Remember?

Do you remember when life was so simple we actually got bored? The early days of summer, after a long and not so successful nine months of school, were better than can be explained...you just have to have experienced it. I don't know if kids still feel that way today. When we were set free from the classroom for three whole months we knew there was absolutely nothing planned for us except our annual two week trip to South Dakota. The first week or so were spent winding down and getting used to sleeping late and playing with the neighbors. One or two trips to the forbidden creek were usually included in those early days until the sun got too hot for it to be fun. After a couple of weeks the routine of summer wasn't all new anymore. We had to look for things to do to fill our days but the search in itself was usually fun. Some days were boring and if it happened to rain there was no peace for Momma. She would go crazy with all five of us in the house all day. That was fun too. Nothing was funnier than watching Momma go crazy. She could put on quite a show. Ah, to go back and experience it all again just one more time. It seems like kids today go from one hectic schedule in school to another hectic schedule of summer activities. Organized sports have replaced pick up games at the park. Karate classes have taken over the neighborhood brawls we all enjoyed. Summer camp has almost become mandatory when it was something the rich kids did when we were young...and we felt sorry for them having to go. Maybe if the economy continues to erode in this country kids will get another chance to enjoy summer as it should be....unplanned and sometimes boring. I have to go now. My schedule for the day is full and I'm already running late.

mandy....

As some of you know, I have a niece named Mandy. She's the daughter I never had although my sister Cindy says I can't adopt her. She called us....US...Debbie and me...old and worn out....boring beyond human concept, and asked us to meet her for dinner Wednesday evening at our favorite cholesterol hangout, Chapp's Hamburgers. The wind was blowing. It was about 40 below zero..a terrible night to be out but of course we went because A) Mandy asked us, and B) it was Chapp's we were talking about. You don't turn down a Chapp's opportunity. There was no reason to meet. There was no news or family disaster. Mandy just wanted to visit! I love Mandy. While we were waiting for our shots of cholesterol I was telling about a woman I knew  who didn't own a coat. Mandy didn't even hesitate before offering her own coat for the woman. I told her she shouldn't do that. Some of us would get together and buy the lady a coat but Mandy insisted. She did have another coat after all! I couldn't convince her not to give the coat away so after we ate and were standing out on that cold and windy sidewalk, Mandy handed me her coat. I gave it to the lady the next morning and she cried. She couldn't believe a total stranger would do such a thing. I told her this was no stranger...it was my niece Mandy.

what were we thinking???

The call came late in the evening a day or two after Christmas. We were enjoying a quiet, peaceful evening in our den anticipating a week babysitting four of our grand kids. The caller, a veterinarian friend, was looking for a home for a patient of hers. The patient, a four year old, male cat had been shot in the leg. I can't imagine why anyone would want to shoot a cat...being the cat lover that I am...but this one had been shot. The leg had to be removed and it seemed no one wanted a three-legged cat. Debbie did ask me before agreeing to take the cat but you know and I know I can't say "no" to Deb. Besides, Debbie's average time for owning any pet is approximately seven days. I knew I could put up with a cat in the house for a few days. He would keep the grand kids entertained if nothing else. The cat was supposed to arrive around 6 on Monday evening. The kids had arrived around 10 that morning and I was already worn out. After a phone call from the vet at 8:30 telling us she was on the way, I decided to meet the cat the next day and went to bed. Around 4 a.m. I had to make a trip to the bathroom. I did not know Debbie had put the cat in our bathroom. I opened the door and walked in to be assaulted by a very lonely animal. This cat would not let me get close to the...the..you know. He wanted to be held. I don't hold cats...especially at 4:30 in the morning. He kept getting in front of me with that pitiful look on his face that said, "Love me! I lost a leg!" I was afraid I would step on him so I finally closed the door and wandered across the house to the other bathroom. Later in the morning I was sitting in my recliner sipping coffee and staring at this cat asleep on my couch. I hate animals in the house. I especially hate animals sleeping on my furniture. Anyway, this cat finally woke up, stretched like cats do, and decided to step off the couch. He forgot he was missing that front leg and fell off the couch right on his face. I thought cats always landed on their feet but that must just be true if they have four feet. Anyway, I got a pretty good laugh out of that and Debbie was mad at me the rest of the morning. To my credit I did not say or do anything negative concerning that cat. I was very nice and spent my time with the grand kids while trying to not make eye contact with the animal. The next morning after I had made breakfast for the four bottomless pits, I went to the bathroom and found both doors locked. Debbie was in there. I asked her to open the door and she wouldn't. She told me to go away. She has never told me to go away...not in over 40 years, so I knew something was wrong. When she finally came out she told me that cat had to go. I thought she had set a new record for pet ownership. The cat had experienced some abdominal discomfort during the night and pooped all over the floor, walls, tub, rugs...I figured I would never go in there again. And I figured that cat would be gone by sunset. It turns out you should not give your new pet all the food he can possibly stuff into his mouth...and you should not change his food from a bland diet to something great tasting and nutritious, such as the off-brand cat food available at WalMart. After a severe scolding from the vet "we" decided to give the cat another chance. It's been over a week now. The cat was named Tres by the grand kids... I wanted to name him Frank...and he has become a normal fixture in our home. I've come to the conclusion poor old Tres has had a pretty rough life and needs a quiet, loving place to live out his retirement. I've come to feel somewhat attached to our new pet. In fact, if old Tres ever dies on us I am going to want another cat...but only if he's old and quiet like Tres. It also wouldn't hurt if he was missing a front leg. I think that helps.