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| Mom and me |
I feel really grateful that you are reading this blog. No matter when. No matter where. You being here is so important to me. Thank you.
I started Life of Something New to inspire, to explore and to share what I’ve learnt. To up.lift life with something new.
I remember reading books about adventure and heroines when I was a kid, and deciding on moving to New Zealand after reading ‘The flight of the Albatross’ (tender age of 12).
I remember watching ‘Jaws’ and being so frightened of sharks that I read every book in the library about them, and decided I wanted to be a Marine Biologist who studies sharks… on a boat, preferably on the top deck.
Through all of this I remember my mom encouraging adventure, travel and reading. Saying that she always wanted to travel the world. She would make plans for the three of us (her, my brother and I) to meet in far away, exotic places when we were older.
Finally, we left the nest, and she could start to get ready for her around-the-world adventure.
Life stepped in.
Life stepped in.
My dad called me one sunny and warm Sunday afternoon.
“Halley, your mom is in the hospital. She’s been diagnosed with colon cancer. She had to go into surgery to remove two tumors. They’re not sure yet, but it looks like it’s stage 4.”
There was plenty of crying that day. Until I realised that she’s not dead. She’s alive. Still alive.
So for every Plan A, there’s a Plan B, which is SOS: Send Love.
I’m asking for two minutes of your time to help my mom travel the world from her bed.
With postcards.
We can help her travel the world together.
One simple postcard with a sentence describing what the place is like and she’ll be ecstatic.
You see. She really loves postcards.
Postcards from all over the world = WIN for everyone.
Sandy Waldau
PO BOX 15
Glastonbury, CT
06033 USA
Thank you friends!
Update: Sandra Waldau passed away on 12th November 2011 with her daughter, and her friend of 35 years holding her hands. Thank you to everyone who participated and spread the word. She was able to travel the world in her last days with postcards.
x Halley
A Tribute to Sandy Waldau
SOS: Send Love: the Metamorphosis
42 comments:
Hello, I have just found your blog and upon reading this, decided that I am going to stay.
This weekend, I shall send your Mum a postcard from where I am. London, UK. I can not do it sooner as I have to go to the postoffice to buy an overseas stamp and only have Saturday off work.
I hope your mum is okay, and that you are.
Martha x
Halley,
That is heart breaking! I will pray for your mom's recovery. And send a post card from Malaysia!
Love
@ Marthaamay- Thank you from the deepest part of my heart. Thank you.
I became entranced by your photos of Sky and Space. They're beautiful.
@Pooja- Thanks Pooja. You're so sweet and generous. Thank you.
Halley, I am moved to tears. Choking on your beautiful spirit, and that of your mom. You are incredible, and so is she.
Mailing one today from New York City. I have many postcards because I always buy extra. It makes me happy that one of them will be taking a trip to Connecticut to see your Mom.
Love from Roanoke, Virginia on the way!
Hi! I found you from Reddit.com! <3 My name on here is the link to the post from Reddit, if you're curious to see it. :)
Anyway, I'm sending two postcards from Chicago. I couldn't decide which one to send! So it's a two-part trip for her! :D They'll be in the mail tomorrow. <3 <3 <3
Two guaranteed-unique postcards heading your mum's way from New Zealand. Depicting photos I took of Palmerston North in the early dawn while it was still fog-bound. (Even though I am in Hamilton now.)
Another postcard from New Zealand to come. Hope your Mom likes this place ;)
Arohanui,
ellie.
Some from Vero Beach coming, hopefully along with many others. God bless you and your Mom
@Andie- You're so sweet Andie. Thanks for being here.
@Ronda - I love that you buy extras! My mom does that as well so that she has a whole shoe box full of them. She'll be excited to see yours :)
@Kristen- That's fantastic. Thanks Kristen!
@ Julie - That is outstanding. Thank you for sharing that. I am so grateful. A two-part trip sounds exhilarating!
@+K - That is so thoughtful. Thank you! They sound gorgeous. :)
@99 - Ellie, She will definitely love it. She's very curious and I'm sure you have something new to share.
@ ButtercupRN - Thank you. Your kindness is divine.
Hi Halley, this is such a lovely idea. I'm a Kiwi living and travelling around Europe and I'm going to try my best to send your Mom postcards from wherever I go. Just sent one from Germany! Best wishes to your whole family xo
Love from Des Moines, IA!
xoxox LaurenMc
@ Zoe - What an adventure you're living! Thanks for sending postcards to share it with my mom. It's so kind of you.
