Post by cam83 on Mar 23, 2005 1:20:23 GMT -5
Chapter Forty Two...part two...
They continued on towards Manitoba, and stopped in Winnipeg City. They were so impressed with the cleanliness of the air and grandeur of the Winnipeg skyline upon entering the city's boundaries. They had been told, that this city of over 600,000 was known as the Gateway to the West. They stayed in Winnipeg for about 3 days, and got to travel around to the various sightseeing sections of this big city. They were amazed as they drove around, just how friendly the people were. They carried on to Ontario, and stayed in Toronto for a few days, and then headed to Quebec, where they stayed in Ottawa City, and then Montreal. Then it was off to the Maritime Provinces of Prince Edward Island, St. John's, Newfoundland and Halifax. There, they feasted on the delights that the sea had to offer…fish, crabs, lobsters, squid. They visited around seeing various spots, and even saw the famed Anne of Green Gables Home in Prince Edward Island. Karen purchased the books by L.M. Montgomery, of the red haired orphan delight who finds love and laughter at Green Gables. Karen had never read these books before, but had heard a lot of good things about them, and when time permitted, she would get a chance to read them.
Finally, they drove through the United States, visiting different friends and associates. Jon showed Karen where he had lived before, and she got to see where he made his start in the Restaurant industry.
When they pulled into their driveway, they were so glad to be home. They had been gone for over 6 weeks. It was now May 13, 1994. The kids were especially happy to be home. They went running around the yard, exploring all their childhood haunts, and wanting to play so many games. Karen and Jon let them, as they got the babies out of their car seat, and then went into the house. They were greeted by Evelyn Wallace, who was seated in front of the television set, and came and gave them a hug. She had been watching their home while they were gone.
"Oh it's good to see you Evelyn! How are you doing? Was everything fine?" asked Karen, as Jon headed to take their sleeping twin daughters upstairs to the Nursery. "Oh Karen! You never mind about me! I am fine. What about you? How was your trip? Did everything go fine?" asked Evelyn, as she waved aside Karen's concern. Karen laughed before continuing on.
"Everything was fine! Canada is so beautiful. We visited almost every province, and the weather was just gorgeous. You would have loved it! Oh, and we got some time to spend with Jon's family. It was good to see everyone, well especially since Kristi's death. They are all still grieving in their own way, but trying their best. Oh, Evelyn, I still miss her so much!" said Karen with emotion in her voice, as her eyes began to water.
Evelyn went over and began to hug Karen, holding her in her embrace. "Karen, of course you miss her. But she is at peace now. There is nothing you can do now." They went over to sit on the sofa, when Evelyn said to Karen, "We felt that way with you Karen back in those days…We didn't know what to do. As you know, we tried every method to get you to eat, anything. But you just kept on wasting away to nothing, and there were many times I tried to help you, but I was powerless. We all were…it was all up to you, and you did it! I am so proud of you Karen…to have conquered anorexia, and to have married and had 6 beautiful, healthy children. Maybe, it is time for you to be able to help others, through your story. Have you ever thought about it Karen?"
"A bit," said Karen," It's just that I would be revealing all my hidden demons and problems and I am not sure if I could do that. I don't know if I could do that!" "But Karen, you also have to think of the fact that you are a role model for women everywhere, and especially young girls…who will get caught in the web of eating disorders. There are hundreds of thousands of girls and boys out there like Kristi, who will lose their lives because they don't have a way out of the darkness," said Evelyn with conviction, but not in a preachy way.
"I know. You are right Evelyn. I don't want others to suffer the way that I did, or Kristi did…it's an awful thing to have to go through," said Karen. She thought about it, and knew that she could do it. She still had her journals in which she had written some of her deepest fears and thoughts. She wrote stories of her life in there. Her control for her own independence and her own life. It was a part of her…this collection of ideas and her beliefs.
Jon came back downstairs and said the babies were in bed. He went on outside, but not before giving a hug and a kiss to Evelyn. She was the type of woman, that was approachable and full of love. He also had such a deep admiration for her especially since Karen spoke well of her, and that she had tried to help Karen and her battle with anorexia, by loving her.
Karen and Evelyn went upstairs, and began to unpack and throw most of the things in the laundry chute, which led to the main floor. Karen knew that she had several days of laundry and unpacking, but she didn't mind. She looked forward to it. This was a part of her life, that she loved. Helping to make sure that her family was well taken care of. She knew that some women felt that she was taking a step back, but she knew and felt that she was actually taking a step forward. This was what she had always wanted. To have a family. Her life was complete, and with this she smiled, as she turned on the radio in the bedroom and began to sing.
