Five years ago, my parents started having a frequent visitor of the feline persuasion.  If you've been around this blog for a while, you might remember "Not my parents cat" or "Fuzzy" as Daniel sometimes called it. 

Several weeks ago,  I noticed that the farm beside my parents' house was vacant.  I did a little spy work on Facebook and found out that they had moved several hours away.  I sent the previous owner a private message and said that I had noticed their house was vacant and that we had inherited one of their cats.  I asked her if the cat was male or female, up to date on vaccinations, and what its name is.  

Drumroll please:  It's a BOY named JERRY.  

Mom would be tickled pink that Dad has a cat!  She loved this little guy.  

Jerry, you're stuck with us now!  

Randomness

Since I haven't posted in a while, I am going to post some recent photos from my phone.  

Kevin and I took Daniel and Laura to visit The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens: 

Sweet Laura

Kevin's family on Father's Day

My dear cousin, Annette

Aunt Zell and Buddy took me for a ride on their golf cart

Dad turned 87

Daniel turned 13

Laura completed another year with the Mitey Riders

Proud Dad 

Blossom was unable to move off of the couch by herself on her last days.  Scott bought an air mattress and slept beside her ever night.  

Our sweet baby Balto

Next post:  Whatever happened to Not Mom and Dad's Cat?  

Life

I have long come to the realization that life is short.  I mean, really short.  Yesterday, I felt like I had been gut-punched with grief for my momma.  I miss her so much.  I wish we could go back to a time where she was able to go and do all that she wanted to.  I'd love to travel with Mom.  We'd visit all of the places she said she wanted to see but never did.  I'd hug her as tight as I could and breathe her in.  Oh how I miss her so.  I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I'll never see her again this side of heaven.    

Three weeks ago, we said goodbye to our Blossom.  It was horrible but she was becoming miserable.  Upon her diagnosis three years ago, the neurologist said we'd have her for about one more year.  We had three.  I've never known a dog with such spirit and fight.  Blossom was such a blessing to our lives and she took a huge part of our hearts with her.  

The week after her death, we had a sweet visitor for several days.  Dori was just what Scott, Balto and I needed to lift our spirits and help our hearts.  Thank you to my friend Miranda for sharing her with us.  

I don't know about you but I am struggling with all of the change in the world.  Between all of the change that the pandemic brought, the wars, gun violence, people being able to "choose" their gender, so much meanness, the influx of people moving into my city and changing it, illness, death - I could go on - I am struggling to make sense of the world we live in.  Not all of the changes have been bad; I do enjoy working remotely at times but I no longer feel like I understand (or like) the world we live in.  Life is hard.  

I'm trying to save my sanity and am trying to cut back on all types of media.  I want to limit my time viewing social media, news media and television/movies; you know, a simpler life.  I am learning to play the drums and am taking private French lessons with an online tutor from France every week.  I need to engage my mind.  I don't believe that we were created to consume so much information all of the time.  I'd love to go back to simpler times.  You will see me around here more often as I am choosing to channel my time and energy into different areas.