Liz Logic

CAT BURGLAR

Yesterday a cat burglar came into our home.  His name is Smokey.  He is 10 years old, stands about 11" tall on his four legs, weighs a bit under 10 pounds, has the biggest green eyes and his hair is black with touches of white and lots of gray roots (as have many of us).  

And what did this cat burglar do?  He stole our hearts.

For the past 10 years, Smokey has brought companionship and joy to a number of residents in a special care section of our senior community. When a notice was sent out that he was in need of a new home, I jumped at the chance to have him live with us.  The by-laws state that you can bring a pet with you when you move in but can not bring one in once you are settled as a resident.  We had lost our seventeen year old cat Samantha to diabetes not long before we relocated.  So we felt we would never have a chance to share our home with another.  But Smokey was an exception, he has been in our community since it opened.  It was hoped he could stay here.

When my husband agreed we should look into it, I grabbed the phone as I am never want to do.  (Been phone phobic my whole life and I'm just not going to stress over it any more - that is what the internet is for.)  My heart dropped when I heard we were second in line - just had to hang on to the end of the day to see how it would work out.  The other couple have known Smokey for 10 years and wanted to make sure he would stay here.  (My husband and I are still newbies at 1 year.)  

Things worked out so perfectly. Smokey moved in bag and baggage - it took a large cart to get his belongings to us.  AND - the other couple offered to take care of him should we travel.  So nice. He has already claimed the bed in our guest bedroom as his own where he can keep his eyes on comings and goings perched on the windowsill. 

Now - I never thought I would be reading ingredient labels for my cat's treats.  I'm just beginning to do that seriously for us and as for our poor children - were there labels back then?  I just shiver to think of over meals of tuna or hamburger helper. "Our" Smokey is on a special senior diet.  I wasn't about to give him junk for treats - right?  I chose a couple a "natural" ingredient packages - one of which brings "outdoor" nutrients to an inside cat.  (Is that like grass and dirt?)  I even found one treat that believe it or not was made with "free range chicken" - now wouldn't that automatically come with grass and dirt?

Right now Smokey is sharing the couch with his Dad - both sound asleep. The staff member that delivered Smokey to us wished for him a well deserved wonderful retirement.  I promised her that we will do our best to assure that - after all he has already added so much to our very own.

Forrest Gump's Momma had it right - Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get.  

   

Whatever floats your boat!

At times I forget just how different we are.   Lately I haven't gone far away from our own community to see this.  You would think that a bunch of "seniors" living in protected bubble would be of a singular mind.  But, then just think about how many years each has had to collect opinions and likes and dislikes of our own.

I've always been aware of the subtleties of my surroundings - the breeze in the trees - sun bouncing off water - clouds in the sky - you get the picture. I love nature and the creatures that live within.  My aunt was a people watcher.  If she were not sitting in her favorite place ever (on a bench in Maine next to the ocean overlooking the lighthouse at the Nubble in York), she would love to sit anywhere and watch humanity stroll by.  I guess between the two of us the surrounding landscape was covered.  Maybe it comes as we get older, for recently I have getting my own chuckles out of observing and listening to the myriad of personalities around me.

Recently in church, our organist played a lovely, soft, almost flute like prelude.  I found it so calming, it truly readied me for worship.  The choir was small that day but I thought the double trio carried the anthem wonderfully.  Their voices once again filled my soul.  After church I mentioned the lovely music to one of my neighbors.  She in turn said she found it boring and thought he should keep to  more dramatic music to set her mind for worship.  One of my other neighbors said the choir was terrible.  They did not harmonize at all.  Then said perhaps her hearing aide needed adjusted. (Chuckle in my mind!)

A group of us went to see the touring Norman Rockwell exhibit.  Of course there was the usual difference of opinion as to whether he was an artist or just an illustrator.  His work is so detailed and yes, on the Saturday Evening Post, it truly told a story without words.  But in my mind, he was a spectacular artist who specialized in illustration.  I know, I know, back in art classes many said he wasn't an artist for his work was a money making job.  He sold out his creativity.  I just thought, sour grapes, don't you wish yours did. But here again, each of us sees the same canvas but comes away with a different interpretation.   I suppose some think of NC Wyeth as "just an illustrator" but I would say have you seen his originals for Robinson Crusoe?  I see an artist in those brush strokes. (Off your soapbox - Liz - remember different strokes for different folks - pun intended).

