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There are times when everything just falls into place, when events flow smoothly through time in silent perfection. Our Thanksgiving family dinner was just such a time. I think all of us feel battered and worn in the world; and just plain happy that somebody, somewhere loves us. So we sat around the table, eating, talking, and laughing without a thought for the world outside the surrounding four walls. My child-rearing years were long, rigorous, and more about responsibility than enjoyment. My daughters were healthy, happy, precocious little beings who kept me on my toes, and required all the focus I could muster. When Terra, the youngest, left home to strike out on her own more than a year ago, I was worn down to a dull stump. Since that time, both the girls have pursued their own interests with the same vigor that they applied to childhood exploration and discovery. I have watched from the sidelines with interest, cheering whenever I could do so without false bravado. Both have succeeded in establishing themselves as unique individuals in their own worlds. As individuals they can see me more clearly, and I hope, love me more dearly. Thanksgiving was our first family gathering since Terra's flight into the unknown. For the first time, we all met as adults, equally responsible for the outcome of the day. What a day it was, one can savour such treasures for a lifetime.
Although I answered an enthusiastic yes when Terra asked me if I was a hermit, I have been very busy visiting, chatting with friends, and getting about in the world for the last few weeks. Auntie Mame's daughter, Leto, recently celebrated her birthday and her freedom. With her three young sons, she fled an environment that was toxic for all of them. Her birthday party was held by her biggest fan, her mother. It was a quiet family event, filling Auntie Mame's house with food, song, active children, and good conversation. Steve Paul Simms led a heartfelt rendition of "Happy Birthday to You", sung by a group truly glad to see Leto about to enter a new and happier chapter of her life. For the past few weeks, I have been busy with a project of adoption, the adoption of a pet that is. A local group, concerned with the well being of animals, helps families find good homes for pets that they can no longer care for. Having decided I would like feline companionship, I decided to offer one of these animals a home. After a friendly but probing interview with the "placement person", I was given a list and description of the many pets seeking new homes. There were so many, so very many... The decision came easily though. I had chosen three pets at random to visit and consider for adoption. The first owner that called to setup a home-visit was Chris. We arranged for a visit within the hour. He sounded so nice on the telephone that I felt optimistic about the visit; as well I might. I spent an hour or more talking to Mist and Chris, learning all about Mist. Chris had a new puppy, a very large puppy, which had become very aggressive with Mist. The new puppy was confined to the basement until Mist could be relocated out of harms way. When she sat on my lap, I knew she and I would get on well together. That was it; Chris and I drove to the local pet store where I purchased a carrier to transport Mist home. Within a few hours, our home was transformed. Mist took all of five minutes to establish herself, and then she promptly went to sleep, sprawled out on our bed. |
RECIPES :: Cast Worldly Distractions  Right at home. Quote "Not only were women being laid off en masse, but entry jobs were being redefined to involve heavy lifting, to exclude women from the factories. In a Flint auto plant, all the women were put on graveyard shift in violation of seniority, and the UAW, which continued to address members as sirs and brothers, refused to fight for its women members." from "Gone to Soldiers" by Marge Piercy 1987, Fawcett Crest, pg 733 Weather 18:00 EDT Temp: 11`C Humidity: 43% Wind: S 0 km/h Barometric:102.5 kPa Sunrise 7:46 AM EDT Sunset 6:43 PM EDT |
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