Pets. Annoying, hairy, needy. Pets. Loving, forgiving, loyal.

I sit here with a dog at my feet and a cat at my side. They ask for nothing but to be near me. They don't even care if I don't want them there. They just are.

Columbus, a Jack Russell/dachsund mix and Chalupa, an oversized Morris-type cat, breathing in unison, tolerating the presence of each other while letting me know they are loyal to me and my cold feet!

They ask for nothing. Of course, when I take a moment to grace them with my touch, they not only want more, they demand it and interestingly enough when I stop providing this moment of loving, they get up and leave.

I'm alone again.

-----

Rescued from the pound they are

Pets who tolerate

Comfortable with me now.

 

 

January 3 marks an in-between date for me. A date halfway between my father's death and his wife, Sandy's death. He of cancer, she of a freakish horseback riding accident. Nonetheless, it was quite a shock to lose them both within ten weeks of each other. My siblings and I expected Dad's death. Cancer has a way to infiltrating your life whether you want it to or not. We didn't; it did. End of story. End of life.

Sandy, on the other hand, was out riding her horse as she had done many, many, many times before. No one will ever know exactly what happened or why, but we know Sandy died doing what she loved most in life. It doesn't make her death any easier, by any means.

In the end Dad didn't have it so good. The cancer robbed him of life, slowly and sadly. He did, however, have a chance to say good bye to his brother and sister-in-law, eleven children -- his seven children, her four and many, many grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.

In the end Sandy didn't have it so good. Though she died doing what she loved, she did not have the opportunity to say good-bye. That was sad for the children and family members, but fortunately, we had each other.

So, here as January 3 approaches, I remember them ... their zest for life ... family ... each other.

Dad and Sandy side by side

Bickering, teasing, reading

Side by side reside

Trivia contests are trivial ... Google has made it so easy to acquire quick and easy answers, anyone with access to the Internet, can answer any trivia question asked. Is there really a winner, or does the person who accesses the Internet fastest win?

Typically, I'm in bed by 9 p.m. and up at 5:30 a.m. Rarely do I change my routine, even on weekends - I find I handle my work week better if I don't. So many people I know hate Mondays and drag all day just trying to goose their bodies into submission after a weekend binge of oversleeping.

Well, unintentionally, I stayed up until nearly midnight last night working on my blog, and I worked right through my regular bedtime. Knowing I could sleep later than normal prompted my decision to keep on working.

Being true to myself, I was awake at 5:15 a.m. knowing full well I had only had 5 hours sleep - most definitely not enough for me - and I went back to sleep.

I awoke at 7:45 a.m., a more reasonable time, and got up. Now, here's where the study of one comes in. Usually, I jump out of bed and am raring to go -- turn on the water for tea, make coffee for my husband (careful to set the delay on the coffee maker since he works nights), turn on my computer, get the newspaper, handle my bathroom needs, and start reading the newspaper immediately. This all takes place in about five minute and all with a smile.

Whoa! Today that was not the case. My body was willing, but I couldn't even see! It was so bright. No wonder my husband comes to the kitchen at his usual 9:15 a.m. feeling like he's been attacked. He can barely see through his squinted eyes, arm raised to protect himself from the onset of daylight. Now I get it!

When I get up before the sun, my body can float through routine without difficulty as the sunrise is a slow and beautiful time. Gradually, my brain and body adjust to the upcoming day, slowly and patiently. I can rush through my routine but there is no sense of urgency. Waking up in the daylight gave me a sense of urgency I didn't like. I'm fine now and it didn't take long to adjust, but I am more annoyed, need more time to be with myself, before I am friendly.

The conclusion of my study of one: I'll be more patient with my husband when he wakes up this morning in the vivid sunshine - a crisp day - beckoning him to "GET UP!" I'll wait patiently while he gets his bearings ... it's the least I can do.

Another new year is about to begin ... resolutions? Hmmm ... don't think so. I don't know about you, but I don't find resolutions have any place in my little piece of the world. Seems resolutions just provide a way to fail. Does anyone really have success with a resolution? New diet? More exercise? Whatever?

Seems to me each time I wake up I am presented with another opportunity to resolve ... or not. Each day we all have an choice to take a new path or the same old one. Choice ... that's my final resolution. Every day.