We stopped at Red Lobster after the exhibit.  The neighbor to the left of me thought her bowl of clam chowder was just wonderful.  Across the table I heard - ewww - this is not good at all.  (Chuckle)

Yes, my aunt had something going here.  Guess I had to get to a place in life where I slowed down just enough to listen.  There's more joy in life than hugging trees.

In my own home.  My husband loves black licorice and I can't stand anise in any form.  Even worse, he enjoys liver.  Ewww!  But I guess I trump that with my sushi - yum!

As my daughter would say - What ever floats your boat.

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Lately I have been making an effort to slow down a bit so each day doesn't fly by in a blur.  We went to see Blind Side this afternoon.  Whether you are into football or not - this is one movie of human kindness that I recommend to everyone.

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I can't remember this quote verbatim nor do I remember the author BUT this is what I have been thinking of a lot.    The past is done, the future has promise but is not guaranteed -  today is a GIFT that is why it is called the PRESENT.   

George Did It

I did mention that I was going to take a break for myself and go to see Up In The Air.  Well two hours with George Clooney was a wonderful vacation (and the movie was good too!)  My friend and I just happened to sigh (I guess not quietly) at the same time in one scene.  To whit my husband and his friend got a bonus laugh.

My break next week is a trip to King of Prussia Mall to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit.  My husband decided to join the group when he found out the trip included lunch at the Red Lobster.  We each find our arts in our own way. 

Now I need to start focusing on the little action each day that is just for me, like my daughter is doing.  But I''ve found that taking time to do that, does just that - takes time.  Looks like I need a tutorial on relaxation.  

I picked up an interesting book at our monthly book review given by a lady that comes here from the library.  I am going to spend some time at night reading that in bed.  I got a neat light from my husband for Christmas that clips on the book so I can read without disturbing him.  Actually the first night I used it, I tried to open the plastic packaging quietly and accidentally popped all three little batteries out.  Had to put on all the lights to find them and made loud complaints to myself trying to get them all back in the tiny compartment  with the positive and negative terminals in the right direction. So, if the truth be known there is not much that disturbs him.  But, the gentle beam does make it cozier for me.

A SHOUT OUT - to me. After 3 years of research including this last year of writing, I just finished the last chapter of my novel - historical fiction.  I'm going to miss that creativity - but have a feeling that the real work has just begun.

AN INSPIRATION - I found this quite a while ago in our local newspaper and keep it on my laptop.  

 "Your talent is God's gift to you. - What you do with it is your gift back to God" - Leo Buscaglia                              

                                                                                  

     

**OOPS! - Lost a hy'phen.

Please forgive the mistake in my daughter's BLOG mentioned in my previous post.

PLEASE GO TO   http://www.virtual-zen.com    :~)

~~~~~ FAMILY PLAGIARISM ~~~~~

 

Before I take an idea from my daughter, let me give you the address to her BLOG ~

                                 www.virtualzen.com

In her Jan 1 post, "MY NEW YEARS REVOLUTION - 31 DAYS OF SELF CARE" you will find some links to lead you to some inspiration for doing something good for your self daily.

Now for the plagiarism.  Her daughter aka my granddaughter asked her what a New Year's Revolution was.  She told her it is 'resolution' then thought about it a bit more and decided just what she needed to start her new year was a revolution defined in my Encarta Dictionary as a dramatic change in ideas or practice.  

A change - could that be the way to try to pin down that minimum 10% of "selfish" time for myself?  I did hear that the definition of crazy was doing the same thing over and over thinking you would get a different result.  And a revolution requires dramatic change.  Am I too old for anything dramatic?  Or am I just in a crazy rut.

Cheryl is going for doing something just for herself for 31 days and recording it in her blog.  Just taking time to do something just for herself is truly a change.  Perhaps after doing so daily this self-action could turn into a habit.  As her Mom, I hope so.

As for me, I have started a journal (done so before but not on the computer) - I am calling it my BLOB! for most of the time that is how I feel.  It will be well hidden - you know like with a secret code.  I think I can be more honest with myself this way.  Honest with myself especially with food and time - that's a dramatic change so guess I'm on my way.

I noticed that my daughter took 45 minutes for herself for a walk on a chilly sloppy day.  She enjoyed her alone time.

That's not the break in my self imposed over scheduled life that I would choose.  Tomorrow I hope to pull off a 2 hour break taking in the movie Up In The Air. 

On the balance scale of self time - there is a 45 minute walk in the cold or 2 hours with George Clooney.

No contest!!