Sometimes There is No More....the Passing of My Dearest Friend, Carole Provenzale

Sometimes there is no more.  Sometimes, someone we cherish with all of our hearts and our souls, never recovers from an illness and we are never able to share our heart felt thoughts and love with them again.

Carole Provenzale and I met here in the virtual world of Active Rain back in June of 2007. She was one of the very first people to welcome me here on Active Rain and held out a hand in friendship that was one of the most caring and supportive I've ever known.

A gentle and kind person, Carole was the first to give support to a struggling AR member and always there watching with concern if someone had been missing for awhile or wasn't their usual self.

She had a gift for empathy and compassion that was not of this world.
Although she was a tiny person, her heart and strength were beyond measure.  She always showed incredible strength for others and yet, when it came to herself, she often seemed vulnerable and unable to combat the many hardships the world threw at her.

Her life was not an easy one, however she lived it with the most vibrancy and determination of anyone I've ever known.  When the weather was good and she was able to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, people and the city, she would muster the strength and enthusiasm to get out there and LIVE.

She loved people, nature, her children, her parents, her friends, animals and life.
She also loved to help her hundreds of clients who were exeriencing problems and came to her for her advice on Feng Shui.
Carole was the kind of Feng Shui consultant who went beyond a mere consultation. She became attached to her clients and would worry over them like a Mother hen, always giving, giving, giving, no matter what it took from herself and her own time and energy.
That's just the way she was.

She lived for the betterment of the earth and it's beings. Carole could never understand the unethical things here on this planet and her and I would often discuss this for many long hours. She just couldn't fathom why some people would be mean or hurtful to others and it perplexed her greatly.

Carole was the kind of person who was always able to see the big picture in any situation and drew to herself a multitude of kind and caring people, particularly here on Active Rain.

She was amongst the only writers I ever knew whose every post not only nourished the mind and spirit, but imparted great wisdom and love and guidance to her readers.

I will miss our many long conversations and her gentle guidance and advice.
She was always the one I turned to, whenever I was struggling with an issue of any kind, and her insight and grace would give me back a clarity and strength that helped me to see situations for what they truly were. As my friend, she always wanted me to be happy and more than anything, to be myself.

Although I never really believed in the concept of 'soulmates', I have to say that Carole and I were soul-friends.
We were on the same wavelength in all matters and our conversations would stretch on for hours in that effortless way in which time seemed to not exist.

Carole has two beautiful children, Laura and Adam. Carole doted on her children and taught them all she knew.

Laura has her Mom's great intuitive capacity and gift for Feng Shui and the same sensitivity and goodness that's so rare in the world today.

I will miss Carole beyond belief. When she had been in the hospital the past many months, I kept praying and hoping and I believed she would recover.
I would call her there and my heart would break to hear her fragile voice and her sense of hope fading.

No matter what, I never believed for even an instant that there would be no more.

I always believed she would recover and go back home and carry on her business and vist the Cape again this summer and finally get to Ontario to spend some time here with me. I really believed that she would regain her strength, like she always had before, and that Laura would have her Mom back with her at home and that Carole's Mom would once again have her only remaining child back.

I believed that we would have many more long conversations that went on for hours while we discussed the issues in her life and those in mine, and would laugh at the irony in life and often at ourselves.

I believed there would be more. More time with Carole. More beautiful insight and love and caring and wisdom from Carole, for everyone who crossed her path.

I tried to never even think of the possibility that there would be no more. That perhaps Carole would leave this earth and there would be no more.

Now I know, sometimes there is no more.

When I was talking with Carole's daughter this morning, I could feel Carole's presence and Laura could too.
Carole will live on in the hearts and spirits of those who knew and loved her and whenever I see a butterfly from now on, I will think of Carole.

Carole is gone now to be in a kinder more gentler place where, like the butterflies she so dearly loved, her spirit can wander free in a light-filled universe where there is no pain and only goodness prevails.

Please drop by Carole's blog. Laura has written a beautiful tribute to her Mom.

I will always cherish you and our friendship, Carole, and will always miss you.

Thank you. For everything you've done for all of those who have crossed your path throughout your life and for always striving to make this world a better place.

To quote one of your favourite songs of all time,

"....this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you."  You always were and always will be my 'forever friend'.

~Jo