Last summer while putting time and energy into taming Henry, I did dream and have a vision of him sitting on my lap during the cold winter. Well, it might have been a small dream in the whole scheme of things, but it was a dream. And it came true!
Henry finally came into the house in October and snuggles with me while watching television and in bed. He is my constant companion; he follows me around like a dog. He holds a special place in my heart because of the time I invested in becoming his friend and gaining trust.
It has been quite awhile since my last post. Not totally sure why I have been neglecting this part of my life, but I do know it has been a brutal winter. We have had below zero temps for weeks and a ton of snow. The snow would be awesome if it were warm enough to enjoy the outdoors.
Normally New Years Day is one of my favorite holidays because it feels like a clean slate, a fresh start, etc. This year it didn't hold that feeling for me, and I have been a bit off my game since. Along with the weather, I have had a couple viruses that have gotten me down plus my mood just doesn't seem as upbeat as usual. Some days I have a hard time getting up from my nap and at times go three days without showering which is not normal for me. It's not a depression that knocks you down flat; just an undercurrent of melancholy.
I find myself thinking often of my parents and my sister; the hole that remains in my soul due to those losses. At times I find myself transported to an earlier time and feel my parents surrounding me. The last time I drove past my home place, I had to keep myself from turning into the driveway because I was sure my dad was sitting in his easy chair drinking brandy and watching the evening news. Perhaps as one loses more of the people that made them who they are and draw ever closer to our own end, we go back to those times.
Obviously, those earlier days weren't all rosy but nevertheless, they felt secure. Those people cared for and nurtured me and were part of my lives longer than any one else. So there is a deep sense of loss.
Spring will come again and so my soul will rise from the ashes once again.
Thought: In the Midst of Winter, I found there was within myself, an invincible summer. Albert Camus
During the holidays I was playing with my grandchildren at my daughter's home. One of the items we were playing with was the dollhouse and dolls that go with it. When I saw the mother and father, I just had to take a photo and reflect on how it portrayed reality.
As you can see, Dad is fully dressed and looking dapper while Mom is missing clothing and an arm. As usual, the man is relaxed and put together while the woman has been doing all the work with home and kids. You know, life just ain't fair!
Thought for the day: Sometimes I wonder if men and women are really suited for each other. Perhaps they should live next door to each other and visit now and then. Katherine Hepburn
Again it has been awhile since posting, and during that time Henry has become quite comfortable in his new life. He has now had all his vaccinations, deworming, ridden of fleas and ear mites and been neutered. Through all that trauma, he has become more attached to me rather than rejecting me.
He now does typical cat stuff such as sitting in front of the computer screen while I'm trying to use it, curling up on my lap while I'm watching television and batting items around the house. He actually follows me around like a puppy.
He and Maxine have come to some type of agreement which is nice. Henry loves to sleep with me when I go back to bed in the morning after Brian goes to work. He shows up some times during the night but seems to prefer to wander around during that time. I do wish he would realize he can show his love for me in other ways other than licking me; at times he even licks my hair. Not good.
He has become quite a handsome cat, and I am still a bit baffled as to why I love him so much. I find myself having a great amount of respect for his ability to survive in the wild battling predators, weather, disease and traffic. He is a miracle cat in my eyes. Now and then he will sit by the patio door and watch birds, squirrels, etc, and I wonder if he longs for the old life. However, he has made no attempt to escape to the outdoors.
Quite a few times in my life I have learned to "never say never". I was never going to get another cat, but fate won out and now Henry David is a big part of my life.
Thought for the day: Cats are connoisseurs of comfort. James Herriot
I have been pondering lately the difficulty of grasping the present moment. Humans seem to be able to think of the past and dream of the future, but living in the present is extremely hard. I am guilty of it, no doubt about that. In fact, I have always loved looking at the past through photos, books, thoughts, memories, etc. I am finding the more I think about living in the present, the less thoughts I have about the future. Perhaps it comes from being in my 50s and realizing I have more past than future, and the present is quite important.
It seems that we are able to view the past through tainted lenses; we remember the good and forget the bad. Our minds skew the past and polish the future, but it's too much effort to change the present. We also view it through our own personal experience. If you asked three siblings about their childhood, you would most likely get three different responses. We are all individuals with our own perspectives and thought processes. We always seem to think the future will be better. Once this happens, then this..... So it makes me wonder, is our present really that bad that we can't enjoy it? Children seem to be able to live in the present until they reach puberty and start thinking about cars, dating, college, etc.
This morning I saw this video which touched me greatly and made me want ever more to live in the present moment. It's really all we have.
Thought for the day: Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Buddha
On occasion I will walk on a road outside Colfax that makes a nice loop back into town. I have noticed that people like to drink beer and litter on that stretch of road which is a pet peeve of mine. So last time I walked with my husband, and we picked up cans. We only made it about 1/4 mile before bags were full so will have to make another go of it at some point. Below is a photo of what we found and why I now refer to it as the Old Milwaukee Road.
This experience confirmed a couple things for me....Wisconsin folks love beer and some people are fools.
Thought for the day: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein
Henry has been creeping out more just to see what is going on. For the most part, he stays in the basement or at the top of the steps. However, on occasion, he will check out what might be going on in other parts of the house. Below is a photo of him watching us in the kitchen and dining room.
As a typical cat, he does things on his own time and when he feels like it.
Thought for the day: "Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this." - Anonymous
