Merry Christmas

Hello KAST Family and Merry Christmas ( or whatever holiday you may be celebrating this week).

This time of year is filled with happiness, but of course there is always some sadness too. It’s our 5th Christmas without Kerrie. Sometimes it’s so hard to believe she’s not here with us. I keep wanting to buy Christmas presents for her and then remember that she won’t be sitting around the tree with us in the morning.

Although I can’t buy her everything I want to, I always get her one gift. The same gift I have given her for more than 30 years… a slinky.

I don’t remember when it started, but one year I gave her a slinky and just kept it up year after year. I still do!

Fuat and I are at mom’s this week and have been happy to be able to spend some time with mom, Ron, Alisa, Robyn and TJ. We couldn’t make it out to Dad’s this year, but hopefully we can do that after the first of the year.

Yesterday, Fuat and I took a little trip to Henry Ford Hospital… and to P2.

Mom, Fuat and I went through some of Kerrie’s things the other night and had two bags full of electronic games, board games, puzzles, movies and books that people had given her while she was in the hospital. We were trying to decide what to do with them, and mom and I both felt very strongly that Kerrie would want us to take them to the Hospital and up the her old floor; P2.

Sometimes she was so bored there, before she had the strokes, and we would sit and play games for hours. I am sure she would be happy knowing that all those things that kept her occupied were going to be of use to someone else there. When we arrived, we went to the nurses station and told them why we were there. They remember Kerrie, and Mom, and were so happy that we would bring the donation to them. I was happy that I was able to show Fuat the place where “lived” for a whole year… and show him the place where we said goodbye to Kerrie, but it hurt to stand in those halls. The only thing that kept me from crying was knowing Kerrie would be happy with what we did.

Today Mom ,Fuat and I went to the cemetery to wish Kerrie, Grandma and Grandpa a Merry Christmas…. and I gave Kerrie her slinky. It looked so pretty, wrapped in the paper and sitting on her headstone wreath. I couldn’t help thinking I wish she could see it… but I am sure she did and I am sure she was laughing at the thought that I still bring her our favorite toy.

Whatever you and your families are doing this Christmas, we hope you have a wonderful holiday and the new year brings you many happy days.

We may not be here as often as we used to but we always think about our KAST Family and you are in our hearts.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Jenn