The love fest continues

If you think this looks like an engagement picture,

you're not far off! 

I continue to be surprised by how much I'm enjoying being a cat mom ...

DECADES of having big dogs (50-100 lbs)

led me to believe that's essentially who I am;

evidence to the contrary.

 

 Here I am with our first cat (Thaddeus) in 1972.

I was about to start graduate school,

it was an ill advised foray into dark hair

and the last time I had 'long hair'. 

Serendipity and Ingrid followed Thaddeus ...

but Fiona is the first cat I honestly remember 

having such an emotional attachment to.

I suspect she's got a hugh DNA component of Russian Blue

which makes her look so striking.

We're a good match temperamentally -

she's independent and affectionate, 

without being clinging and needy.

 

She sleeps on my bed every night

but has only jumped in my lap once for daytime snuggles.

 

From some of her behaviors,

I suspect she may have been feral for awhile -

but I've tried not to psychoanalyze her too much

and just accept where and who she is now. 

Since she has to do that for me, it's the least I can do for her!

 

There's certainly much about this summer that has been very sweet! 

 

There's also been more MOHS surgery

(think there's frequent flyer miles??) 

I'm trying to re-conceptualize all my procedures as a face life in stages!

 

I must say 

I find it fascinating that the same process responsible for the creation of life

(cells dividing and multiplying) 

can be SO problematic at a different stage of life. 

 

Hanging onto the sweet, 

hoping the creative returns at some point ...

 

and trying to enjoy what remains of the summer.

Summer surprises

                                                                   No, not sunflowers ...

                                          they're an expected part of summer,                                             

Along with an abundance of color and whimsy

And, seriously, what fools go to another farm -

in 100 degree heat -

a day after MORE MOHS surgery!

 

I swear if I end up without a Phantom of the Opera mask

by the end of the summer,

I'll be lucky! 

Not going to pretend it wasn't fun ...

that would be a lie.

 

How old is too old not to have fun?

Asking for a friend -

another crazy NJ girl stuck in the middle of the Midwest.

 

The biggest surprise has been the delight of being a childless cat lady!

JD Vance has no idea what he's missing.

 

Seriously, look at this sweetheart.

The worlds political circus retreats in her presence

and assumes a different perspective.

 

Joy is ascendant in this house -

and it's delicious. 

 

Almost 77 is looking pretty sweet!

                                                 As shocking as that may be to all involved.

I am inspired daily by her unapologetically herselfness -

can't you just tell she's not taking crap from anyone! 

QUEEN!

 

I started an Instagram account just to have a place to park all my images of her -

and am only now discovering the HUGE world of crazy cat lovers.

Whole new world appearing! 

 

It's a delight. 

Night Swimming

The full moon rises over the river

(Go in. Do not 

be coy).

 

Yes the wars and yes the hell

and wreckage.

But you cannot save 

a life

if you are broken.

 

Briefly, just this briefly, be here.

 

(The moon, the chill, the river) -

 

You are not betraying

anyone

                        by choosing joy.

 

Joseph Fasano 

 

 

 

 

 Isn't that a wonderful reminder?

 

It's advice I've taken to heart. 

 

I've been spending time wandering in zinnia fields

And, if there's a more beautiful way to spend time, 

I've yet to find it.

 

Bringing some blooms home to extend the beauty

was a no brainer.

 The other main way I'm embracing more joy

is by welcoming a new addition to my home.

 

If you've followed me for a while,

you know I've been a 'dog mom' for decades;

primarily standard poodles (60-75 lbs).

 My last SP (Oreo) died 3 years ago

and I would tell you that I have reveled in a period of time 

when I've not been responsible for another living thing -

although there was certainly sadness -

of being without a dog 

for the first time since I was 4! 

It was quite an adjustment.

 

Recently however, 

there was a concerted effort from my son, DIL  and grandchildren

to convince me to add a cat to my household.

I DID resist.

 

Despite having had 3 cats in the past, 

I would have said I wasn't a cat person. 

 

Yet, with my current mobility issues, 

there was also the recognition 

that I can't do justice to another canine companion;

there was also a recognition that.

with a pet in the house,

at least  there's an excuse for talking out loud

to myself!

 

So I looked at the posts they sent me of the cats available

from several rescue agencies 

and, for weeks, 

not one grabbed my attention.

 

Until 1 set of eyes ...

then, several waits while the owner of said eyes 

went through quarantine, isolation and being spayed ...

 

let me say that I have always believed my dogs chose me

every bit as much as I chose them.

I also believed that couldn't happen with a cat.

 

When I finally visited her in the isolation cage, 

the minute I put my fingers through the cage bars, 

she started rubbing her head against them,

then lay on her side, took her front paws

and wrapped them around my fingers.

 

I've been wrapped around her fingers ever since.

 

Presenting Fiona

who loves reading on the couch

in the afternoons almost as much as I do! 

Her incorporation into my house, home and heart

has been seamless.

I have no doubts that our souls have been together in,

perhaps, more than one of her nine lives! 

 

The biggest surprise?

 

I am now an old woman -

who has a cat tree in her home!

Good Lord!

How this will change my decorating for Christmas

gives me heart palpitations!

 

There IS no denying however that the additional life force

in the house again

is part of swimming in joy!
 

 

Leave it to Rumi

"If everything around seems dark,

look again,

you may be the light."

 

Rumi 

 

 We could probably ALL use that reminder to BE the light;

only my batteries are on low power

and I can't find the charger! 

It's our country's 250th birthday -

which seems like it should be a big deal.

 

Only it's one of those birthdays,

for me, at least,

that I dread.

(Like my own 80th - 

which is coming in a few short years -

if I'm lucky enough to still be here.) 

 

You WANT to celebrate and be grateful

but things are FAR from perfect,

and every time you move, 

your joints remind you that you ain't what you used to be;

there are more wrinkles and grey hair than you'd like

and all those things you thought you'd accomplish are turning to

pixie dust in your head -

and that's on the days you can actually remember what they were! 

I guess it's like that for countries too.

All those hopes about equality and freedom for all,

all of the 'melting pot' imagery ,

with each nationality adding their own spice and flavor to the mix ...

it was never realized;

it never happened.

 

We might have kept getting close, 

but then, out of fear, 

out of lack of ideas of how to accomplish all that, 

out of lack of imagination, 

we turned in the opposite direction.

 

And, even if I don't know what all the answers ARE,

I know the direction we're heading in is wrong!

So, I'll continue to look for the beauty that remains -

which is there in droves

I'll continue to support artists, 

 entertain friends, 

make galettes

(this one with peaches(3) and plum (1) 

read books

(50 finished so far this year) 

and spend time with family and marvel at how they're growing.

My favorite 'circus moment' came during the high wire act when...

with no net underneath,

the acrobat artist placed a chair on the wire and then stood on the chair -

to which my 4 yr old granddaughter said, in her best parental voice -

"THAT is not a good decision;

you need to rethink that!" 

Which, of course, made all the parents and grandparents in our section 

burst out laughing. 

 

They're definitely paying attention.

 And, just to offset the romanticized version of myself from the last post,

know that AI can age you as well.

 

Celebrate the 4th as you see fit.

And try to stay cool -

like this little one in the backyard yesterday.

See you next time.