BFFs

A picture is worth a thousand words. These BFFs are my latest "rescue" kitties. Ice-D was rescued during last February's mean ice storm and Punkie was rescued when he showed up on my next-door neighbor's vehicle tire surrounded by two barking dogs.

Ice-D, trying to take a nap after teaching Punkie how to get out of the cat door

BFFs (Best Friends Forever)

Anyone want a kitten? I have two very nice, cute, fluffy babies, free to a good home.

P.S. Yeah, yeah, I K.N.O.W. I'm absolutely nuts for keeping so many cats. And, no, I'm not a hoarder -- just a cat lover.

Happy Birthday To My One And Only Sister

Today is my big sister's birthday. I wish I could be with her today, but she lives on the west coast and I live in the middle.

We were both born in the early 1940s so our memories of the era are shared. We have a lot in common, but in retrospect, we are quite different people and personalities. She was always the dominant, big sister, and I was the one who got chased around the house and teased with all sorts of bugs and worms that she dug up or found. (I still have a life-long neurotic fear of bugs and worms.) My sister is the master gardener, but I was the one who was always asked to do her English homework. She could work on anything mechanical and I loved to go to dances and parties. She still can do anything mechanical and can build lots of things. I am the memory-keeper of the family because I love genealogy and history.

We both love to read, but her attention span is about five seconds long. She multitasks so ferociously that I get a headache just thinking about all the things she takes on at the same time. I would rather work on one project until it's done to perfection then go on to something else. Sister knows how to decorate and I live in a jumbled house filled with memories.

She loves to travel and get together with lots of family. I love to stay home and be with just a few at a time. She likes only a few pets, and I will adopt every cat that comes to my house. No, I'm N.O.T. telling how many cats I'm feeding each day.

The one thing in common we share is our love and friendship. We talk one or more times each day. If I couldn't talk with her each day, I don't know what I would do with myself. She's my anchor.

My wish for her on her birthday is much love and happiness.

I Remember Mama

This is how I remember my mother. She was always sewing something for someone. I would sit at her knee, watching her for hours, as she created her magic with her old Singer, a needle, and some thread. I own that old Singer now and feel her presence every time I use it.

This is also how I remember my mother. The year was 1989 and the occasion was my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. My Aunt Mamie hosted a Sunday morning brunch for a large party of family and friends at a very nice hotel in Chicago. Pictured is my mother Sara, me, and my sister Karen.

Since that wonderful day in 1989, a lot has changed. Our mother and our father are no longer with us -- she passed on in 1993 following open heart surgery and he died in 1994. My sister and I are both grandmothers and look forward to many happy years with our families. My sister and I don't get to see each other very much, but we have the pleasure of speaking to each other on a daily basis.

As we get together with our families this Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day, please know that I wish each and every one of my women family members and friends love and happiness. Please also remember the grandmothers, aunts, and cousins who are no longer with us.

While we honor all our mothers
with words of love and praise.
While we tell about their goodness
and their kind and loving ways.
We should also think of Grandma,
she's a mother too, you see....
For she mothered my dear mother
as my mother mothers me.
Author Unknown

Sam and Clara (my mother's parents), 1952

Rebecca (my husband's mother)

I wish I could say that this is how I remember my mother-in-law, but she disappeared with no trace in 1945. This is the only image we have of her as an adult. Rebecca, wherever you are, we wish you love and peace, and wish we could celebrate this Mother's Day with you in person.

Scary Stuff

Have you read this book? It's one of my favorite Stephen King books and I've read it probably a dozen times (and seen the movie). My doctor, in fact, is reading it right now. It's all about a super-flu that becomes a pandemic and kills off most of the people in the world in a matter of a few weeks. Are you scared yet?

You should be. Because that's what happening in the world today with the Swine Flu epidemic in Mexico that's spreading everywhere, including the United States.

Even if you've had your flu shot for this season, you can count yourself out of luck because this is a new strain, baby. No vaccine to cover this one.


My advice to you? Cover your mouth (maybe your face) when you cough and/or sneeze, keep out of large crowds, no kissing on the mouth, and wash your hands all the time. If you see someone who appears sick, run do not walk away from them fast.

Are the pigs trying to get revenge on us for using them as a food source?

Above all, if you have plans to vacation in Mexico, forget about it. Not only do they have drug wars, Montezuma's Revenge, killings, kidnappings, and bad water, they are now serving up the super-flu free of charge.

Don't forget. Stay home, stay out of crowds, keep away from anyone who has just come back from Mexico, and above all, wash your hands all the time. Be sure to read The Stand.

By the way, during my recent hospitalization, I kept a bottle of hand sanitizer on my bedside table. I used it very frequently (like every time time I coughed, sneezed, or spit out something nasty from my lungs). My doctor commented that this product was pure alcohol and acts like Napalm if exposed to an open flame. That's also scary.

From Dennis

Motherkitty may come home Tuesday. The doctor felt she was ready when he saw her on Monday at noon (4/20/2009).