Today I’m a Grieving Pet Owner

He was just 5 weeks old and no bigger than the size of a softball. It was nearly 17 years ago when the furriest, blackest kitten came to live with me. I named him “Jazz” – as in “all that!”

I was a young, single woman living in a small apartment in downtown Holstein, Iowa. The moment I got my hands on him, I knew it was right. He was quiet, but I could feel him purring like the rumble of a classic car.

Over his long life, he quietly put up with:
– 3 apartments
– 4 houses
– 2 states
– 1 husband
– 1 Jack Russell Terrier (who liked to wrestle)
– 2 kids
– and 1 two-week adventure when he ran away (I still wonder what he did all that time.)

Much like any grieving process, I have passed through stages (often without realizing). Not until I took him to the vet last week did I start to notice all the things he was no longer doing. He was good for me — and I for him. But, sadly, it was time.

Hats off to Jazz — the greatest cat I’ll ever call my own!

Today I’m a List Maker

As I get older, I can’t help but notice how much more quickly time seems to slip away. Today I took the time to reflect on the type of things that I did to keep busy (or relax) over the past five days — outside of the doctors’ visits and NASA Tour, of course. Here’s just a little insight as to how I spent my long, holiday weekend.*

Brushing the cat
Checking email
Crossword puzzles
Doing laundry
Eating
Facebook
Feeding my daughter
Fixing breakfast (No, I did NOT cook any dinners/lunches)
Helping my son with homework
Napping
Packing
Reading
Rubik’s cube
Shopping
Surfing the web
Swimming
Talking on the phone
Texting friends
Twitter
Watching a movie
Watching TV
Writing my blog

*The items you see here do not reflect in any way the importance or frequency of the activities themselves. Each of the activities have only been listed once, although it is possible for some and/or many of them to have occurred multiple times throughout this particular time period. All activities appearing in this work are true to my life. Any resemblance to those of other persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Today I’m a Homebody

After a fabulous evening out with my husband last night, I stayed pretty close to home all day. Thanks to our neighbor for taking in our kids for the evening, we were able to go out and be “grown-ups” at a cocktail party in honor of my cousin and his bride-to-be. If the wedding is half as nice as this evening out, I can’t wait for October! Best wishes you two!

As for today, it started with my “meowing alarm clock” (aka: my 16-year-old cat) just after 8 am. Made it to church, treated ourselves to donuts and a sausage roll, then headed home for a little of this and a whole lot of that.

Actually, it’s been a nice day around the house. Washed, dried and folded a lot of laundry, watched a movie and little golf, tried a catnap with my daughter, restocked the fridge/pantry after hubby got home with groceries, visited with my parents and helped my son with piano lessons. All in all, a pretty great day.

Today I’m a pet waste exterminator

I woke up this morning to the sounds of my beloved cat crying outside my bedroom door.  I came out, rubbed his ears and then discovered the choice “gifts” he left me in the dining room. Apparently he doesn’t understand that every time he eats dog food, he gets sick. And if I fill his bowl with cat food before bedtime, he proceeds to binge on ALL of it and purge on the dining room floor. This morning, he also left a not-so-subtle hint that he disapproved of the state of his litter box. He’s getting very particular in his old age (16 years). The dining room again played host to his aggression. Anyone have recommendations for excellent carpet treatments/spot removers? My dining room carpet thanks you!