Naked?! Oh my!

We went out of town last week. Sassy boy sure did miss his dad. Actually Bill missed his cat.
We had family members come and pet, play with the cat, and tend to his needs. But he yowled and yowled for his dad. I am only his food source, but Bill is his best buddy and masseuse.

I wrote a story about how this cat has been a lifesaver for my big guy, who has suffered unimaginable pain and suffering, due to a senseless horrific incident which happened to his loved one. Our visit made us feel hopeful and happy. I can message you but not post details on line.

I'd tell you more about my cat story, too, but I submitted it already. It made us both cry.

It's amazing how an animal can touch you deep in your soul.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is seeking stories about cats and also dogs for two upcoming books. Do you have a story about a cat or dog you have or once had?


HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

Our bird is in the oven, and tomorrow I will only have to make the side dishes. We have a jump on the chores, and a clean house. Tomorrow our small home will fill with our loved ones. I will be very thankful. I will overeat and smother the pumpkin pie with whipped cream. 

One year when I was teaching preschoolers about the Plains Native Americans, a little girl said, "Teacher, my daddy is a NAKED AMERICAN."
Smile and nod.

Many years ago when I was teaching in a public school, I heard gobbling at the window. Because my classroom was in the basement and underground, the windows were nearly at the ceiling in my classroom, but outdoors they were ground level. I just KNEW it was an older kid gobbling and being funny.

I climbed up the metal fire escape ladder in my room, pushed the window up and
saw... a real turkey on the fence! I rushed my students outside to see our gift.

Be on the lookout for unexpected gifts and surprises and things to be thankful for.

I am thankful for you, my readers.

Yes! ANOTHER heavenly gift...

I wrote a Chicken Soup for the Soul story 20 years ago about a heavenly inspired gift I received, per the pact my late best friend and I made right before she passed away.

Last week the temperature dropped to 11 degrees; we had a hard freeze and frigid wind chills.
All of my flowers wilted, shriveled, and hung limp in their pots. Except this delicate little ONE which is still thriving. I believe it is  this year's gift from Rose. I have received a flower every year in winter.

Read the original story about her promise of an annual gift to me. Tell me what you believe.

https://www.chickensoup.com/book-story/52990/the-golden-girls

A love of language curses through the generations

On Sunday it was sunny, 65 degrees, and then we broke a 100 year record when an early snow and freeze happened Monday.  The temperature dipped to 12 degrees. School closures scrolled the TV screen all day.

Liam, our smart little kindergartener, is recovering from a cold. So we took it easy when he came to spend the day. He loves writing and spelling. We did table work, block building, and he played with toys. 

I popped The Christmas Story video in, and we snuggled under a warm fleece blanket.

He was very interested in the bully, and compared him to Tyrone the Horrible, a character in one of his dinosaur books.  

He liked eight-year-old Ralphie, who had a vivid imagination. He also questioned me about Ralphie's colorful language. "Nana what does son-of-a-bitch mean?"

I gulped and said, "It's a bad word. I'm not sure what it means, just that you aren't supposed to use it." He was satisfied.

And then... Ralphie said the mother of all bad words (it was bleeped) and his mother marched him to the bathroom, sat him on the toilet seat, and put a bar of orange Lifebouy soap in his mouth to hold for a few moments.

Something clicked in Liam's brain. I saw it when he bucked upright and said wide-eyed, "Hey Nana, I KNOW someone who that happened to."

"Who?" I feigned innocence and shock.

He glared at me, and said, "My Nana Tracey." If looks could kill...

"And YOU did THAT to her when she was a kid!"

He was deeply offended and protective of "My Nana" as he calls her when other kids are in her care.

I was wrong, following a norm; cleaning bad words out of the mouth was the discipline technique of fifty years ago. What is the quote? "When you know better, do better." 

What's your bet? Liam will never swear, or he will utter every swear word he can think of...as I did one day when I was five years old toying with bad words. Then it was OVER. LOL

The language of love

Winter weather is speeding down the jet stream and heading our way soon. I do not like being cold or shivering. I snuggle under my fleece throw, which puts me into sleep mode way too early. When the sun goes down, so do I.  If I sit on the couch to watch TV I stay awake. If I recline, I'm a goner.

Sassy Boy thinks he runs the show around here. I found him on the bed, grooming himself, licking that fat tummy of his. I asked what he thought he was doing taking a bath on my bed, and he flopped over and laid on my pillow. Obviously we do not speak the same language.

Speaking of language. Michele is doing as well as can be expected. Her brain is healing and she talks and talks. Bill is such a positive and calm man.

He said, "The words are all there. It's like her brain is a library, and all the books have toppled, spilling words everywhere. It's going to take time to upright the shelf and put everything back in place."

I told him he should have been a writer.  I love the way he thinks!

The upside to snoozing early is I'm not munching. I've lost ten pounds and have five to go before December 10th, when my doctor and I will have a heart to heart.

I think the greatest love language is KINDNESS.

And how are you doing?