Misery Loves Company and A Sucker For a Sucker

Why is it that when kids get sick they sleep in their parents bed? I asked Roger if that was the case when he was growing up and he said that he NEVER slept in his parents bed. But that WAS the case when I grew up as you can see by this picture of Ruth and I in mom and dad's bed.

I certainly wouldn't want a sick child spending time in my bed. Think of the germs that would be spread by the coughing, sneezing, drooling and possible throwing up or whatever else a kid might do. But could there be some healing power for the kid in the surrounding, enveloping, comforting quilts and pillows of the parents bed?

When I was in my twenties, going to school and and living at home, I had my wisdom teeth out. I remember coming home and spending the afternoon and evening in mom and dad's bed. Being next to the main living area, I guess it was easier for mom to keep an eye on me and to tend to my misery and moaning requests.

Ruth was actually the sick child in this picture, although she doesn't look very sick...she was sitting up and smiling! Not wanting to spend the day alone, she bribed me with a sucker to get my pajamas on and keep her company. What a little kid won't do for a sucker!

Pet Parents

Taking your pet to the veterinarian is always interesting. I've taken all of my kitties to the vet for one reason or another through the years, whether it be for yearly vaccinations, gettin' em fixed, displaced hip joints, a kitten's refusal to eat due to getting his head squished under the rocking chair, red-rimmed allergic eyes, etc., it's always an adventure.

One thing I've always noticed during our visits to the vet is the "mommy/ baby" relationship between the pets and their owners. I see this in myself and other "pet parents" that I observe. Today I stopped by the vet to pick up some 'Low Allergen' cat food for Zeke. His eyes get red and itchy due to food allergies. Anyway, I was standing at the counter paying for the bag of food when out of the examination area came a young lady "pet parent" holding her baby (puppy). She was cuddling the puppy tightly on her chest while it whimpered softly. The cute little floppy-eared, brown puppy had indeed just undergone a traumatic experience (probably shots) and needed all the tenderness it's mommy could give. As she petted and talked to her "baby," once in a while it would lift up it's little head and lick the bottom of her chin. It was a tender moment and I wanted to be holding that baby!

Just spend some time a the pet clinic waiting room and see if you aren't "feeling the love" that permeates the room. You can see it in the face of every pet parent; the way they look at their pets and try to comfort them. That love even extends to the pets of other owners; names are exchanged, (oh, her name is Fe Fe) compliments are given (her coloring is beautiful!) And when a big brown Lab decides go to the restroom right where he's standing, no one is too upset by the aroma of the rapidly spreading yellow liquid. After all, it's some body's pet... some body's innocent baby!

Nuggets

It's so exciting to see "spring" finally arrive. The snow has receded, buds are forming on trees and things are pushing up from the ground. After a long winter of hibernating in the house I've got my hiking shoes out again and I'm hitting the roads and mountain trails.

The most convenient place for me to walk is on the mountainside above our house. The incline is a good workout for my muscles as well as my heart. As I walk I like to look down at the tracks and droppings to see what kind of animals have passed that way. There are a lot of deer tracks and their droppings and even coyote tracks visible in the muddy spots and across the remaining patches of snow.

Yesterday, in a little clearing some distance up the side of the mountain and overlooking the river and highway below, I came upon some moose nuggets. Having quite a history of moose encounters in Alaska, just the sight of them increased my heart rate even more than it already was. Horrifying memories of being chased and treed by angry moose flashed through my mind. I suddenly realize how vulnerable I was...out in the wilds, all alone, without my shotgun. I also suddenly realized that I needed to visit a restroom immediately!

If you've ever had to avail yourself in the wilds you know that logs can be very helpful. And the only log within sight was one on a little outcropping with a great aerial view of the of the highway.

I am still hoping that no binoculars from below were trained upon me during those next few moments. And as I left the scene I made a mental note to always, always, always, carry a Kleenex, a napkin, a rag...ANYTHING! in my pocket.

A Wishin', A Hopin' and A Dreamin'

Right about now I am SO dreaming of summer. The thing I look forward to doing the most, believe it or not, is mowing the lawn. The birds chirping...the warm sun shining down on my skin...and a gentle, cool breeze, as I walk along behind the mower row by row while it cuts and shapes the grass into a work of art.

I know it sounds a little odd, but I get a sort of strange satisfaction from cutting, shaving and mowing. I think it started years ago as I watched my Dad give my younger brother, Alan, his haircuts. It was a family occasion as we all gathered around and watched precious little red clippings of hair fall from Alan's head. I watched carefully how Dad held and angled the clippers; going around the ears and up the neck and back of the head. I knew just how to do it and I knew where the clippers were kept, and it seemed only natural that I try it out myself.

No one was going to let a five-year old with clippers loose on their hair, so I had to resort to practicing on dolls. And having three sisters with dolls, I got a lot of practice! My sister, Rosalin, is still lamenting her beloved dolls...all with buzz haircuts. For Christmas, instead of getting a doll with hair, I began to get dolls with formed and painted hair...nothing that could be cut, shaved or clipped.

I still love to cut and I'm counting the days until I'm out there in the sunshine with the lawnmower and the weedwacker.

