My World With Words

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

A year ago I was quite sure what I wanted to do when I retired, a date which is rapidly approaching. Today, I’m not so sure. My plans were to move back to my home state of Minnesota, where social services and conveniences such as buses are greater than they are where I live now.

But it’s scary–and expensive–to move. I’d be leaving all the friends I have here and returning to a place where I’ve lost contact with most of those I knew well. I’m not sure I want to brave the Minnesota weather. I’d have to find a new church, new doctor, new dentist, new hair stylist.

There are a myriad of other considerations, and sometimes at night I’m overwhelmed by all of it.

Change is scary. In the past I made moves like this frequently, and I don’t remember being that fazed by it. Perhaps because the new location always seemed much more appealing than where I had been living, or maybe because my choices were limited. It’s a lot easier to make the brave choice when common sense dictates it.

But change can be valuable. It can get you out of a rut and into a situation where you’re forced to make some positive decisions. In the event of a move, you can make new friends, perhaps lifelong friends.

I don’t have any idea what decision I’ll make, but I do know this: whatever my choice will be, I need to start making some smaller changes soon. And that’s proving difficult as well. So I need to find some ways to destress, and Oreos are not the answer. To any of this.

I don’t like not having the answers.

Image Credit: MarekPhotoDesign.com–stock.adobe.com