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Today I was thinking about "Winnie the Pooh", don't laugh it was kind of sad, and not, all at the same time. Every time I think about Winnie, I think about my cousin Lainy. If I had to wager a guess I would guess that anyone who met her liked her, you couldn't help it. One of her favorite things was always "Winnie the Pooh"; if you've ever watched the cartoon or read the books, you probably understand why. A kinder, gentler person I don't think you'd ever meet. Was she perfect? Nah, was she famous? Nah! Did she do something that would effect the world? Nope. She did however affect all those who were lucky enough to be in her life for any time. She helped many people to live happier lives because of knowing her, and she completed anything she set her mind to complete. That in itself is an amazing accomplishment, don't you think? To this day my little sister remembers this wild, hippie cousin who would leave everyone else and tuck her in bed and read her the stories of "Winnie the Pooh", she made my sister feel special, and wanted and loved. She had a real knack in that way. When she listened to a person, she actually listened, How rare is that? Do you know how fantastic that feels? Have any of you ever known a person who really listened to what you were saying, wanted to listen to what you were saying, and seemed to know the right thing to do or say instinctively? Wow, how rare of a gift is that? Even when she knew she was dying, she was the same, although I think she did become more determined to complete her dreams, before she became too sick. The amazing thing is that she completed these things, when most people probably would have been morose, she kept going, she had things she wanted to do before the time came when she couldn't. She had started of with dance classes, she wanted to teach, she had always loved to dance. It's a happy thing and it makes people feel happy when they do it, that was Lainy. But she saw another need that , I think she felt may be a better way for her to help. She became a counselor, and counseled teens in group homes, she herself had been somewhat wild as a teen (from what I understand) and I'm guessing here, but I believe she thought because of that, maybe she'd be more able to help. I'm sure she did , but I'm also sure that it was the ones that she couldn't help, that made her change what she was doing again. She took a course in massage therapy, and combined that training with her counseling training, and moved into a doctors office. The doctor sent her the patients who were depressed, stressed and that needed extra emotional help to get over their physical problems. When she became aware that she was sick, she couldn't stay working in a doctors office. I know at least one of her patients stayed in contact with her because when he found out that she was on a ward in the hospital he secured a private room for her for the time she had left (from what I understand most of the patients she had seen had taken the time to find out where she was and had written to her). I guess I need to back track a little, the "dreams fulfilled" , she had always wanted to be a dance instructor, but had never completed the courses she needed to . Well she did complete them, near the end of the courses I understand, she was tiring very easily, but she did complete them, and before going into hospital, she was a "Dance Instructor" . The sad thing is she never had the chance to teach , at least not in a class of her own. In the hospital, as her body became weaker, her spirit seemed to become stronger, she gave emotional support to her family and friends, she was at peace with dying, and she knew God had a place for her. On the day she died, she was aware, she was quite joyful, joking with her family and friends, she spoke of dying , she was ready, and she wasn't scared. They played her favorite music, she closed her eyes, and went to heaven. My Lainy, died of AIDS, I didn't have the courage to see her when she became very ill, and to tell the truth , I think I will regret that the rest of my life. |