@ Lauren - Thank you so much! Another place full of love.
A friend of your mom's told me about what you are doing. I am somewhat shut in myself and cannot travel to many new places, but I bet I can find something to mail that touches on something new. I will think about it and will, in the meantime put San's address in my address book. Perhaps even unexotic, but beautiful places will help as well. Clearly you and your mother are mutually blessed with one another. take care. It's a beautiful idea.
I don't live anywhere "exotic" of really special, but I will be participating. I'm spreading the news via Twitter too. I hope your mother is doing better!
Hi Halley,
I am extremely moved by your post and all the blog love you have received. It really shows the kind and magical world we live in by the response here. I wish you and your family all the best during this time and will send out a postcard asap!
@Jeannette - Thanks Jeannette. I'm sure whatever you send will be beautiful and she'll appreciate it and cherish it.
@Rachelia - Thanks for spreading the word! I'm sure where you live is interesting and beautiful. :)
@Laura - The world is definitely kind and magical! I am so stoked with how much help people are willing to give. Thanks so much for your help!
I'm just off now to post one from sunny Australia....
Hello from Woodstock, New York!
I'm a friend of Andrea Hanson's saying HI and sending love to you and your Mom.
Wishing her - and you - all the best,
Janus
Hi!
Halley, this is a beautiful and wonderful idea!!
I will be sending one from Pennsylvania. I will tell my friends and hopefully they can help too.
@Another Laura- Thank you! It sounds wonderful there. Since it's pretty cold and dark here in NZ.
@Anon - Thanks Janus! Your well wishes are deeply appreciated.
@ Mel - Thanks for spreading the word Mel and for sending a postcard. You're so sweet!
Halley, what a loving idea! Love to you and Sandy, from Lorraine in Glastonbury
This is a really wonderful thing that you are doing for your mother! I am American and I live in Boston, but this summer I have been traveling around Japan. I am so glad that I saw this before going back home because now I can send your mother a postcard from Japan. It will be on its way soon! Best wishes to your mother and all of your family.
My boyfriend cured his brother's brain tumour by getting him to eat apricot seeds which are high in Vit B17.
Cancer can be slowed down and even cured by the correct diet, look into it.
The Gershan Institute cures people with their diet plan.
I wish you and your family the best of luck, and remember, medical people cant make money from you if youre cured so many wont tell you how to cure yourself. There's no money in a cure, do some research and discover a cheaper and healthier way of getting better :)
Sorry, thats Gerson, not Gershan.
I found this via Yes and Yes. As a fellow post card collector, I'd be happy to send one to your mom!
How many has she collected so far?
Sending one from Pittsburgh!
Hey Halley;
I just read your post following a link from YesandYes....I am leaving in a week to travel across Canada....Ill send a postcard from the road and much positive energy!
-Hayley
Hello :)
I just stumbled across your blog, and I love it. I will send a postcard from Ireland. :)
Love to you and your Mum x
Just saw your blog! It's very touching and I'll be sending postcards from Australia!
All the best to your mom! xoxo
Sending out a post card today from Seattle. I'll also add a link back from my blog to help spread the word.
She'll be getting one from Romania too. As soon as I get to a post office.
I love your wonderful idea & have just send a card from Germany. All the best!
Thanks Amy Forder! Ireland is such a beautiful place I hear.
HP - Thank you so much! She'll love to see them.
Samantha- You're such a sweetheart. Thank you!
Amelia - Romania - how exciting!! She'll be so excited to learn about it!!
Carocka - Thank you so much!
One on the way from Northern Ireland!
One on the way from Brighton, UK - will drop it into the postbox tomorrow!
Dear Halley.
I sent 3 postcards to your mom from France this morning. I couldn't decide which one I liked best of the three, so I just sent them all!
I really hope they reach her safely and that she receives them well.
Very best wishes, Kate x
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this and I am totally doing it today!! I almost cried when I read it because my can identify somewhat--my dad had cancer and ultimately died of it. I would have loved to do something amazing like this for him.
What an amazing daughter you are! Sending one out from Oklahoma :)
San. I love you.
-gale
This is beautiful and heartbreaking. I live in Utah which isn't very exotic but I will be getting a postcard out to your mother first thing tomorrow (the mail has already been picked up on campus or it would be today) Our mothers do so much to shape us into who we are. Ali
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