Strength To Carry On

Remember each moment that’s gone by
Even as you say farewell
Grief lets you know of the love
Rent from you by the veil
Each precious moment a shining star
Taking your heart as they fell

I was told once that you know you’re an adult when you have to make your own doctor appointments. I’ve found that, though this is true, it’s also…not.

You know you’re an adult when you have to schedule a final appointment for a beloved, but slowly dying family pet.

Just remember that your love for them can keep you warm after they’ve gone ahead.

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Being Alive

Listen to the body’s words
In the event of pain
Very unusual to withstand
Even as infection is lanced

So my orange tabby, ‘Cutis has a puncture on one of his legs. It’s healing, but I have to lance it for any new infection at least once a day because of the way cats heal. If a cat has a wound, it has to heal on the inside before you let it fully scab over (unless there are stitches involved, I think.) If you don’t let it heal on the inside first, then it can become infected and burn through a cat’s skin making a new hole.

It was not fun learning that with a previous cat.

Anyway, with other cats, it hasn’t been fun having to lance a scabbed-over wound to make sure it isn’t growing infected underneath the scab. Very few animals like it with you have to clean and bandage a wound in the first place, much less have to lance it at least once a day, just in case.

‘Cutis lets me lance any infection with at least two pokes before he gets antsy. He could break free really easy but just shifts away from me a little. He’s large and strong and heavy, but he just lets me check his wound over as it heals. I can’t remember anyone, animal or not, who let me do that something like that so often. The fact that it was with someone who I can only understand via body language…

‘Cutis might be one of the most patient and calm person I have ever met.

image: ‘Cutis; from martha0stout’s phone

Animal Whisperer – Wordless Wednesday

image: (counterclockwise starting at the brown cat and ending at the human) Jackdaw, Locutis, Vincent, Helena, Chris; from martha0stout’s phone

Cat’s Eye View – Wordless Wednesday

image: Max; from martha0stout’s phone

(*Face-Paws*) – One-Liner Wednesday

“Martha, don’t do that, you’re being an idiot.”

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My last cat, Tommy, had about 50 different Looks that he’d give me that were all a variation of this and he was usually right. He was far more patient with me than Usako is.

Check out the original One-liner Wednesday.

Miracles Amongst Us – Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the miracle of healing. We have a new kitten named Shadow in the family and almost a week after he joined us he darted under my sister’s youngest’s feet at the last, and worst, moment. Now it’s fairly normal for animals to get stepped on in one way or another and to recover just fine. There’s just one thing. Shadow’s head was stepped on while they were on tile. I won’t go into detail on how Shadow looked or what he sounded like. We asked our neighbor to come and give Shadow a priesthood blessing and fasted and prayed as well.

“Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks…But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.” (Alma 34: 18-20, 26-27)

Shadow is shortly recovering. The Lord was merciful to our little kitty and for that I am forever grateful, but I know that this is not all. The Lord has been very good to my family, has blessed us in many things, though Shadow’s life is one of the greatest to me right now.

“For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.” (D&C 82:3)

“And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and they naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.” (Alma 34:28)

We have been given much this past week and now it is our turn to give as well.

Check out the original Thankful Thursday. (Will update link when able.)

Purr Me To Sleep – One-Liner Wednesday

Nothing as soothing as the rumble of a cat’s purr directly outside of your ear.

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When I was sick last my cat curled up right next to my ear (because I wouldn’t let her curl up on my chest, I kind of needed to breathe) and purred me into a nice nap.

Check out the original One-Liner Wednesday. (I will update link when able.)

Turn That Back On, I Was Drinking – Silent Sunday

image: Elphaba, martha0stout’s phone

Lost and Covered in Dirt – Thankful Thursday

Today I am grateful for that last moment, when you think you’ve lost something precious and then you turn around and they were right behind you, softly trying to get your attention the whole time.

Realized the other day that I hadn’t seen Iris in a few days and started searching frantically for her, calling her name all over the house and outside. She usually comes to see what the fuss is about if you call her name enough, but I searched the house and the yard and didn’t find her. Just as I was about to give up, I heard the tiniest little mew behind me (she is the second quietest cat I have ever met and she’s actually grown louder since coming to live with us). I turned around and there was my ink blot covered in dirt.

She purred and let me pick her up and cuddle her close, dumping dust and dirt into my face as she rubbed up against me. I was so grateful to find her that all I could do was shakily chuckle.

Check out the original Thankful Thursday. (I will update the link when able.)

EDIT: Link updated as of May 30, 2015

I Wish That I Could See You Once Again

I waited all day for the truck to arrive. To be truthful, I’d been waiting for that truck to get here since it had first left the duplex on Friday morning. It was Thursday, almost a full week since I’d seen something that had been a permanent fixture in my family and my life since before any of my siblings were even born.

Since before my parents had even been married for six months to be honest. It was their first baby, something they bought before they even had a bed to sleep on at night.

“I told your father that I would sleep on the floor as long as necessary in order to get that piano,” she said as I glanced once more out the window in anticipation.

“They’re here!”

With silence, we watch as, piece by bulky piece, the piano is brought in and then assembled. Very politely, the movers turn it just a little, this way and that for my mother once it’s fully together.

“That’s it! That’s perfect.” She says with a smile.

I thank them as well and make sure to pay them before watching as they drive off once more, this time without a member of my family with them.

I turn back to the piano and don’t comment as I see Mom hugging it. I’d already done that while they were putting their equipment away anyway.

image: Iris and the piano, from martha0stout’s phone

Even Iris missed her favorite perch.

Don’t worry about the broken music stand. That happened decades ago when my parents were still married and before their many children. That’s right, that wasn’t us…for once.

(This was supposed to be post right after the piano arrived, but I forgot. It’s the second part to So Long Old Friend. The two titles are from a song from the Garfield cartoon movies.)

(I will include the link to the first post when I am able.)