Blog For Free!
Archives
Home
2008 November
2008 October
2008 September
2008 July
2008 May
2008 February
2007 December
2007 February
2007 January
2006 December
2006 November
2006 October
2006 September
2006 August
2006 July
2006 June
2006 May
2006 April
2006 March
2006 February
2006 January
2005 December
2005 August
2005 July
2005 June
2005 May
2005 April
2005 March
2005 February
2005 January
2004 December
2004 November
2004 October
2004 September
My Links
Megan and Ali's at their dad's wedding in May
Ali's Caringbridge Page (you'll want to scroll to the bottom and read up)
Video of Ali
Ali's Xanga Journal
Conservative Anomaly
My Mom's Blog
Doeedyed's Blog
Cutter's Blog
Cyberwriter's Blog
Irles Blog
Kerstin's Blog
consciousphobic's blog
Pastor Dave's Blog
Finaly Free's Blog
Surrogate's Blog
swanktrendz
69 Whisper's Blog
Inkspector's Blog
Ruined's Blog
Irish's Blog
Godsmack's Blog
Mitch Doolittle's Blog
Goldie's Blog
Thouloos Lair
Kurt Maddox Blog
Mimi's World
Bawdy's Blog
Heavy Arms Blog
Lady G's Blog
Fractal Mom
GraceShaker
April's Blog
Ottomanprang's Blog
MiMi's Blog
Ashli's Blog
Deb's Blog
Danielle's Blog
BillyRyan's Blog
tBlog
My Profile
Send tMail
My tFriends
My Images
Sponsored
Blog
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
| The beauty of the soul... |
| 02.09.05 (10:12 pm) [edit] |
|
The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy misfortune after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper. --Aristotle Last Tuesday night wearing a Led Zeppelin T-shirt and a yellow Chrysanthemum behind her ear, Alison Haley Cloud walked into the Crossing Café with her two best friends, drank a Jones Soda and spit in the face of cancer. Had someone told me that morning that Ali would ever again walk out our door I would have thought them cruel. Yet, there she sat, drinking a soda, radiant in her victory and oblivious to the fact that her very presence added value to the lives of everyone around her. Barely able to walk or speak for days, Ali insisted on seeing Gaby who helped her with her make-up and hair. Megan ran from room to room looking for things that Ali needed and when the room was cleared for me to get her dressed, her beautiful brown eyes pleaded with me, as she said quite clearly and with a determined spirit, "I need to leave this house. I want to go to the Crossing". There were a million reasons why we shouldn’t go… but they all paled in comparison to the one reason that we should. Kayla showed up as we were getting ready and cancelled her plans so that she could join Ali at the coffeehouse. We held her up, tucking away the tubes for her pain medication, and headed toward the stairs. On the way out her door she stopped at her wall vase and asked for a flower, which she placed behind her ear. All eyes were on Ali as we led her slowly from the back door of the Crossing to the couch that she had set her sights on. I left her alone with her friends and held back my tears as I watched her from across the room. I barely recognized my little girl. Cancer is a cruel disease. The Hospice nurse later told us that Ali’s trip to the Crossing had the same effect on her as running a Marathon would have on any one of us. That night, she moaned and cried because her body ached. Her body ached but her spirit soared. She had done the unthinkable. Ali’s soul has never stopped shining. Misfortune after misfortune has been heaped upon her tender shoulders and she has never buckled, never faltered, never let the light go out of her eyes. Her body was failing her but her spirit would not. Never again will I be the same. How can I ever expect to lead an ordinary life when I have been witness to a hero wearing a Led Zeppelin shirt and a yellow Chrysanthemum? |
posted by: grateful1 (reply)
post date: 02.09.05 (8:49 pm)
you write so beautifully. I can't imagine how this is for you and your daughter and everyone else this affects. I'll be praying for you and your family!
posted by: billlyryan (reply)
post date: 02.10.05 (5:19 am)
You love for her is so palpable that I feel like I was there.
She has a beautiful soul. An absolutely gorgeous soul.
posted by: Drizella (reply)
post date: 02.10.05 (4:16 pm)
Tell us more.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 02.15.05 (8:04 pm)
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your whole family.
Camille ( Linda's Friend)
posted by: altricial (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (2:11 pm)
Thank you for sharing this. No, I don't suppose you will ever lead an ordinary life.
posted by: LoriSchuster (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (2:46 pm)
Reply to: grateful1
Thank you for reading... and thank you for your prayers, we need them more each day.
posted by: LoriSchuster (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (2:48 pm)
Reply to: billlyryan
she does have a beautiful soul... she lights up a room with her eyes and her smile. you have been an encouragement to me... thank you.
posted by: LoriSchuster (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (2:56 pm)
Reply to: Drizella
For the past month nearly every minute contains a story that I want to tell. My fear is that soon enough people will be saying 'No More'! Thanks for reading.
posted by: LoriSchuster (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (2:56 pm)
Reply to: newbie
thank you camille. it was nice to hear from you.
posted by: LoriSchuster (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (2:58 pm)
Reply to: altricial
If you live through something like this and don't change the way you live afterward... then you have missed the opportunity to make it mean something. thank you so much for reading.
posted by: billlyryan (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (3:03 pm)
Reply to: LoriSchuster
I talked about you and your daughters to a close friend today. It touched me very deeply that I even know people like you and your girls exist somewhere in the world. Please tell Ali that someone in Oregon wants to be just like her.
posted by: LoriSchuster (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (3:23 pm)
Reply to: billlyryan
Friend...Once again you have brought tears to my eyes... I can think of no higher compliment. Thank you. I'm going to go whisper in her ear right now.
posted by: billlyryan (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (3:34 pm)
Reply to: LoriSchuster
Thank you. That means alot to me Friend...
posted by: billlyryan (reply)
post date: 02.16.05 (3:35 pm)
Reply to: LoriSchuster
I am in the middle of answering your tmail too.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 03.06.05 (4:44 pm)
Reply to: LoriSchuster
No, Lori. I can never imagine anyone ever sayinging, "no more" (unless they're scared of your voice because it challenges their power and illusions of control... those kinds will try, but please don't ever let them). In this past month, specifically this past week, I have observed beauty like I have never seen. You are so beautiful, Lori. I crave your stories. Friday night I jotted down several images/phrases/impressions/realizations (upon which I will later reflect more fully) that have forever changed my life. This month I have been AWED by the beauty of you and Megan. Until this week, I have been terrified of personal trajedy in my family. Watching you has calmed my fear. I was still, however, petrified of dying a slow death. On Friday, Karl gave Ali a voice. And then I realized that she has helped me to be less afraid, because she remained so beautiful. Please, Lori, never stop talking.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 03.06.05 (4:45 pm)
Reply to: LoriSchuster
that was from alyssa:)
Grace, beauty, humor, strength.
Alison Haley Cloud
Nov. 16, 1987-March 1, 2005
