors who would speak to me on a regular basis when we passed in the hall. I was enthralled with the compassion, openness and sincerity that came out in your discriptions of your battle with cancer. I also appreciated the chapter on what to say and not to say when someone you know is going through the battle. Again thank you for all that you do for those around you.
Regards
Karen Hasse January 31, 2010"
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Follow up - people, media and stuff
Many of you have sent e mails and comments on my "Mental Illness and Emotional Journeys" Chapter in If I Knew Then What I Know Now. In particular you have asked about my friend JC.
JC and I enjoyed lunch together just before he and his entire family left for a Christmas holiday in the sun. His gift to all was a copy of my book with special emphasis on his story captured within the pages. They had a wonderful time together - family time is so important to JC and his family. Early in the New Year I heard from one of his daughters asking for details re how she could contact my publisher. Could there be a JC book in the works? Stay tuned.
My friend Mike Bullard is back on the air - Talk radio 820 AM in Hamilton from 4 pm to 6 pm daily. I was Mike's guest a few days ago and we tackled everything from our Bell days together to my new book to "sexy older women" - don't even ask!
Have a great day
CA
JC and I enjoyed lunch together just before he and his entire family left for a Christmas holiday in the sun. His gift to all was a copy of my book with special emphasis on his story captured within the pages. They had a wonderful time together - family time is so important to JC and his family. Early in the New Year I heard from one of his daughters asking for details re how she could contact my publisher. Could there be a JC book in the works? Stay tuned.
My friend Mike Bullard is back on the air - Talk radio 820 AM in Hamilton from 4 pm to 6 pm daily. I was Mike's guest a few days ago and we tackled everything from our Bell days together to my new book to "sexy older women" - don't even ask!
Have a great day
CA
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year to you!
It seems like only a few years ago my friends and I hosted our New Year's Eve party at the "lofts" and were singing "I'm gona' party like it's 1999!" and now here we are in 2010. So much has happened since then - some great, some good and some not so good. We have all survived and, I like to think, are better for it.
All of us who have partied together over the last ten years have been shocked to see one of our close friends, at 45 years of age, suffer a stroke just before Christmas. He will make a full recovery I guarantee it - he's a tough Martitimer with a powerful partner by his side. We are praying and keeping an eye on him 24/7. Extra prayers appreciated.
It makes you think though - remember to live in the moment. Don't put things off - work on your bucket list now - today!
It's back to work for many this week. My business focus this year will continue to be on my professional speaking business and my writing ...with a twist...this year I will try my luck at fiction. Any ideas?
CA
All of us who have partied together over the last ten years have been shocked to see one of our close friends, at 45 years of age, suffer a stroke just before Christmas. He will make a full recovery I guarantee it - he's a tough Martitimer with a powerful partner by his side. We are praying and keeping an eye on him 24/7. Extra prayers appreciated.
It makes you think though - remember to live in the moment. Don't put things off - work on your bucket list now - today!
It's back to work for many this week. My business focus this year will continue to be on my professional speaking business and my writing ...with a twist...this year I will try my luck at fiction. Any ideas?
CA
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