Pets are a blessing from God

Another tale of my fur babies.  Yesterday when I left for church, both Hershel and Maggie were in the house - Maggie on the back of the recliner and Hershel on the floor.  When I returned three hours later, Hershel came running out to meet me, as usual.  He “helped” me refill the bird feeders and then ran around the yard for a few minutes, and then back inside.  Maggie wasn’t there, but that’s not unusual.  I changed clothes, sat down to catch up on my email and Facebook.  Hershel had gotten into the recliner with me and slept for a while.  As time went on - hour by hour, I realized Maggie had not come back inside - still not all that unusual.  After nearly four hours, I began to be concerned.  It was getting close to sunset and she usually comes in mid afternoon.  I had not seen any signs of her at all. 

I train all my fur babies to respond to a clap - not a whistle or call.  Clapping works best for me since I have frequent sore throats and hoarseness.  I opened the door, clapped for Maggie, closed the door and waited for her to at least show up in the yard.  After five minutes or so, I repeated that process because if she’s out prowling/hunting in the woods behind the house, it will take a few minutes for her to make her way home.  As I was clapping, I scanned my yard, the edges of the woods, and my neighbors yard, knowing she comes from that direction often.  Way off - the far edge of my neighbor’s yard - I spied this dark stationary patch that had hints of golden and white splotches.  I clapped and called her name.  Slight movement.  One more solitary clap and the spot became a flash of color, running full speed and stretching out like a jaguar!  Sure enough it was her. 

She came inside, rubbed around my legs, and settled down.  She hasn’t been out since then, but it soon got dark and it’s raining this morning.  I’m not fooling myself that she was afraid or threatened, or won’t do it again.  I think she just was enjoying this warm December weather and didn’t want to come inside.  I was just amazed at her stillness, her speed, and her apparent happiness to see that I was home since she hadn’t checked in with me. 

Pets are such a blessing from God.  They make life happier; medical people tell us we are healthier when we have a pet; they depend on us for food and protection; and the companionship and unconditional love they give cannot be described accurately - only felt. 

Until next time . . . .

Counting My Blessings

October 8, 2015 - My day started early and with lots of anticipation for a great day - and it was, but with a few twists and turns.  On reflecting, I have been able to get a better perception and realize the “bad” things turned into blessings because I chose to look for the good that came instead of focusing on the bad.  

I had made plans to make the two hours drive to LaVergne, TN (south across the county line from Nashville) to spend the day with my granddaughters and their sons - one I had never seen in his short almost four months of life, and the other I had not seen in over a year. 

On my way out the door, I decided to make a very quick detour to drop off my trash at the transfer station.  That only took about six or seven minutes.  Later I realized these minutes played a big part in my safety for the drive!  After being on the road a little over an hour, I came upon a double line of traffic, completely stopped and many of the drivers were out walking around, talking to each other.  We had no idea what the problem was, but were hearing the expected delay would be about two hours.  That was an inconvenience to me but many of the people were on business and/or doctor appointment trips, plus the large number of “big rig” drivers that were stopped. 

First Blessing of the day - I was in familiar territory.  I knew I had passed an exit just a short way back that would detour me back to the interstate.  But that would mean getting out of this growing double line of traffic and managing to drive the wrong direction along the side of the highway to get back there.  As I sat there wondering if I should try that, lo and behold, here came a line of cars up the edge of the road, headed back the other way.  Now that I discovered I would not be the only one doing this, I managed to turn around and started that way.  Along our journey to freedom from the stoppage, other travelers signaled us to slow down and ask questions.  No, we didn’t know what was wrong, but guessed it might be an accident.  Did we know how to bypass this after we got to the exit?   In my case, I was able to tell them yes.  One couple in particular asked me how to get around to make it to Nashville.  They were from out of state and seem to be looking at medical papers for phone numbers.  I told them I was going to Nashville and they could follow me.  After we finally got to the exit I had passed before, I made the turn and headed for the open road again.  As I was driving down a long stretch of the two lane back roads, I looked in my rear view mirror to see if the couple had made the turn with me.  I was surprised to see a long caravan of possibly 30-40 cars back there.  When we got back on the interstate, there were no vehicles coming from the direction we had just left.  That indicated to me that the problem was serious and long because we had bypassed at least two other entrances to I-24.  Several of the cars and trucks that had followed me pulled along beside of me waved, mouthed “Thank You” and we all went on our ways.  That became Blessing #2 - I was in the right place at the right time to help others.

 Later in the day, I learned a semi had blown a tire and caught fire.  It was at least four miles ahead of where I had been stopped and there were others stopped for at least three miles behind me.  The interstate had been blocked not the two hours first mentioned, but ended up being about six hours.  The truck drivers and some farmers hauling cattle were unable to turn around like those of us in the smaller cars, trucks, and vans.  My heart went out to them.   