They continued on towards Manitoba, and stopped in Winnipeg City. They were so impressed with the cleanliness of the air and grandeur of the Winnipeg skyline upon entering the city's boundaries. They had been told, that this city of over 600,000 was known as the Gateway to the West. They stayed in Winnipeg for about 3 days, and got to travel around to the various sightseeing sections of this big city. They were amazed as they drove around, just how friendly the people were. They carried on to Ontario, and stayed in Toronto for a few days, and then headed to Quebec, where they stayed in Ottawa City, and then Montreal. Then it was off to the Maritime Provinces of Prince Edward Island, St. John's, Newfoundland and Halifax. There, they feasted on the delights that the sea had to offer…fish, crabs, lobsters, squid. They visited around seeing various spots, and even saw the famed Anne of Green Gables Home in Prince Edward Island. Karen purchased the books by L.M. Montgomery, of the red haired orphan delight who finds love and laughter at Green Gables. Karen had never read these books before, but had heard a lot of good things about them, and when time permitted, she would get a chance to read them.
Finally, they drove through the United States, visiting different friends and associates. Jon showed Karen where he had lived before, and she got to see where he made his start in the Restaurant industry.
When they pulled into their driveway, they were so glad to be home. They had been gone for over 6 weeks. It was now May 13, 1994. The kids were especially happy to be home. They went running around the yard, exploring all their childhood haunts, and wanting to play so many games. Karen and Jon let them, as they got the babies out of their car seat, and then went into the house. They were greeted by Evelyn Wallace, who was seated in front of the television set, and came and gave them a hug. She had been watching their home while they were gone.
"Oh it's good to see you Evelyn! How are you doing? Was everything fine?" asked Karen, as Jon headed to take their sleeping twin daughters upstairs to the Nursery. "Oh Karen! You never mind about me! I am fine. What about you? How was your trip? Did everything go fine?" asked Evelyn, as she waved aside Karen's concern. Karen laughed before continuing on.
"Everything was fine! Canada is so beautiful. We visited almost every province, and the weather was just gorgeous. You would have loved it! Oh, and we got some time to spend with Jon's family. It was good to see everyone, well especially since Kristi's death. They are all still grieving in their own way, but trying their best. Oh, Evelyn, I still miss her so much!" said Karen with emotion in her voice, as her eyes began to water.
Evelyn went over and began to hug Karen, holding her in her embrace. "Karen, of course you miss her. But she is at peace now. There is nothing you can do now." They went over to sit on the sofa, when Evelyn said to Karen, "We felt that way with you Karen back in those days…We didn't know what to do. As you know, we tried every method to get you to eat, anything. But you just kept on wasting away to nothing, and there were many times I tried to help you, but I was powerless. We all were…it was all up to you, and you did it! I am so proud of you Karen…to have conquered anorexia, and to have married and had 6 beautiful, healthy children. Maybe, it is time for you to be able to help others, through your story. Have you ever thought about it Karen?"
"A bit," said Karen," It's just that I would be revealing all my hidden demons and problems and I am not sure if I could do that. I don't know if I could do that!" "But Karen, you also have to think of the fact that you are a role model for women everywhere, and especially young girls…who will get caught in the web of eating disorders. There are hundreds of thousands of girls and boys out there like Kristi, who will lose their lives because they don't have a way out of the darkness," said Evelyn with conviction, but not in a preachy way.
"I know. You are right Evelyn. I don't want others to suffer the way that I did, or Kristi did…it's an awful thing to have to go through," said Karen. She thought about it, and knew that she could do it. She still had her journals in which she had written some of her deepest fears and thoughts. She wrote stories of her life in there. Her control for her own independence and her own life. It was a part of her…this collection of ideas and her beliefs.
Jon came back downstairs and said the babies were in bed. He went on outside, but not before giving a hug and a kiss to Evelyn. She was the type of woman, that was approachable and full of love. He also had such a deep admiration for her especially since Karen spoke well of her, and that she had tried to help Karen and her battle with anorexia, by loving her.
Karen and Evelyn went upstairs, and began to unpack and throw most of the things in the laundry chute, which led to the main floor. Karen knew that she had several days of laundry and unpacking, but she didn't mind. She looked forward to it. This was a part of her life, that she loved. Helping to make sure that her family was well taken care of. She knew that some women felt that she was taking a step back, but she knew and felt that she was actually taking a step forward. This was what she had always wanted. To have a family. Her life was complete, and with this she smiled, as she turned on the radio in the bedroom and began to sing.
