Hello Kast Family,  It’s been a while since Jenn or I have posted on here. Such a busy season for both of us. We talk often, despite my jokes about never hearing from her.  This is a difficult time for us. So much was happening two years ago. I still can’t go to my old calendar and look at the days. I relive them enough without specifics. I just know that we knew, although we were in denial and kept hoping, as Kerrie did, that the treatments she was getting would turn things around. How brave she was, to take on all that  she did. She wanted to live, not…

Hello Kast Family, It’s been a while since I have posted. Like all of you I am enjoying the change of season. The warmer days, even if wet at times, the green grass, the spring flowers. It’s a beautiful time of year, and busy too. Time to open the windows, let the winter air out and the spring time come in. So nice to see the sun at last and look forward to the days ahead. Work is busy. I am not complaining (actually I am, but not too much) …. I am fortunate to be in a field that needs people. I know many of you are having or…

Life’s been pretty busy the last few months.. work, trips overseas, work.. most days it’s hard to find time come the the KAST site ( though I always find a way) let alone put a post on here.. some weeks I can barely find time to open my mail. I received a package, from Mom, while I was in Europe and had opened it the night I got home.. sorted through it and set it aside for “later.” It had some instructional manuals I needed and a few CD’s of pics.. but with heavy jetlag, and a trip to China looking just a few short weeks after returning from Europe,…

Hello Kast Family, Just when I think I can’t get any more surprises it happens again! Yesterday started out like the usual Saturday, pick up the place, throw a load in the washer, etc. My friend Cheryl had asked me to go to an open house at the new Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield. Just the way I wanted to spend my day off, touring a hospital, and especially a Henry Ford Hospital, even if it isn’t downtown. But ok, I said, I’ll go along. We had to park off site and take a shuttle to the building, it was a pretty busy place. The first thing we saw…

Hello Kast Family, It’s been a while. So many days I’ve thought, time to write a post. But, what is there to say? Complain about the weather? Talk about how cold it is? Whine, cry, share my thoughts of gloom? No, didn’t want to do that, but when you work, eat, sleep and then work again there isn’t always a lot to talk about. Then a couple of days ago something happened. I was on my way home from work and stopped at the mailbox to pick up the ‘bills’. I pulled out the usual, except there was a big envelope in the box. I looked at it, the name…

I see you sitting in the sun, on Mom’s balcony.. it’s July 30th, 2006 and tomorrow we will move you into your room at Henry Ford. You’re wearing multi-colored, stripped shorts and a yellow t-shirt, your legs spread out and your face turned to the sun.. knowing this will be the last time you’ll feel the sun on your face for a while. Suddenly you start to cry and as you look at me you say, “I’m not going to live to be 40.” I don’t get out of my chair, I don’t come over to you and hug you.. I just say, “Yes you will. Everything is going to…

Hello Kast Family, It’s been a while since I have written a post……many things going on, decorating, undecorating, shopping, wrapping, unwrapping……..get togethers, family, visits, snow, friends, crazy times, and quiet times. Jenn was home for almost two weeks, and housebound most of the time……snow, snow, snow. I worked and stayed home and worked. And so the holidays came and went and now everything is put away and back to ‘normal’. I guess. It was a good Christmas, full of memories and new times. Jenn and I found many of Kerrie’s Christmas things, many from friends and family when she was in the hospital. We got some of them out and…

Hello Kast Family, Another event, another hurdle, a hurdle because it brings back so many memories, so much pain and so much joy. Last night, Sunday, was the annual world wide candle lighting ceremony held by the Compassionate Friends, the support group for parents, grandparents and siblings of children who have died. The last few weeks have been preparation for this. Some of you may wonder why it is so anticipated. It’s difficult to describe. The meetings, planning, selecting the music, picking out the readings. And all in preparation for a very emotional evening for the families. I went to the church early so I could help with the preparation…

Hello Kast Family, Does it seem possible it’s that time of year again? It all started last week, with Thanksgiving and the official start of the holiday season. I don’t care what those people think who start Christmas the week before Halloween, it’s here now! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and lots of SAFE and successful shopping 🙂 I had a great day with my son Ron and his family and his wife Alisa’s family. We all ate too much and were stuffed and happily uncomfortable together. I put up my little Christmas tree today and thought of Kerrie as I pulled out the little things the…

I come to this page everyday. Sometimes several times a day.. I look at the picture of my beautiful sister and, as she smiles at me, I try to think of something to write.. as happens most days, my mind is a blank, and I end up saying good morning ( or good night) to Kerrie and closing the page. Then the nagging starts.. I can hear her in my head..”Write something on there damn it.” Sometimes she sounds a little sarcastic, sometimes she sounds like she’s pleading, not wanting me to let her web page become something in our past. Not wanting it to come to an end. She…