Author: Belinda O

(Note: I’m doing the Bloganuary challenge–today’s prompt relates to “playtime.)

In my 20s and 30s singles bars were very popular. Maybe they still are in places, although my young friends say, well, not really. I dreaded going when my friends insisted that’s how we spend our Saturday night. Sports bars I could handle. The pressure was off–it was more like a dining experience with friends then an opportunity to meet someone of the opposite sex.

Parties? I could handle parties when they were small and I knew at least some of the guests. But I’ve never been the extroverted type who could go and meet a ton of new people at a party. Yes, I could talk to strangers, but I couldn’t get comfortable if all the partygoers were foreign to me.

So playtime for me has always been quieter pursuits. Today (among other things), it’s my writing, which is mostly solitary (I do belong to a writer’s group, and that’s social as well as practical). I play Scrabble with some friends a couple of times a month. As for movies–I don’t really enjoy theaters anymore, but I love it when friends invite me over to watch something we’ve all wanted to see.

Today I was reminded of an old friend who is a fierce Michigan football fan. We used to go to a local sports bar when we both lived in Nashville to watch their games. I’d love to watch the championship game with her next week, but she lives hundreds of miles from me. Now that would be playtime.

Image Credits: Header © Joshua Resnick–stock.adobe.com; Football © Sergey Nivens–stock.adobe.com

I try to keep my apartment tidy, but there’s always at least one room that’s a mess. That’s mostly due to a lack of space, or too much stuff, however you want to look at it. I’ve written about my efforts to clear out the clutter before. It’s a challenge.

I’m not sure where this propensity to have gathered a lot of stuff came from. My mom and dad kept things to a bare minimum, perhaps because we moved so often and they didn’t want to pay to move stuff they didn’t need. Our house was always neat (well, except for us kids’ rooms). No need to be embarrassed to have company over.

Not that I have a lot of opportunity for company. My social life is somewhat stagnant. I have my friends, some of whom I play Scrabble with a couple of times a month, some in my writer’s group, and some at church, but I don’t get out a lot. It’s hard when you’re single to get motivated to go to the latest museum exhibit–alone. Or any number of other things.

So I’m becoming one of those old ladies who spends a lot of time with her cats. I fear for the day when I can’t afford to have pets or don’t have a car to take them to the vet. Life without them would seem pretty empty.

But maybe that won’t happen. Who knows? I’ll be honest, I enjoy the solitary times. Well, with my cats.

I can only live for today. Plan for the future, yes, but with the understanding that man plans, God laughs (I don’t really believe God laughs, but it’s a good saying). And today I’m going to clear out one box of clutter.

Image Credits: Lady and Cat © IQ-Photography–stock.adobe.com; Header © Vladimir Polikarpov–stock.adobe.com

Wishing you and yours a safe New Year’s Eve and a peaceful, productive 2024!

Image credit: © pvl0707–stock.adobe.com

Harvey was one cat who lived out his nine lives. Today I read on Facebook that it’s time to say good-bye.

In the immediate aftermath of the 2011 Joplin tornado, which killed 158 people, the vet at my local cat clinic drove the one hour north to the disaster site to care for wounded animals. What she saw shocked her. Although I never heard her describe it, I could only imagine, especially when I was told most of those she rescued would be unidentifiable to their owners. She brought back as many as she could for adoption, and Harvey was one of those.

Harvey had multiple injuries and it was a long road to recovery. While a good home was available to him, ultimately the vet decided it was best to keep him as one of the clinic cats. There this sweet boy led a happy and loved life.

This is the same vet who’s cared for all my cats, from Paco and Montero to Walter and Mimi, and shown sympathy and compassion to both cats and cat parents. She is a remarkable woman.

I know many of you have pets whom you entrust to your vets on a regular basis, and you value that relationship. I’ve heard a couple of stories in the past week of holiday mishaps–or perhaps mishaps that culminated in a visit on the holiday–and I’ve decided to declare January “Love Your Vet” month, at least in my household. I could find World Veterinary Day (April 27, 2024), but no month of love.

If you have cats, dogs, rabbits, or other pets, big or small, I hope you have a vet you love. Your pets thank both of you.

Image Credits: Header (kitten and pup) © Jixster–stock.adobe.com Cartoon cats © Nidhi–stock.adobe.com

Today marks nine years of blogging for me. It also marks the twelfth Christmas I’ve spent alone, and the hardest one at that. In the past I re-posted my first post, but I’ve come so far since that time, and besides, that post is badly in need of editing. So I’m keeping this short and wishing you all the happiest of holidays! I pray you find joy and solace in the spirit of the season.

Image Credits: Header © Romola Tavani–stock.adobe.com; Christmas cookies © Pixel-Shot–stock.edobe.com