Kerren

April 9, 1969 - February 13, 2009

Where do I start...what can I really say? I just can't believe you are gone away from us, even though I knew how sick you were. Your passing has left such sorrow and sadness and yet there is a part of me that is very grateful that you are no longer suffering.

Kay you were such a wonderful person, someone with great courage, strength, kindness, compassion and love. This last year watching you battle with cancer, you never gave up and you never let it get you down. Instead you always remained positive, always reminding those around you to keep the faith.

I was reminded by someone that we all should take a lesson from you and always remember that we should never give up when times get difficult, because you never did.

You have left us way too early but I know you are in a much better place now. As I mourn you, my memories of your wonderful friendship will keep you near.  Goodbye my friend, fly free and happy on the other side.

Love always,

Lorna

Fly
Celine Dion

Fly, fly little wing
Fly beyond imagining
The softest cloud, the whitest dove
Upon the wind of heaven's love
Past the planets and the stars
Leave this lonely world of ours
Escape the sorrow and the pain
And fly again

Fly, fly precious one
Your endless journey has begun
Take your gentle happiness
Far too beautiful for this
Cross over to the other shore
There is peace forevermore
But hold this mem'ry bittersweet
Until we meet

Fly, fly do not fear
Don't waste a breath, don't shed a tear
Your heart is pure, your soul is free
Be on your way, don't wait for me
Above the universe you'll climb
On beyond the hands of time
The moon will rise, the sun will set
But I won't forget
Fly, fly little wing
Fly where only angels sing
Fly away, the time is right
Go now, find the light 

It's hard to believe that it's more than 2 weeks since my last writing. I have been so busy I haven't been able to sit still long enough to get my thoughts down.

Between work, training and volunteering, the last 2 weekends have been so busy I have only being home just to sleep. Hopefully after this weekend things should be a bit easier.

So far I have completed 5 weeks of training and I am very happy to say that my fourth week saw me breaking the 10 min / 1Km barrier. Better yet I was able to go below 9 min. This is not to say it will always be the case since it depends on how I am feeling on the day of my walk.

The truth is I now realized that the main reason for me being so slow in the past is because of  medication I am on that makes me very tired. After realizing it the week before I decided that I would skip my meds  and see how I would do and it worked.

To make it even better, the weather wasn't as cold as the 3 previous weeks. On my fourth week, I walked 13.2Km, which I completed in under 2 hours, approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes which worked out to be just under 9 min/K. I think I can go even faster once I get over my hip problem which slows me down because it gets very painful after the first 3Km or so.

I knew I had a problem and was suppose to do physio on it but as usual I don't do what the doctor tells me. I threw out the paper instead so now I have to go  back to her which I am not exactly looking forward to. If my hip problem doesn't go away then I doubt I will be able to walk longer distances and I really want to do a marathon so I hope I can get it resolved. My goal is to eventually average a 8 min/1Km walk which I hope to achieve by next year if I am still walking.

This last weekend we were suppose to do 15Km but no one wanted to so we only did 10Km. We went at different route, High Park down to Lakeshore Boulevard. I have to say I like this route much better since I get to look at the lake. I can't wait for April to come when we change to this route for the rest of the season. Here are some photos of High Park covered in snow:

High Park

Toronto's Winter City Festival 2009

Other than walking I have been volunteering for the Festival and I had a wonderful time. I saw some of my old volunteer friends and made new ones. Most of all though I like the various acts that performed, especially the Dutch Group Close Act.

They performed 2 piece:

1. Pi Leau - the story of a fisherman who fell in love with mermaid but it wasn't to be.
2. White Wings - Big white butterflies strutting around

For more about Close Act you can visit their website here:

Close Act

I also took a lot of photos which you can see here:

Toronto's Winter City Festival 2009 - Photos

The Festival wrapped up with a spectacular display of  fireworks. Probably one of the best I have ever seen the city put on at Nathan Phillips Square. I think it was even better than the fireworks for Cavalcade of Lights.

You can check out the video clips here:

My Video Clips

Well that's it for now. I think I have more than made up for the last 2 weeks with this very long blog which I very much doubt any one will read to the end. If you do though I say thanks :)

Until next time...take care and walk good...