From the Observation Deck

Pet owners will understand when I say that there is a joy to having furry companions around the house. They certainly provide me with plenty of laughs and comfort. I just got two little babies and last night when they were running around like they just had a catnip burger with catnip sauce and extra catnip catsup on the bun, I pet my 17 year old cat and was thankful for her mild, “whatever” behavior.

That is until this afternoon. As I sat at the kitchen table reading my emails, I noticed her by the door with something in her mouth. Around here, that could be anything at the moment–but oh, no–it was moving. Crap. I’ve been trying to train them to get the big ugly spiders that get in, but this thing had a long tail. Oh yeah, that salamander I saw on the front step earlier. Say adios sally dude, because even at 17 my girl has got hunting skills that would shame the tigers in Africa I’m going to see next month.

As I tried to move her out of the house to feast on said salamander, she got nervous and ended up biting down. Good thing it was outside because both ends kept moving. Gross. But a great diet plan. No way am I going to have lunch now.

So, you take the good with the gross. My new little cuddle bug Fergus and his brother Gunnar are practicing their hunting skills on Grendel’s happy tail. Here’s to a rodent and salamander free home!

Salamander cheezburger is yum!

Bone mine!

The warriors Fergus and Gunnar clash in an epic battle.

I protect you kitteh.

cuddle bug with the Grendel dog

Hey kittehs! Iz me, Grendel dog.

There once was a little girl who loved to sing and dance and play with her brothers and sisters. She was the fourth of five children and always a favorite among her family. Her early life started out in Indiana but then the family moved to the west side of Cleveland where her father worked in the Presbyterian church. Every summer they packed up the family car and drove way up north to an exceptionally beautiful lake in Michigan. It was on Walloon Lake that she learned how to sail and swim and made many friends.

As a young women she spread her joy and love to the kids who attended the local camp on the lake where she worked as a counselor. Singing, dancing and playing games with kids continued through her summers and then on to her years in college.

A very generous aunt and uncle saw the potential in her and sent her to Wooster where she made more friends and spread her joy and love to the people she met there. An adventurous one, she moved to New Mexico after college to work there for awhile before heading to New York where she lived with her older sister and her nephews and nieces. She earned a master’s degree and then got a job at Cornell University.

It was at Cornell that this young woman met the love of her life and then went on to spend the next 50 years with him. This beautiful young woman took care of her husband and soon had a little baby boy. This special boy was born while she lived with her husband on base in Munich, Germany. The army nurses weren’t exactly helpful to this new mother as they dumped sheets on her bed and told her to make her own bed (right after giving birth). She was a tough one this young woman!

More adventures ensued as they took little baby Greg on the road while they climbed mountains and toured Europe. Back to the states they went and soon had a little girl to round out the family. This young mother stayed home raising these two children, spreading her joy and love to them and everyone she met.

This woman grew in her faith, continued to always be a supportive and loving person, and to this day is the most wonderful mom a girl could ask for. This woman is now a grandmother, spreading her joy and love to four of the luckiest kids in the world. They get to call this woman grandma and know that they are loved and prayed for every day.

Thanks mom. I love you and your story will live on through me and your always grateful family. You have been through many trials in your life and continue to come through them with grace and style. You are a great role model and I’m glad you’re my mom!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Love,

Your kid.