More Bittersweet Memories

I have lost another childhood friend this week. I could not believe that he had died from a heart attack because he was so young.  He was only 48.

 

(picture courtesy of another classmate...he signed over his face in mine)

I remember him being in really good shape growing up. He was one of the first guys to really "work out" and develop pecs and abs.  But he wasn't one of those arrogant, "look at my muscles" kind of guys. He was quiet and sort of sheepish, quiet and sometimes shy but I do remember him having a mischievous streak.  He married one of my brother's classmates. I remember thinking that was odd because outside of church, I couldn't think of where they would have met. Together they had three children.

My mother reminded me that he was the about the same age as his dad, when his dad had is first heart attack.

Seems like 48 was really old then.

But now it seems really young.

Please be in prayer for his family: His wife and 3 children. His brother who I didn't even knew existed until a few days ago because he was older.  His sister, who's majorette uniforms I bought when I made the squad. His numerous first cousins, who were also my friends.

Rest in peace friend, you too will be missed

Putting A Friend To Rest

This was my cat Zipper

 

Zipper was my buddy for the past 17 years.

And yesterday, I had to have him put to sleep.

I am told that it was for the best, but my heart does not think so.

 

 I think JB misses him the most, due in great part that I can not tell him where Zipper went in terms that  he will understand.  He wandered around the house "calling" for him.

 

 

They may have gotten on each other's nerves, but they were true companions and looked out for one another.

 

 

 

The vet put him in this lovely bag.  So much nicer than anything I could have used for him.

 

 

Dooder helped me bury him, on our family's farm, where all our other pets are laid to rest. My grandfather knew the exact locations, so we did the best we could.  We picked a spot under this lovely maple, with a view of Bald Rock Mountain.  Our cows watched with great curiosity.

 

 

It took Dooder a long time to dig the grave. As he dug, I selected stones to cover his grave so the coyotes or other critters would not dig him up.

 

 

Zipper

March 1997 - Sept 2014,  

King of the Kingdom, Master of Hiding. Stealer of Shoes,

Eater of Straws & Twist Ties, Proprietor of the Living Room Sunny Spot. 

You stole my heart the minute I saw you and you take a piece of it now to Kitty Heaven.

I will miss our afternoon cuddles. JB will too.

Rest in peace buddy

"...the best laid plans of mice and men..."

Well, looks like I havent' posted in four months.

Sorry .... they say "men make plans and God laughs."

Had a lot going on. Whenever I have good intentions, something always seems to go awry!

Which reminds me of a favorite quote (if you can call it that)

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry"

I say it aloud whenever something goes screwy...so much so, my children look at me like I've bumped my head. Guess they haven't gotten to Steinbeck yet.

I was in 6th grade when I first read "Of Mice and Men" (I'd read it twice by the time it was "required" in high school. Lucky me, I just kinda skimmed it as a refresher, while all my classmates groaned and slogged thru it LOL!) It was there that I first read that quote from Robert Burns poem To A Mouse.

I don't know why that has stuck with me all these years. It's just one of those funny little things stuck in my brain, like the phone number of our house in Lovick when I was 7 or this weird sing-songy exerpt from a Mark Twain story (always in the voice of my 7th grade English teacher, Mr Dawson!) "..punch brothers, punch with care, punch in the presence of the passenger". I can sing ANY of the School House Rock commercials in their entirety....go ahead, try me.

Oddly, I can remember all these things, but never anything important.

I can tell you the phone numbers of about 10 of the regular customers I deal with and the account number of a good 15 to 20 more. I can practically recited our product code list, but do not ask me what my home phone number is. I can't remember anyone's birthday, or the ABC's without singing them.

Well...of all the things I've lost in life, I miss my mind the most.