Teddy

I have a huge kitty named Teddy, short for Teddy Bear. He is twice as big and heavy as any other cat and he has long fluffy black fur. When I first got Teddy as a six-week old kitten, it didn't take me long to figure out that he was extremely shy and skittish. During the daytime I have to leave the garage open a few inches as an escape hatch for Teddy. If he hears a loud noise or sees a deer, or if a car drives by, then like a flash Teddy is gone to the garage for safety.

One puzzling thing about Teddy is that as soon as it gets dark at night he suddenly turns brave and wants to wander around outside; up in the woods and even down the road to the neighbor's house. What I don't like is the fact that night-time is the most dangerous time here on the edge of the woods. Coyotes have been spotted and heard howling and yipping as close as just out the window. Big owls are always on the lookout for mice, voles and kitties. One evening last summer I happened to look out the window and see a wolf!

Last night before bedtime I let Teddy outside for a little break before putting him back in the garage for the night. I tried to keep an eye on him from the windows, but before I knew it he had vanished. We are in the middle of a cold spell here and it was only about 11 degrees outside, so I bundled up with my warmest coat, winter scarf and gloves. I grabbed the flashlight and out into the dark frigid night I went. I was surprised to see Teddy sitting just outside of the garage. But as soon as he saw me he started running down the driveway and down the road as fast as he could. Since the roads are covered with ice I had to take it slowly but I could still see his dark form scrambling across the white snow and ice. We have over a foot of hard crusty snow everywhere and it’s so hard that it can be walked on without sinking in. Teddy left the icy road and took off over the crusty snow to the neighbor’s house with me in pursuit. I got better traction on the snow so I was able to keep up with him. Finally realizing that I wasn’t giving up, Teddy stopped and crouched down waiting for me to catch him.

Making our way back across the crusty snow I had to step over and climb down a big snow berm to get down to the icy road. The snow was so hard that I slipped and when my feet reached the ice below, they continued to slip and I found myself flat on my back, looking up into the black sky, still clutching Teddy. It was not my activity of choice; lying out in the road at night in freezing temperatures stargazing.

Inauguration

I've never heard such a commotion about a presidential inauguration before. There seems to be an excitement and a hubbub that I am certainly not caught up in and that I really don't understand. The nightly news is citing school children who are planning trips back to Washington DC to see the event. Church leaders, celebrities and blacks all over the nation are making the trek. It's been reported that three million people are expected to converge upon the capital! It's like they are all goin' to Mecca. I picture in my mind a Muslim temple where all of the thousands of worshippers are bowed down in rows with their foreheads touching the floor. It seems like that is the reaction and frame of mind of the masses in this country (and probably the world) about the up-coming inauguration. The words "brainwashed", and "misled" and "desperate", are words that come to mind as I picture these masses. And I wonder how this new president is going to save them all. Instead of excitement over this "historic event" I feel a dread and fear about the future with this new leader in charge.

Emergency Room

I'd had a pain in my abdomen since Sunday and it was now Friday morning. My regular doctor hadn't been able to help me, so after a sleepless night of moaning and pacing the decision was finally made to go to the emergency room.

There weren't very many ahead of me in the waiting area. But I still had 45 minutes to observe; a lady with a broken hand, a sick baby - possibly with pneumonia, an older lady in a wheelchair that couldn't breath (she was given priority and taken right in), and a few other pale and sickly faces.

After giving my medical history, insurance information, being given a bed, a gown, an IV and after filling a cup, I was wheeled down the hall to have a CT Scan taken. I was surprised that I was being taken care of in such a timely manner. But then I was returned to my room to await test results. I laid there shivering as I listened to and caught glimpses of suffering and trauma as they passed my room for the next two hours.

About every 15 minutes someone would arrive by way of the ambulance. I saw and heard the noise of paramedics as they passed by with silent patients strapped to gurneys. Since the nurses station was right across from my room I heard words like: "diverticulitis", "car accident", "two ambulances on the way".

Finally, the doctor came to deliver my test results. The CT Scan showed nothing unusual and the urine test was negative. She had no idea what the problem might be and suggested that I see a specialist. After all of my worrying and suffering, I was shocked to hear this news. I was now being sent home with no answers or help. If the emergency room couldn't help me, who on earth could on a Friday night!?

In shock and still shivering I hurriedly put my warm clothes back on. I had to wait for my release papers and for someone to take out the IV that was never used. Leaning back in the bed I had another 30 minutes to observe and listen. Instead of feeling cheated that some big illness hadn't been discovered, I gradually began to feel gratitude that I was getting out of there. I wouldn't be admitted, or scheduled for surgery or any more torture.

Finally I was given the okay to leave. On my way down the long hall to the big double doors, I walked by rooms with people in hospital gowns and serious faces. I was the lucky one. I was set free! I was walking out of there on my own two feet!

Walking out through the big double doors, I observed that the waiting room was packed. Every seat was filled and all suffering, anxious eyes turned to me as I gratefully exited. As if to reinforce one last time my great fortune, I passed a car that had just arrived delivering a woman who I was sure would be "taken right in". I won't describe the tone of her voice or the stiff angle of her body or the redness of her face. Suffice it to say, my step was quickened as I made my way to the car. The 4 hours of waiting and the dull ache in my abdomen seemed like a small price to pay for getting out of that place under my own power and driving away.