Yah, I’m loving you today, and love that picture of you in the ambulance making funny faces! Your great spirit is undimmed!

OH, MY HEART IS SO FULL, IT’S STRETCHING OUT BEYOND MY BODY. I feel so lucky, so loved, so buoyed up by all your well wishes, thoughts, and prayers. Thank you from every cell of my being. It is so totally fun to stroll down the hall with R2D2 (my pet name for my IV pole and constant companion) and go on the blog to see what other beloved friend has joined me on this wild and wooly hospital adventure. I sure wish I had more of an apetite cuz there’s an unlimited amount of Cozy Shack puddings and popsicles with my name on them! The hospital staff is great and my room looks like I’ve lived in it for months! I’ve been having sleep-overs every night which makes me feel like I am 10 years old again. Very fun!
I miss you all and can’t wait to get back to Santa Cruz so I can see you again soon.
Big hugs and kisses to all my “queridos pollitos” (beloved students). I know that you are learning lots and helping your new teacher figure out how our class goes. As soon as I can, I’ll come visit you.

Mi corazon es tan lleno de amor. Muchisimas gracias por todas las notas carinosas. Me siento mucho mejor cada vez que los leo.

WAIT A MINUTE! I wasn’t finished, I just pushed tab by accident.

Well, I could go on and on and would love to thank each person individually for posting me notes but instead, know I’m holding you all in my heart and am receiving an infinite amount of strength and optimism from your kind words.

A REQUEST: since my ever-practical-joking mom slipped some embarassing photos of my sister and me from high school on this blog, now I’d LOVE to see classic high school shots of anyone out there brave enough to post. I dare you. Come on, I need the entertainment. Send pics to ohearnweb@aol.com.

All my love,
Katalina

Dear Kathleen, you are a source of power and beauty. I send little prayer thoughts up for you when ever I see the spring pushing its way through earth and air. I hope you have some windows with views of sky and hills, or a beautiful court yard. But always in your heart is the court yard, and fountain. The hills and sky, the wind and the waters are missing you, and will be there in your heart too when you need to visit them. I hope you have some sweet funny movies to watch, and I am very happy you are having sleep overs!
Maybe you have a beautiful piece of magical amber to hold. Heres hoping I know who to send this, love Vicki N.

Dear Kathleen,
Sarah brought up a new saint at writing group this a.m. Sr. Theodore Garing. Anderson Cooper had two people on last night Sarah sez, and this dead nun cured them…so she got canonized. Amber sez that once they get canonized they slack off…but I said St. Anthony is still finding things for me after all these years so he is now looking for your cure! As is St. Francis of Assisi and his pal Brother Juniper and all the angels and saints and martyrs and holy ones of all time and all faiths and all holy skeptics and wise doubters of institutional religions and religiosity.
So …I have only love, smiles, thoughts of healing and visions of all that is GOOD in all that IS even though I don’t quite get it.
You are a blessing and I’m blessed to know you and I miss you so much!
I love this web thing and how your photos and notes from your fans are included…just wonderful. I feel so included! And close!
And that Ella…reading your poem? I was so worried about what would happen to your poem!!! But what could be better in your place than ELLA! WOWEE!
With you in SPIRIT!
Love & hugs,
Beth

You continue to amaze me, Kathleen. I’ve often said that if I were to get cancer, I would cave in and let it take me. But now I understand, through your example, how important it is to your friends that the sickie find ways to join the loving circle of supportive friends. Even if one wants to opt for letting things take their natural course, that can be done with the classy style and abundant humor you’re showing. I’ve been anxious and angry that the surgery is taking so long to happen. You, on the other hand, are trusting the medicos to do right by you. Now I will, too! Tomorrow at Muse know that I will miss you and will be one of dozens wishing you were there. I half expect you’ve made a tape to be played!

