bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
brown paper packages tied up with string,
these are a few of my favorite things...
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
silver white winters that melt into springs,
these are a few of my favorite things..
When the dog bites
when the bee stings
when I'm feeling bad,
I simply remember my favorite things
and then I don't feel so bad..
Ever word in this song reflects some of our favorite things, doesn't it? We use to sing it together until you would say "Okay, enough, Mary Poppins!" (It was Julie Andrews, but, from The Sound of Music.) I wish not feeling so bad had such a simple solution. Your favorite line was "whiskers on kittens" and I assume that was because of your love of kittens and cats. You were never without one. Remember the little one you brought home from a trip to the grocery store, without asking if it was okay, and I backed over it with the car that very night? Fortunately, she survived. When your beloved Baby died after your birthday last year, I know your heart was broken beyond repair. You said you were handling it better than you thought you would, but I knew better. She was your comfort, your buddy, your sleeping kitty, your confidant. She was a gift of comfort from your friends following your nightmare. How could you be alright? Lil Bear walked around crying for a few weeks wondering where she had gone and that was so sad for you to see. You asked me to "take care of Rascal and Lil Bear" when you left us. Lil Bear walked around again for weeks and just cried a mournful cry that I had never heard. She didn't understand where the only "Mama" she ever had was gone. There was no comforting her. I cried every time she did because I couldn't comfort her. She slept on your bed for months. Finally, she started to sleep under my chin because Rascal had already claimed my hip! Rascal began to experience kidney failure as 19 year old cats tends to do at that age. Kenton and I gave her the treatments for many. many weeks that consisted of intravenous fluid injections nightly, hormone shots and antibiotics. Kenton stepped up to do the injections because I just couldn't. Thank goodness he was here. She felt a little better but the vet finally said further treatments would not save her. She made it to 20 and then, with great sadness, Kenton and Kameron and I were with her when she was put to rest. I think she just missed you and needed to go and find you. Her ashes will be placed around your tree in June Lake. Lil Bear again walked around crying, looking for the last member of her only family. Now Kenton and I are her family and she is a very indulged cat. She gets wet food and dry food and kitty treats (I know! I know what you said but...). Having been raised in the snow with you her whole life, she had quite a time getting use to this funny green stuff on the ground. She chases falling leaves! She keeps watch out for birds and skunks. Luckily, she hasn't caught either! She has a new collar with skulls that Kenton picked out knowing you'd like it! But, like that infamous picture of you biting their whiskers and noses, I just can't bring myself to do that. I hope I am fulfilling your last request. We miss you all...
So, I think I spoke too soon about trying to be a good pet mama. I was changing the betta's water and had put him in his little vase while I cleaned his home. As the water was rinsing it out, I thought it would be a quick little chore to load the dishwasher. I loaded it, added the soap, closed the door and went to put Clapton back in his home but couldn't find his vase! Yep, you guessed it...Luckily I hadn't started the cycle yet and when I had turned the vase over in the top rack, the little bit of water in it sloshed him down to the trap where the water went as well. Slippery little sucker! All is well, except for the evil fish eye he keeps giving me. I can hear the real Clapton singing, "Cause I ain't going down anymore, no, I ain't going down anymore...."
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