Tuesday 13 October 2009

MY FRIEND KATE

A couple of years ago whilst at the Theatre attending a show, I was aware of something happening next to the person singing. I could not work out what was happening and kept trying to figure out if it was the stage lighting or a smudge on my glasses that was making me "see things". I soon realised that, yes, I was seeing things, but not things of this world. As the singer had stepped onto the stage everything was quite normal. The moment he opened his mouth to sing is when everything changed for me.

Once I realised and accepted that there was indeed "something or someone" standing next to him I linked in. This has never happened to me in a theatre like this before. At the end of the show, the star said he would be signing autographs in the foyer. As I went to leave, I found myself drawn towards him. I had received information for him but didn't want to approach him as it is rather naff and besides, he would probably think I was a nutcase. However, I wasn't able to leave and I saw him glancing over at me several times. I did approach in the end and asked if I could speak to him privately. He came to one side and I gave him what I had received mediumistically during his song. He was stunned and thanked me.

Two weeks later, there was another musical with the same touring production. It was different from the first show we saw him in and had already bought tickets to attend both shows before meeting him. We went along and enjoyed it just as much. This time though, for the whole of the second half, the stage was filled with people (from the world of spirit) each time he came on stage. I knew they were all around him but decided that this time I was NOT going to approach him again. I didn't, but, he did approach me. He asked me to wait until everyone had gone because he wanted to speak to me.

My husband and I stood to one side and as we did, I felt drawn to a lady standing nearby. I kept glancing at her and in the end approached her. I said "you're his mother aren't you". She was very surprised and admitted she was. I then said something to her about him and gave her a message which saw her promptly burst in to tears. I apologised profusely. It hadn't been anything nasty, worrying or something that shouldn't be said. It was an ordinary statement given word for word the way I had it "given" to me to pass on to her. She then gave me her telephone numbers and asked me to call her in a day or two. She said "You have no idea about what you've just said and its meaning, do you?". I admitted I didn't. She said I had made her so happy with that comment and she wanted to explain to me. Even though I told her I didn't need to know she insisted. Her son also talked to me at length and they both wanted a chat about it.

I shall say no more on that matter as it is very private. What I shall say is, that something very big was happening in their lives which is why I think my evening was interrupted as it was. A message HAD to be got through to them and I was probably the only medium there in the audience that evening. The second show and meeting between myself and his mother, Kate was the start of a really deep friendship which continued until this year. Although on tour a lot, as it was her production, she used to e-mail me all the time and we spoke on the telephone. We told each other such secrets that we couldn't share with others. We were of a similar age and had much in common, least of all her son and mine who are of a very similar age.

The touring stopped and she resumed a life where she could once again play her golf and go skiing and on her cruises. One day last year Kate told me that she had to go to hospital for some tests as she wasn't feeling too brilliant. Not too bad, just not excellent and her blood tests had shown she needed further tests. I too, at that time, was having health problems. I had just had an operation which resulted in a very serious post operative infection and was still feeling very tired and lacking of any strength and so we shared our health secrets too. Both of us ended up improving and Christmas came and went. The new year brought terrific news that her son was getting married.

Wonderful news and she was so excited. As the year progressed I started having more health problems and so did she. Once again we jokingly told each other what a pair of old wrecks we were becoming. In the April she went off on a skiing holiday and all went quiet whilst she was away. On her return there was much to do as the wedding was in May and she would be very busy. She told me there was something she wanted to discuss and said she would contact me on her return. She also said she owed me a very long e-mail and would send one as soon as things calmed down.

My birthday, and her son's, are one day apart in March. She and I spoke at that time and she told me she was in training for the "Race for Life" a race done for cancer charities. It was in the July and so she was busy with that as well as everything else. I spoke with her again in April about the race and sponsored her for it, wishing her well with the training and saying I wished I was as fit as she was. Only two weeks after that her son telephoned me and informed me Kate was dying and had less than two weeks left to live. I was in total shock. Kate had just been away skiing and only two weeks ago she had been playing golf. How COULD she be dying? She had asked him to telephone me as she wanted me to know. She apparently lapsed in and out of consciousness from thereon in. Three days after that 'phone call, I received another to tell me that my dear friend, Kate had died.

My health problems continued and I had another operation in July this year. I thought of my dear friend and how our health problems had ended so differently. Although I had another post operative infection and was in a lot of pain, I was going to get better. My dear friend hadn't been so lucky.

On my computer, I have some of her e-mails which I filed. Only because they held certain details I didn't want to forget, dates, names, places etc. I have a bad memory at times and these were important details. That file is named KATE. I cannot delete it yet. I also still have her e-mail addresses on my list and cannot delete those either. Same for all other numbers and things. She died one week before her son's wedding. How terribly sad for him. He sent me a photograph of him with his new bride and they looked stunning. They are both very good looking anyway, but their wedding day finery made them more so.

I shall always miss my dear friend. How strange the way we met and that such a deep friendship should have been forged from that brief meeting. One day I shall be able to delete her name from everything. Not yet though. Rest in peace dear Kate and if you ever want to come back and pass a message for your son, I will be only too happy to give it to him. Miss you terribly, my love always,

your friend

Lorraine. xxx