Side note: I must admit until I got back on track and out of the problem, I had not thought about the people involved in whatever caused the block.  (According to the news, the driver was uninjured.  Praise the Lord.)  I was self absorbed, thinking that I was inconvenienced and delayed getting to see my family.  Neither did I realize until much later that the fact I had taken the extra time to take off my trash might have kept me from being at the front of that line of traffic and I might not have been in a place I could turn around.  The sides of the highway along that stretch are both flat where I was and a very steep ditch in other places.

I did make it safely and had a wonderful time.  On my way home, I saw two wrecks, but both of them were going the other direction.  Blessing #3.

As I got closer to home, I thought about pulling into a drive-thru to get something to bring home to eat.  I decided to drive straight in and fix myself a PBJ sandwich (definitely not a favorite, but simple and easy) when I got in.  I had not been in the house more than 20 seconds when the phone rang.  Back tracking just a bit, I bought a new TV two days before and since I still have a big monster analog set, knew I would not be able to move it for the new HD flat screen, I made arrangements for it to be delivered and installed by a Sam’s Club technician.   The appointment was for next week.  Back to the phone call.  It was the technician asking if it would be okay to come out and install it right then - four days early.  Yes, of course!!!   Blessing #4.       

I didn’t know at the time I got the phone call, but during the next couple of hours, I realized I knew the technician - not personally, but knew who he was and things about him - such as he had previously owned and managed a Christian bookstore in town and I had done lots of business there.  Blessing #5

This blessing didn’t turn out quite as well.  The newer TV would not receive a signal from the satellite receiver.  Nothing!   He spent nearly two hours on the phone with the satellite technician.  He had his phone on speaker so I was able to hear both sides of the conversation.  The female voice was one of those that is difficult to understand language wise.  She was both reading from a book and asking those around her for advice.  The oft repeated phrases were “Are you sure it is pulled in?  Now check the connection.  Does the TV with the receiver box work?  Let’s try this again.”  Finally it was obvious she did not have a clue what he was trying to explain to her and the battery in his phone was going down, so he politely hung up.  He had already taken the old one out to the truck to haul off, but brought it back in and hooked it back up until I called the satellite company and set up for a technician to come and check their equipment to get the new one working.  He said he would come back when I call and would then program the new one, show me how it works, and haul off the old one. 

As soon as he left, I called the company again.  After I explained what I needed, the male voice said “Let’s try this first.”  I firmly told him “There will not be any ‘try this’ because the TV is no longer hooked up and the old one is back where we started.  Besides we went through two hours of ‘try this again’ from another person that didn’t take time to understand the problem or have a clue what to do.”  I continued with “I want someone that knows what to do come to my house and get this problem fixed so I can watch my new TV with the service I pay you for.”   I have an appointment set up for this afternoon.  Blessing#6. 

I will add to my list of blessings after the installation is completed to my satisfaction.  Thank you for your attention of reading this long narration.  God bless you.

10-9-15 - The satellite technician came, understood what the problem was, got the TV working in about 5 minutes, even set it up to work with my WiFi.  He took time to show me many things about the TV that I either did not know or did not understand.  Blessing #7

I played with it to set the color and picture like I want it (still tweaking) and listed the old one on Facebook as a free item if someone will come pick up.  I hate for the Sam’s Club man to return just to pick up the TV.

With a heavy heart, I write . . .

For the past nine and one-half years, I have enjoyed the companionship and antics of my precious feline daughter, Phoebe.  I knew she was not in good health - overweight and all that go with that - but thought she had a few more months, hopefully years, to entertain her canine brother, Hershel, and me.  I was wrong. 

On January 18, about 10:30 P.M., she had a seizure and died in my arms.  Everything was going as normal until bedtime.  I put her out to potty; she didn’t come right back in, so I went to get her.  She was laying on her side on the garage floor (She normally laid flat on her belly.)  I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom and, as I laid her down, noticed she was gasping for breath and started to slobber.  I started talking to her and sat down, holding her.  Within five minutes, she had the seizure and was gone in less than a minute.  Hershel was already asleep on the bed and didn’t see this tragedy.  

Phoebe and Hershel loved each other, snuggled with each other, slept beside each other, and took care

of each other.  I enjoyed watching them and took many, many pictures of them “telling secrets” and grooming each other.  As much as I grieve over the lost of my sweet cat, Hershel is grieving as much, if not more.  I understand what has happened, but I don’t know how to get him to understand.  It breaks my heart every time he searches for her and then lays down and looks at me with his big brown eyes full of sadness. 

Three weeks have passed since that night, and the pain has gotten easier, and Hershel has days that are somewhat back to normal.  We both still miss our sweet girl.  Hershel and I received sympathy and condolence cards from a neighbor and the staff of the veterinary where they both get their checkups and many well wishes on Facebook.  I appreciate their understanding of how we feel after the loss of “just a pet.”  Pets become our children.   

I have lost several cats, dogs, fish, and birds in my life.  Each one was special.  They cannot be replaced.  Another pet just opens a new space in my heart and fills it with more love.  

So, it is with a heavy heart, that I write this memorial to Phoebe.  She will never be forgotten.  She will always be in our hearts.