Crudités and Catitude in Everyday Ramblings

I keep trying; really I do, to get decent shots of the cat boys. It is hard in such low light.

You’ll just have to make do with an atmospheric picture taken about an hour ago with my phone of the road up the big hill behind where I live. Half way through my walk this cloud descended to ground level and it got misty wet as well as blocking out any view. The patterns and colors of the trees, while not classically beautiful, are easy on the eye in this late fall landscape…even if the top of the lamp pole is, umm, slightly askew.

My major goals today were to knock out my 750 Words early (yes I am still doing them) and get my activity points as early as I could manage so I could just relax and putter and read and play with the rest of the day.

This morning The Brothers O “helped” me change the sheets and do laundry. We have explored pretty much everything around the place by now. Diego has a literary bent and is fascinated by pencils and fine point colored markers, which apparently roll delightfully. He has also has pulled a number of books off the shelves. He seems particularly interested in some of Mr. Finch’s books.

And string. He could seriously play with a piece of string for hours and hours as long as he can stop and eat now and then.

Carlo is the ring master, impresario; he’d wear sunglasses and a toque if he were human and laconically give suggestions and direction. He is very affectionate with his main man, grooming his head while Diego batters him with his hind paws.

They anxiously await dinner. I had mine already. I admit I sequestered my simple but yummy Thanksgiving dinner and myself from the kids while eating so I could enjoy it in peace. It included a baked sweet potato, the original not quite as sweet kind that used to grow here before the colonists came. The cats consider anything I am doing as a possible opportunity to play.

We are making good progress on the kitchen counters. They talk to me from the floor when I am cooking but allow me to proceed unmolested. Otherwise we are all pretty much getting into the rhythm of life together.

We have three young mothers up on the unit that are totally bonding, their children are all about the same age, (about two), and have the same blood cancer diagnosis. The moms can be completely silly. I had all three of them and another new mom with a child with the same diagnosis in class this week. The mom, with the 15 year old, who is the voice of kind and experienced wisdom couldn’t come because her daughter is in isolation. So the energy was wild and high. I was absolutely thrilled that by the end of our time together they were relaxed and one of them actually fell asleep.

I have been thinking about them all this holiday afternoon. It is all well and good to consider those who are struggling and suffering and being brave and making crazy difficult decisions when thinking about all the gifts we so richly have in our lives but it is a whole other thing to actually know folks in those circumstances and know that they are near.

Shhh. Don’t tell anybody, but I think the cats have finally settled down for a little while. Whew!

Last updated November 27, 2014