People I know are dropping like flies!

Last Thursday I missed a memorial service for a former co-worker.  Over the weekend, I learned that another former co-worker has passed on.  This morning, it was someone I met in a weight management (local) group.  I mean, I know we all have to go sometime, but it seems as though the losses come in waves, and I'm in the middle of one at the moment.  

These are not super close folks, mind you... we're all retired.  Two of the three, it was cancer, so in some ways you are grateful for a ceasing of suffering.  Cancer sucks!  BUT!

In any case, another of my former co-workers is seeking homes for two cats that belonged to one of the departed.  I took on Cyndi via the same former co-worker, years ago, and she lived a few months at my house, surviving a careful separation from Diamond, the GSP (also long gone by now).  In a fit of compulsive compassion, I started asking her questions about the two kitties:  how old, male/female, indoor/outdoor, how old, etc.  I'm pondering over whether Prisoner and Rubia would tolerate the introduction of newcomers.  And at the same time, a part of my brain is screaming "NO!  Lacey is horribly allergic to cats!"

I'm hoping, therefore, that someone else beats me to the punch.  This is Nicky, one of the kitties in need of a new human.  

And this one is Max, the other of the bonded pair.  

There was a trio of us at the old workplace, including the recently deceased human of these cats and the gal who is trying to find them a new home, and myself, who all had shirts that looked very much alike.  

We used to get the giggles if two or all three of us wore that shirt on the same day.

Me in my version of that shirt, Halloween 2012.  The baby?  My great-niece Ivy, who now lives in Philadelphia.

Life goes on, and is still good.  I'll let you know what happens with the kitties, and hopefully it will be that they have a fine new home soon.

numerology

 

Another gift from the 10 day "things that bring me joy" exercise over on Facebook.  Today I decided to highlight my gratitude for doing some things while I still could.  In the process, I posted the quad photo of my first triathlon, back in 2012.

Eleven years ago, I noticed, I was wearing bib number 405.  And it hit me this morning when I did that Kevin's bib in his final race, the one he finished in heaven, was 404.  Yep, it's those numbers again!

Life is good.  Spark on!

Things that make one smile

 I got challenged by a cousin in Montana to post ten photos and challenge ten other people... you know the kind.  This time it was to be photos of things that bring me joy.  It's supposed to be a "no comments, just the photo".  Today (Sunday) was my 8th day, and I had a burst of whimsey. I posted a photo that would require explanation as to why it brings me joy!

It's of my little car Dexter's odometer, taken Friday morning, when I turned the key to begin my trip to take care of my sister's kitties.

My little car, all on his own, makes me smile.  He is a Honda Fit, bought new, a 2012 model.  I bought him as a reward for completing my second half marathon, in 2012.  So he's 11 years old.  That odometer reading declares him to belong to a little old lady who has lived through 3 years of reduced movement, due to the pandemic.  Average it out.  That's only 4,364 miles a year.

Who drives that little?  Seriously!  This amuses me, and makes me smile.

Having reliable transport makes me smile.  Still being able to drive, and be independent, makes me smile.   

I self-edit my trips to allow for some decreasing abilities.  In two weeks I will be having the eyes looked at by someone who can help evaluate them for possible cataract surgery.  I've been waiting for the doctors to declare the cataracts ripe for six or seven years now.  I have stopped doing races at least in part due to the vision issues.   

But just looking at that lovely round number, sitting in the garage, at start of my day... brings to mind another source of joy:  math!  I've always loved numbers, counting, patterns, and puzzles.  

So in short, the photo itself, as a source of joy is a puzzle.  Which also makes me smile.  What makes you smile?

Life is good!  Spark on!

Tuna juice worked

 I swear my sister's cat manipulated me into bringing the tuna juice.  Crushing her pills in tuna juice worked this morning.  So, success, on day 3 of cat-tending!

As a treat for myself, I went kayaking this morning.  Ahhhh!  Once again peaceful waters.

I went around to the backwaters by the golf course, and while there encountered a woman who knew where the eagles' nest was, so she led a couple of us back to where we could see it.  It's a bit of a distance from the water, mind you, but she'd actually seen the eagles land there, and the babies flap their wings... but not today.  However, I now know where the nest is, and sometime when I have a lot of leisure time, I can return and spend some watchful time back there.

The guide kayaker.

