| This is the true story of what Deepak Chopra | | | | are words that can only begin to describe Karen. |
| would call a "Whopper". It is a story so touched | | | | Besides being a friend,Karen was a teacher. She |
| with the hand of God it seems almost impossible | | | | taught me more about strength and courage than |
| to believe, and yet, there can be NO doubt for | | | | I ever wanted to know. When my son deployed |
| those of us who are believers that this really | | | | to Afghanistan last Oct, she came to me one day |
| happened! | | | | like an angel sent from God. She held me, cried |
| My best friend passed into Spirit on May 15, 2004 | | | | with me and instilled in me "The Power of Now". |
| at the age of 45, after a 10 year battle with | | | | This gave me strength that I did not know I had. |
| HER-2 Breast Cancer. We had spent 40 years | | | | If I can take one tenth of her strength and live |
| weaving the fabric of our lives together in a | | | | the rest of my life, then I will be happy. |
| dance that was just magical. Ours is a long story | | | | I will miss her human presence more than I can |
| of love and friendship. It is hard to relay in a few | | | | even imagine at this time... her spirit while she was |
| words the significance of this miracle,but I will try. | | | | on this Earth was immeasurable. What I look |
| Two years ago Karen started having massive | | | | forward to from this day on is how she will guide, |
| headaches and was feeling "weird". We were | | | | love, and watch over each of us in her new |
| headed off to a healing weekend in New York | | | | found strength in SPIRIT. |
| State and having a grand time. It was just the | | | | And so I say to you my dear Karen, "Godspeed |
| two of us tooling around in the car and laughing | | | | to you on this new journey you have undertaken. |
| and enjoying each other's company. At one point, | | | | I know Daddy was holding your green donkey |
| she became very serious and told me she | | | | and that now you know all the Divine Order that |
| thought her chemotherapy may be causing these | | | | is so hard for us to understand here on Earth. I |
| symptoms. She was struggling as to whether or | | | | giggle at the thought of our next life together and |
| not to go off the chemo and just let God do His | | | | I ask you Sister Karen to hold down the abbey |
| work. I told her this was a huge decision and one | | | | until I get there". |
| not to be taken lightly. I am a big believer in | | | | When I returned home from her service that |
| asking God to give us a sign when we need an | | | | evening, there was a message on my answering |
| answer to an important or not so important | | | | machine from my son, who was in Afghanistan, |
| question. Because this was a VERY important | | | | serving in the US Army. He had never, ever called |
| question, I told her she needed to ask for a sign | | | | on a weeknight since he had deployed, until that |
| that would be unquestionable! Something so | | | | night. This in and of itself spoke volumes to me. I |
| "unusual" that it could only be from God. I then | | | | was sad I had missed his call, but I knew he was |
| said, "How about if we see a green donkey? | | | | OK and surely sending me some love from afar, |
| Then you can go off chemotherapy." She giggled | | | | even though he did not know of Karen's death |
| and said, "That sounds great". The rest of the | | | | yet. Karen had given me extreme comfort and |
| weekend we searched for a green donkey. We | | | | support while she was alive in regards to his |
| found yellow pigs, purple cows, red dogs and | | | | deployment and no matter what was going on in |
| even a green horse.How we tried to rationalize | | | | her life, she always asked how my son was doing. |
| that a horse is almost a donkey. But we knew it | | | | That same night, the phone rang again around |
| had to be a "Green Donkey". We even spent the | | | | 2:30 AM and it was my son. What a joy to hear |
| next afternoon in Woodstock, NY going through | | | | his voice! We spoke for about 20 minutes and |
| every store but never found a green donkey. | | | | during the conversation he mentioned that his |
| A week later the headaches continued and she | | | | best buddy and teammate had put new pictures |
| went for an MRI. Her father also passed away | | | | up on a website of them in Afghanistan. I tucked |
| from Alzheimer's this same week. On the morning | | | | this info into my mind to take a look at the next |
| of his funeral, she received a phone call from her | | | | day. |
| oncologist telling her the cancer had spread to her | | | | The next morning I went with Karen's family to a |
| brain. She went through the whole day, a huge | | | | private burial and then spent the rest of the day |
| funeral, and never told a soul except her husband | | | | with them. I arrived home around 4:00 and read |
| what she had found out that morning. She had | | | | some e-mails and then remembered I had to |
| courage beyond human strength. She made it | | | | check out the new pictures. (This is now 5 days |
| through brain surgery and massive radiation and | | | | since her passing.) There was a new folder |
| lived two more years. She passed on May 15, | | | | named "the Month of May". I opened this and |
| 2004 surrounded by her whole family. | | | | started looking for pictures of my son. There |
| What follows is what I said at her memorial | | | | were around 20 new photos. Mid-way down the |
| service (which 700 people attended). Notice the | | | | page I noticed that one picture was titled |
| part about the "green donkey" toward the end. | | | | "Donkey". In the small picture format it looked |
| I have had the pleasure of knowing Karen for | | | | more like a green tree. I opened the picture to its |
| over 40 years and calling her one of my best and | | | | full size and almost fell to the floor....for there, sent |
| dearest friends. But I know I am just one of | | | | from a war-torn country by an American soldier, |
| countless best friends that Karen had...there was | | | | was Karen's sign that she had been healed, not on |
| something about her that just made you want to | | | | this Earth, but alas in heaven! It was a picture of |
| be close to her and know her better. It reminds | | | | a donkey with a bundle of GREEN branches tied |
| me of the song by the Carpenters. | | | | around it. She knew that if she involved my son in |
| On the day that you were born | | | | getting this sign to me, she would be successful, |
| The angels got together | | | | for I would NEVER not look at these pictures. |
| And decided to create a dream come true | | | | To me, there is also a great significance in the |
| So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold | | | | actual "green donkey" she gave to us. I always |
| And starlight in your eyes of blue. | | | | thought that this sign would come in the form of |
| That is why all the girls in town | | | | an inanimate object or it would be the name of a |
| Follow you all around. | | | | bar or restaurant. I NEVER thought that the green |
| Just like me, they long to be | | | | donkey would actually be a "living donkey". But |
| Close to you. | | | | yes, Karen's donkey was ALIVE as were the |
| To Karen's family...she was a mom, a wife, a | | | | green branches that adorned it. Karen lives on in |
| sister, a daughter, and a cousin, but for the vast | | | | Spirit and will always be alive to those of us that |
| majority of us here today, she was our friend. A | | | | knew her. The news of this green donkey gave |
| friend of the truest sense and one that was | | | | peace to her family and our community. I feel her |
| there for each of us no matter what was going | | | | presence with me always and thank her for her |
| on in her life. Remarkable, selfless, trustworthy, | | | | continued caring and love. |
| sincere, kind, compassionate, spiritual, and beautiful | | | | |