Life

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18 years ago, my daughter, Amanda, had a minor ear surgery. We brought her home and I had o rune out to get a prescription filled.

Our cat Blackie had gone missing and since the animal shelter was across the street com the pharmacy, I stopped there while I was waiting on the Rx. They were so short staffed that they weren't keeping animals that owners were dropping off, just putting them to sleep.

There was a couple there with a kid size shoe box, with a tiny tail hanging out. She was crying, but was so allergic...I said, "oh, I'll just take him."

The woman at the counter said, you can't do that IN HERE."

So we went outside and I took this tiny kitten home and he became Amanda's kitty...and we named him after her ear doctor...Henry.

Amanda doesn't remember a time without Henry. He held vigil with me when Amanda's daddy was dying, sitting in his lap for hours at a time.

He spent a little time with me here in the apartment, and was a great balcony cat.

Henry died today. He's had diabetes for 5 years, had eye problems, but Amanda, and her boyfriend, Mike, took good care of him.

Mike was crying, Amanda can't even talk, Tom's a mess and so am I.

Henry will be missed.

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This is so pretty I wanted to post it.

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."

- Captain Corelli's Mandolin

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I ran across my elementary school report cards. Memories, good and bad.

Ellen talks too much, Ellen doesn't talk enough.

Ellen should read more, Ellen needs to leave her books at home.

Ellen needs to participate in discussions, Ellen needs to leave the people around her alone.

Ellen needs to do her homework, Ellen needs to be more organized.

Somehow, shy little Ellen morphed into MzEllen

Few people who know me now would recognize the shy, quiet (and very skinny) girl who was too shy to talk, to participate in games, to have a discussion.

1st grade...I got a new best friend. On her first day, she told me that she was a "n-word" and that's why I told my dad. He spanked me and told me not to ever use that word. Then he asked me who told me that's what she was...well, *she* did. She happened to be Native American, but that's not what she told me.

In 2nd grade, every student took an IQ test. Mine was high enough that they made me take it again...and then once more. Nobody "got" that the shy little thing that wouldn't talk...could be that smart.

3rd grade...ah...this is where my organization (or lack thereof) got me into trouble. It's also the age where kids start seeing "differences" and separating into cliques. And I didn't have a clique. If I was shy before, it got way worse here.

Anyway, those old, yellow report cards represent where I was, WHAT I was...where I am now.

Those social cues I just didn't get, the ability to stay in the "inner circle" - wanting to at least be able to fit with "that crowd," if only for a little while. Maybe not even fit...just be worthy of having them say "hi;" just a little word.

Those report cards, with the hand-written teacher notes on the backs. What made me change? Maybe I'm still shy, I'm just determined to not let it beat me?

I don't know. What I know is that I'm not one of the "farm kids" anymore. I don't have to take an IQ test 3 times.

I still cry when I remember that

I remember the awkward

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Kent County, MI

??? Where can I put a dead TV? How much does it cost?

TVs (and vacuum cleaners...and all sorts of other stuff!!!) can be dropped off at Best Buy stores.

??? Grand Rapids (and Kent County) doesn't recycle styrofoam. Where do I take it?

There are a few places, including a couple UPS stores.

??? Too much cardboard and my bin is full! I don't want to wait 2 more weeks...

All of your basic recycle stream stuff can be taken to a drop off center

??? The city stopped picking up yard waste or the winter and I have some.

Too bad...sneak it into a regular blue bag.

??? Is there a community composting program?

That would be cool...but no.

once again, trying to make sense of my life through blogging (just kidding - but getting through books is more interesting when I get my thoughts in writing...and sometimes life just irritates me into writing about it.)

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Two important ones; both of them are integral to the "who" of who I am.

"Complementarian or Egalitarian?"

Search this blog for "gender" issues, I am a firm Complementarian - this is a deal breaker.  I am convinced from Scripture that the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church.  That Christ is the role model for a husband's love, and the church is the role model for a wife's submission.

"Reformed?  Or what?"

Not a deal breaker, but darn close.  I want a home of peace, and I cannot be at peace with somebody who is constantly at war with my beliefs.

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1) we stayed at the KOA in Oscoda, MI.

This morning I got an email from them, asking me to rate the stay.  I said that the sites were great, bathrooms were clean and bright...but I wish they had told me about the train that runs right next to the campground.  In the middle of the night.

2) For me, camping is the death knell of eating primal.  it should be easy...cave-folks LIVED camping.  But no.  S'mores, hobo pies, hot dog buns.  I am SOOOO off the wagon.

3) Tom played miniature golf.  Well, we all did, but Tom brought up the idea.  He did really well and I'm not sure if it's because a) his vision is getting better or b) he's getting used to seeing the way he sees and is accommodating or c) the rest of us just suck that bad.

4) Gary and Anita (my cousin and his wife) and her son and DIL stopped by the campsites and the Lumberman's Monument to enjoy and eat.  We need to start inviting cousins to the camp out.

5) Next year, it's Dave's turn to pick.