Friday, May 28, 2010

Shazam!

Whatever happened to just chilling out?

When did it become law that you had to be doing something all the time?

I’m not complaining, I’m just observing.

I’m observing that when I was at the PostNet shop sending off a package I didn’t have the zip code, so I looked it up on my iPhone.

There was a song playing on the radio in the store and I Shazam’d it and downloaded a copy to my iPhone.

While I was waiting for my ticket to be rung up I checked out the Huffington Post for the latest political drama.

And when I left the parking lot I checked the traffic to figure out if I should take a detour or just drive over summer school students stupid enough to be standing in the road.

Door Number B for failing calculus students for 500, Alex!

I should be sleeping but there’s a mud wrestling contest in the Ukraine to watch!

Da!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Chiquita

Cat People.

You’re either cat people or you aren’t.

Of course, who can resist a kitten rubbing around your ankles, pulling your shoelaces, purring and looking at you with pure love.

Of course, who can resist a little puppy, all movement and action and never ending slurps going in your mouth, up your nose and in your ears.

Everybody loves puppies. Everybody loves kittens.

Those of us who raise puppies and kittens to adult animals also know that the love doesn’t end with the pulled shoelace or the slurped ear. Love matures over time and, perhaps, it’s the gentle extension of claws into your belly as your cat gazes up at you in abject adoration, or the simple sigh of a jowly muzzle resting on your knee in total contentment.

We humans may never know the minds of our pets, but who of us could claim to know the minds of our fellow humans. If I gathered a bunch of pet owners together I’m sure that in their stories would be a common theme. A theme of love, devotion, trust and, yes, heartbreak and sadness, usually at the passing of a beloved companion.

We do not mourn for the departed. We mourn for ourselves. In loss.

And that brings me to Crystal.

Crystal is a friend of mine and she had the extraordinary fortune to live with a cat, Chiquita, for nearly 19 years. Crystal never really knew “family” without Chiquita who was her friend and companion for nearly two-thirds of her life. As Chiquita grew older, developed diabetes and moved into her Golden Years it was clear that she wouldn’t live forever, but Chiquita was forever young, playing, leaping, pouncing and loving.

We all think our pets will do that. Twinkie the Goldfish lived nearly ten years; nine years, eleven months and three weeks longer than we thought he would! Truth is, it’s sooner than later; we outlive our pet kin.

As you have figured out by now, Chiquita died and even knowing that outcome in advance Crystal is still coping with the loss of her treasured friend and companion. We pet owners are all Crystals at some point. We mourn our little friends, miss their antics and presence and, if we’re lucky, learn to treasure our brief time with them.

So, here is Crystal’s tribute to Chiquita which I have yet to read without a tear coursing down my cheek. Not out of sadness but out of understanding and love for the animals we bring into and make part of our lives.


Chiquita

I Miss you.

I miss being awakened by your deranged meows at 3,4,5 or 6 in the early morning. You've even saved me a few times from being late.

I miss you poking me in the eyes, and the ear with your white poofy schitty paws, and sharp nails to pull my hair just to wake me up.

I miss you walking towards me and falling over on your side so I could pet you when I came home from work...I still look for you.

I miss you looking at me through the mirrors while I was washing dishes in the kitchen or when I was fixing my hair or putting on make-up in the restroom.

I miss you waiting for me to get out the shower so you could attack my wet legs and feet!

I miss your random and sporadic sprints across the apartment.

I miss how when I would pet or hug you, I would instantly feel better, even if I was crying.

I miss giving you exaggerated kisses even when you didn't want me to!

I miss watching you sitting on YOUR chair in front of the window looking as pretty as can be and soaking up the sun rays.

I miss you climbing your way around the couch and sneaking behind me to beg for my food! I miss sharing it too.

I miss your Presence, I never knew what being "alone" felt like until now.

I Miss You and Love You so much and Forever Grateful that you grew up with me, been by my side, brought me comfort for everything I've gone through, and filled my heart with unconditional love for so many years.

I will join you again in Heaven my Pretty Kitty.

Chiquita was born sometime in April or May of 1992 and placed to sleep on April 19th 2010.

Her 19th Birthday was to be celebrated next month on May the 5th.



Thank you, Crystal, from all of us.

Catable

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Two B and not Two B

It is cruel to apply for a seat upgrade using somebody else's email address.

The delight of "You've got mail!" announcing breathtakingly that you've been upgraded from 28-C, which is so far back that it's not even on the plane, to 2-B where the cashews are warmed and the flight attendants fart rainbows, and the seats are so wide that you can't wait to get home so you can stuff yourself with chocolate just to fit in more snugly, only serves to intensify the whiplash of the realization that the Golden Ticket email is for

Someone. Else.

Oh, the fall heralded by a cartoon trombone, whaaa Whaaa WHAAA!!

Then YOUR official boarding pass arrives announcing that you've been moved from a balmy 28-C, conveniently located 9 millimeters from the blue ice generating toilets to 59-K; not even on the plane. No, you're placed in a little pod and towed behind the plane by a rope. Well, at least I've got a pod.

On the bright side, I've only got 2,455,300 more miles to fly to qualify for Plastic Elite status. With that I'm guaranteed a toilet seat! Every time!

Can't wait!!







(posted from my iPad)