With heavy heart I respond by thanking Cactuskate for her informative ways and humor as well. Her health issues and passing are part of a picture much larger than we may ever understand but know that she was called for a reason and now she lives without the pain she so regally endured.
She will be missed and I, for one, am thankful for sharing the COTH bb grief with such kind and meaningful individuals. I am thankful for being able to feel our group support.
I gasped when I opened this thread - how terribly, utterly sad. 
I was wondering about her yesterday, as I hadn’t received a recent email update on her health, and thought to myself that she was probably too busy riding her beloved horse - complete with oxygen tank.
She made me laugh, smile, think; and while battling her own health problems, reached out to comfort me when my family went through a terrible February of health crises.
I will miss her terribly and am baffled that she’s no longer with us.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Palisades:
Compared with the outpouring of love and sadness here, that obituary seems so inadequate. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think that was just the announcement of services… there might be a more complete obituary tomorrow.
I get the old Calvin and Hobbes comic strips every morning by email… today’s, which I opened before checking the BB, seems especially significant.
I was rereading some of Kathy’s old posts on threads that people have bumped or linked to, and I had forgetten about her sig line, which always made me laugh: “The older I get, the better I used to be… but who the heck cares?” 
but right now I am trying very hard to just focus on what a wonderful, funny person she was.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her husband Gary, and all her family and friends.
Rest in peace, Kath.
and though I was unlucky to be among those who didn’t know her, I certainly took a “crash course” on “Cactu-skate” last night…“inspiring” doesn’t begin to tell the story-that photo with the oxygen tank, and her description of it are simply awesome! I’m sure she will always be with us now, whether we knew her or not…
MCL
She will be truly missed. She was so brave and strong, this news strikes me as sudden and shocking. I have no words…
When I had my neurological problem and could not ride for 5 months, and then was mis-diagnsed with lung cancer, Cactuskate emailed me with condolences and the nicest thoughts imaginable. I don’t think She even knew she was sick then… and that she would be the one needing strength from other people. She just gave of herself freely, because she had so much to give.
Sadly, with my sporadic attendance on the board this winter, I did not even know she was sick. I can’t believe that I missed the threads about her illness.
Cactuskate, belatedly, I need to thank you for being kind and generous and stong and a role model. I know you can hear us all praise you. You deserve it. God Bless.
-Ryan
My VERY UN-expert opinion.
Wow, I only made it to page 2 before I began to bawl, I mean full fledged bawling, tears and all.
All I can say is what a great, inspiring woman she was.
She never let her Cancer get in the way of her great sense of humor and her kindness.
For a woman with such problems, she was definately a devoted horsewoman.
She will be remembered in everybody’s heart as a person who was very nice and caring and very trustworthy.
It will be sad here without her.
Rest in Peace Cactuskate.
I for one can say that 2002 has not been even remotely a good year. There are too many deaths this year, to many young people.
She was a fighter!
REST IN PEACE CACTUSKATE!
Money talks… but all mine ever says is good-bye.
Gwen, look at the first post on the thread “An absent bulletin boarder checks in…” It’s been bumped up. The “rocketman” picture is an attachment.
I don’t know about the “best posts” but we did take up a collection and in this weeks Chronicle (which I’m guessing you’ll receive next February) there is a FP, 4/c ad as a memorial to her. 
– Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
Here’s a pic that Taryn posted of the group at The Oaks International, when some of us BB’ers met.
visit www.victorianfarms.com
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mbamissaz:
This truly wonderful woman lost her battle with cancer over the weekend…<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I was afraid when I saw the subject title that this was going to be the news.
I never met her in person, but if she was half as nice in the flesh as she was here, her real life friends have lost bigtime.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
She’s still making me laugh
Because I, blonde, do not get “Cactu Skate” at all. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You’re kidding, right?
~Erin B #1
A priest, a nun, an Irishman, a Scotsman, a cowboy, a lawyer, a salesman, and a blonde all walk in to a bar. The bartender says, “Hey, is this some kind of joke?”
Rather puts everything in perspective doesn’t it? May God rest her soul.
Reading this whole tribute to Cactuskate accually made me cry. And i dont cry easily. I may not have known her, but she seemed like the bravest person on this planet. She was never down and even rode with her oxygen tank! My condolences to all of her family and friends
Jack Russell Terriers: They’re football shaped for a reason!
What a terrible shame, she seemed such a wonderful person, such an inspiration. She GAVE us so much with her grace.
I remember that picture, also, and always will. Her family and friends are in my thoughts today.
I’d like to propose that we on the BB pool our financial resources and take out a half page ad in the COTH featuring the Rocketman picture of Kathy.
We’d need to get her husband’s permission but I can’t think of a more fitting tribute than to publicly celebrate her courage, spirit – and creativity.
Now I’m crying. Found the obit, linked below:
Those pictures of her on her horse are bringing me to tears. What a wonderful woman, she will never be forgotten.
So very sad, such a terrible loss.i loved her world view and sense of humor. There could NEVER be too many people like her in the world
– Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
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