Abrazos grandotes,
Susan Drake

If I were an angel I’d take off my
long brown wings
and stay on earth,
keeping the knowledge of heaven
inside my heart

always awake

while I live as stained and
bewildered as I do now,
so it could be seen
that even the life of a fool
is just one greening world
forever fed by the silver springs
of heavenly wisdom.

___Angie Boissevain

Len and Elke send our love to you, oh beautiful Kathleen, and oodles of cosmic healing juice. You are a wonderful inspiration for us all.

I’m lighting candles, Kathleen! I’m so glad your niece will read your beautiful work tonight … and, no offense to your niece, I still wish it could be you up there! Sending lots of love, Martha

Walking out with Hermie a few weeks back, she telling us what being a writer meant to her, what being in our community of writers means, as we navigate our lives.

I thought of Jane Hirshfield’s opening of her book of essays and looked it up again: that poetry’s work is the “magnification of being”; it’s “attentiveness only deepens what it regards.”

I know that will be in your work tonight as read by your lovely niece.

Beautiful kimono, by the way!

Kim

Dear Kathleen
. We wish we could be there with you & tell you in person how very special you are & that we love you. We have many wonderful memories of your visits to Hamburg & our visit to see you & your darling home.
You are constantly in our thoughts & our prayers! When your chair or bed seems crowded it’s because we are at the sleep overs too, in spirit.
We love you & look forward to making many more memories.
Love Uncle Dave & Aunt Patti

Kathleen:
As Gabrielle red me your poem you chose for the MUSE in our kitchen tonight, I thought it was one of your absolute best yet. Goose-bumbs–in a good way. Put it all down! I hope she hits a homerun with it. She was full of teenage hubris and a too-short red dress.

Love Niklas

Kathleen,

Your beautiful poem and your beautiful niece, Ella, were a dynamic combination last night. You were in our hearts every moment. The theatre was filled with essence of Kathleen, palpable, permeable, like the most exquisite poetry.

Love, Amber

Dearest Kathleen,
i hope you were able to go back to sleep after I woke you up this morning. If you are ever up early and want to talk I would love to hear your voice. I can’t seem to get you out of my mind. I feel filled with your spunk and spirit. I love you so much Kathleen.
Can the poem that was read at the Muse be posted for those of us who were not able to attend?

mountains of love,
diane

Hi Kathleen, What an adventure you’ve had since we saw you almost two weeks ago at Dominican! I have a photo of the candle that I’ve been lighting for you with different groups of people. (I can’t find the way to get it on this blog.) Anyway, it was made by Therese and I have brought it to several gatherings of people who know you. A group of Delaveaga parents with diverse spiritual leanings held hands and each said their own prayers for you. My son and Gabriela (Rafael’s sister) and Pamela and I lit the candle and told of times we had “owies” that healed. Tonight Therese, Pamela and Eileen and I sat at Chocolate in the warm sunset and lit the candle again. This is just to give you and idea of how many prayers and wishes and hopes are out there for you. I know you feel it. I believe it will help. One thing for sure, you are not alone. love, gwen

Dear Kathleen,
Last night I sold an extra Muse ticket to a woman who was holding a boquet of tulips for her grandaughter who was going to read. When I saw your mom’s photo on your blog, she looked like the woman who bought my ticket. If this is true, I am so sorry that I accepted money from her. Please give her my apology and a hug. What a small world we live in!
Your poem and Ella were stunning! Your words through her voice drew an incredible picture in my mind and touched my heart. You are amazing.
I think of you often and send you all the strength and good vibes I can muster up.
Love, Joanne

Hi Glorious, Lovely, All-Mighty, Most Fabulous Glowing Goddess Kathleen!!
Today your voice was freesia through the phonewires.
Last night your poetry poured morning glories over the backs of the theater seats, sent night-blooming jasmine twirling ’round our eager limbs.
Tomorrow you arc the air in blazes of lavender.

You are everywhere, Ms. Flowers. Makes me wish I were a hummingbird.
xo,
Julia