We Climbed before the Klimb 4 Kim...

We Climbed before the Klimb 4 Kim...
1997's Climb

Friday, December 25, 2015

Christmas....5 years after...



    I really didn't expect to find myself here again....Five years after we lost Kim, on Christmas Day.

    What have I learned?  I've been thinking about the blessings in our lives - more than I can count.  And sometimes, when I find myself slipping, I need to stop and start counting them.  One by one.  1.  My children.  How precious they are.  And resilient.  So caring, I cannot begin to relate how they take care of me, putting me before their own needs.  Especially Autumn, who has become such a little Kim, it is sometimes painful.  And Antonio, who is so caring.  His boxing instructor, a young man of about 17, Elijah, told me the other day that when he is having a bad day, he thinks to himself 'I need to handle myself more like Antonio does'...made my heart swell.  Cody, who is so much like me it is terrifying in some ways, became engaged on Christmas Eve.  Because that is when I proposed to his mother back in 1993.  And he wants to get married when he is 28.  Just like we did.  2. Kim.  How could I have such wonderful, caring, respectful and grateful children without her?  They THANK me when we leave the grocery store.  I ask 'What for?'  'For buying us food' they answer!!!  And I am thankful for the years we had together.  And the memories.  And the holidays we shared.  How special she made me feel.  3.  I am thankful for the people in my life that God has blessed me with.  Those who help get the kids to school.  And after school activities.  Those who call or text them from time to time to see how they are and how their day went.  Those who include us for birthdays and holidays, making us feel welcome and a part of something special.  Connected. One, today, told Autumn they'd help teach her to drive and said she should call him Uncle.  It all may seem small to those who include us, but, when we get home...the kids, you should see/hear them - they feel they are a part of family here, thanks to those who include us!!  Means so much, it is, perhaps, the biggest blessing.  I know they need strong women in their lives.  Not to replace their Mom, because that is not possible.  But to fill in some of the void.  The hole in our hearts.  4.  My job.  Barnes & Noble may not be doing well, Amazon is amazing, but it is still a great place to work.  And the team that I work with is perhaps the finest in my 28 year career.  I am blessed.

      Each day has it's challenges.  I wish I could have done some things differently, but am at peace, because I know that I cannot go back and change anything.  But, I know I was a strain on those who helped me most and I am sorry for that.


There are so many blessings...I don't have time to write about all of them.  And, as always, the kids need me right now.  It is harder to find time to write.  But they are good, they had a good day.  We brought Kim up quite a bit, as we continued traditions like making ciopinno (seafood soup) on Christmas Eve.  And making pizzels and biscotti.  And making homemade raviolis on Christmas Day for lunch before heading to Angie's.  All good. I will try to find the time later to transfer Christmas photos from my phone to the PC so I can share them with you.

Merry Christmas!!




Tuesday, September 22, 2015

All Souls Day Procession

<div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AllSoulsProcessionWeekend/posts/693448717424040:0" data-width="500"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AllSoulsProcessionWeekend/posts/693448717424040:0"><p>From Dave Conca: &quot;I met my wife, Kimberly Conca, at the age of 12, when we were in 7th grade, in Bethlehem, Pa. She was...</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AllSoulsProcessionWeekend">All Souls Procession Weekend</a> on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AllSoulsProcessionWeekend/posts/693448717424040:0">Tuesday, September 22, 2015</a></blockquote></div></div>




            All Souls Day Procession will be on Sunday, November 8th this year.  We've gone the last 5 years.  They do a huge slide show on the side of one of the tall buildings down town.  Thousands of loved ones who have passed on.
             Each year, I've told myself, how nice it would be for Tucson to see Kimmy up there, larger than life, on that building....
             And yet, there have been obstacles that I could not seem to clear...
             Until this year!  Melanie, from the All Souls Day Procession committee, helped me get Kim's pic submitted.  If you are in the area, stop by and see!!!

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Klimb 4 Kim 5...SATURDAY!!!


Here's where we will meet Saturday morning for Klimb 4 Kim 5!!  Just behind St Mary's Hospital on Anklam.  We'll gather and start walking promptly around 8:00a.m.ish.  Hope to see you there!!  We've had a great donation response, thank you!!! 

Today would have been Kimmy's 50th birthday! !
The kids wanted to go to the DeGrazia chapel and light her candles.


Followed by dinner at Kim's favorite, Zona 78!



Mary,Brinley, Kinsley, Emilio, Andrea, Mark, Angie...






And kids...Tonio, Breanna, Brendon, Cody, Lexy and Autumn...
Always a nice time...

And Kimmy, timeless...with Cajun...



Please help if you can... or help by joining us to walk...

Checks can be made payable to the Kimberly Conca Fund and mailed to Carondelet Foundation
2202 N Forbes BLVD
Tucson, AZ 85745...
Or get it to me and I can run it over - I'm there often.
















Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Klimb 4 Kim 5





            Here we go, another climb up A Mountain!!  I remember the first climb we made, shortly after we moved here.  Kim found the event in the newspaper (we did not have a computer or internet - ahhhh, the simple times...).


             "Let's do this Dave.  It's for a good cause."


              At the time, we didn't know anyone with cancer.  No one.


             And now, now so many that have touched our lives are fighting courageously, just as Kim did...This is why this event is so important to me.  To us.  It will be the major fund raiser for Kim's foundation, as well.  I'm running out of steam.  Kim was tireless.  I'm pretty much down to work...and the kids.  I'm one place or the other.
             This walk is special for so many reasons.  To remember.  To share time with so many of you that have been there for us, to walk, talk, laugh...


              So Saturday, March 7th, we will do it again.  Starting promptly at 8:00ish, we will depart from the St Mary's Medical Center at 1702 W Anklam, just west of St. Mary's Hospital.  Please join us.  We are asking a $25 donation to Kim's foundation, or whatever you choose to contribute.  Please make checks payable to the Kimberly Conca Fund.  You can get cash or check to us and we will deliver it to the foundation or, you can mail it to:
                                                                               Carondelet Foundation
                                                                               2202 N Forbes Blvd
                                                                               Tucson, Az 85745
                                                                                c/o Kimberly Conca Fund


              To date, the fund has helped countless families here in Tucson with loved ones in the Carondelet hospitals by providing grants for food, gas, bills, etc.  $10K towards the new, all faiths, chapel at St Joseph's Hospital, $6K towards diagnostic machines for St. Joe's and, we just completed paperwork for the purchase of industrial strength recliners for ICU ($16K)!!


              Thank you so much for all you do!