And the entryway to the backwaters... golfers in the distance.

Selfie on the water

From the shore, doesn't that lake look peaceful?

One more paddle, in the books.  One peaceful mind, headed home.

Life is good.  Spark on!

Look away, look away...

Guider and Foster

look away... from the news.  Sigh.

The submersible... edge of our seats as hope fades.  And on Thursday, they found debris at depth, and have determined that these people have died on their adventure.  Or exploration.  Or experiment.  

While I offer condolences to those left behind, I sort of understand the risk-taking.  After all, I engaged in a couple of dangerous activities (on a much lesser level) myself.  I participated in road races, and in triathlons.  As a spectator, I was present when one young man lost his life doing so.  I have kept track of news clips about those who died while training:  on the bicycle, hit by traffic, in the water, and more personally, my brother passed in the wake of a half marathon almost four years ago now.  It still aches, for those of us left behind, but... we understand the desire to test themselves.  

If one looks back in history, one can find those who took ship to migrate to new shores, or to open trade routes, or just to see what was there.  Crossing an ocean?  Think about those South Pacific Islanders who paddled to new islands!  People in dangerous jobs or trying to better themselves have died in the process.  So, no, I'm not going to say "don't do it".  If we never did anything outside of ourselves, we would not be human.

On the more mundane front:  I'm once again on kitty watch / medication duty for my sister, who is off visiting her more distant daughter, the one who is raising the orphan mallards in Utah.  This morning (Thursday), the kitty that requires medicating turned her nose up at her medication and treat, so I fed her sister Ginger, but not Spice.  I left a note for Jerry, the gent who does the evening shift.  Tomorrow I shall take tuna juice with me!

This is them on an earlier visit this year, when they both were happily consuming their breakfast.

Wednesday it was my every five months dental cleaning.  This one with the periodontist... the hygienist I had on Wednesday has a very gentle touch.  All is well.  On to the next adventure.

I came home after my Thursday workout with the trainer where I found out one of my fellow clients of his got rear-ended yesterday!  Yikes!  She's of my generation and says she's fine, but she was missing today's workout because of having to deal with insurance folks related to her car being totaled.

So yes, life is busy, and it is good.  Life is not without risks, but it is good.  Spark on!

Take me out to the ball game...

Last Saturday night, at the ballpark.  My daughter in law did the honors behind the camera to catch mom and son smiling, early on.

We had great seats, right behind home plate, and a great view of the vaunted football stadium across the way.  Waited until the field lights came up to take this one.

Speaking of my daughter in law, here she is, with her mum and dad.  It was her dad's Father's Day observance.

After the game, we walked out into the sunset, which put on a show of its own.

The game itself was a good one, with a couple of hotly contested plays and it went ten innings.  To make it satisfying, the home team won, in the bottom of the tenth!

Lots of old memories were stirred up.  Baseball is a great family outing.

Life keeps on being good.  Spark on!

 

Happy Father's Day

Too much in the news is about men behaving badly.  Father's Day is to focus on men doing good.  

My dad and mom married young by today's standards.  He was 21, she was 19.  They became parents about a year and a half later, and remained married until they passed on.  In between, they produced and nurtured five children.  

When this photo was taken, Dad would have been about 32 years old.  He already had three children, and in fact, the photo was taken by my older sister.  

I remember Dad having a dry sense of humor, an intellectual side, and playing with language a lot.  He was proud as punch of all his children, and took up going to concerts or diving meets, or whatever his kids were into.  In short he was a dad.  

He was not one of the modern day change the diapers, drop the kids off as school kind of dad... he was a "take the kids on adventures to give their mom a break" kind of dad.  He would take us camping.  He would share what he knew of history.  He took special joy in the local history of our state.

My son's dad, on the other hand, was a hands-on from birth kind of dad.  He chose my son's clothing, saw that he got fed, and cared for him while I was off at the office working.  Never mind that when I had a split shift and came home for a few hours, I would be handed the baby who needed changing and asked what was for the next meal.  In a way, we reversed roles during my son's youngest years.

My dad's been gone for nearly 24 years now, and I can still hear many of his thoughts rattling around in my head.  

May today be a good one for Dads of all stripes.  And may their children be blessed in recognizing the value of each of them, in their own unique way.

Happy Father's Day!  Keep Sparking!