Saturday:

 

Cleo looks wonderfully well and much better since yesterday.  I really am relieved to have her home.  She is sitting quietly on the living room windowsill watching the birds outside...this is her favorite thing to do.  She has also eatten some food from her bowl and drank water.  No bandages are on her little paws today and she walks without difficulty.  I must admit, I am extremely happy to see her doing so well.

 

I have liquid pain med and antibiotic to give her twice daily and she takes her medications very well.  The Vet clinic told me that Cleo is a very sweet cat.  I already know this. 

 

She is definitely happy to be home in her familiar surroundings.  She has kissed me often and let me know in her little cat-way that she is glad to be in her little castle. 

 

I will shop for paint later this afternoon and check out the carpet at Lowe's and Home Depot...its time to fix up the condo and put it on the market for sale. 

 

It's strange...when I bought my condo, I bought it with the thought in mind that I would live here until I die.  Ahhhh once again..."Nothing is permanent except change" enters my mind as I prepare for my retirement and move to Florida by the end of this year...beginning of next.

 

I am excited to move...a new chapter in my life is about to begin.  I so look forward to retirement...altho I will probably work part-time to supplement my retirement income.  Slowing down however is very appealing to me.  Spending more time with my children and grandchildren is a wonderful gift ....a luxury that has been my dream!!!

 

Life is but an adventure...

 

 

 

I read every article I could find on the internet regarding "Declawing" of cats.  I finally opted for this procedure only after reading and talking to my Veterinarian who has been my pet doctor for many years.  I trust Dr Hess totally and finally I made the decision to declaw my cat with the laser technique.  I do not believe for one second that it is an easy decision to make for those of us who love our pets with all of our heart.

 

I made my decision only after much agonizing on my part.  I had tried all of the alternatives to declawing including "Soft paws" however Cleo would literally spend hours biting at her feet attempting to remove the soft paws.  At one point she had made her little paw red and sore.  I decided this method was not going to work for Cleo.  She does not use the scratch posts....she passes it by and heads straight for my couch (sigh)...

 

So there it is in a nutshell.  We had tried...and nothing seemed to work.

 

So on Thursday...

I made the decision and dutifullly carried through as I picked up little Cleo cat and put her into her carrier.  My heart was heavy as I drove to the Vet's ...today was her day to be declawed.  It was the laser procedure and the Vet promised me that this made the "Declaw" procedure healing phase much quicker than the old way of surgically performing the Declawing.  I didn't want to put Cleo through the procedure at all...laser or otherwise...but she was leaving her mark upon the new leather couch and her "clawing" instinct was threatening the rest of my furniture...I had no choice.  She quietly rode in the car...aware that "something was amiss" as I drove to Parker, Colorado.

 

I pulled up infront of the Veterinarian clinic.  "It's not too late to back out" I told myself.  I looked into Cleo's eyes...trusting eyes as she nervously paced in her carrier.  I opened the car door, reluctantly removing the carrier.  I carried Cleo inside the cliinic and once again sought confirmation that this procedure was the right process to put my little pet through.  Annie the vet tech assured me.  Her three cats had gone through the procedure and had fared well.  She carried Cleo from my arms and headed to the back room.  I left my phone numbers both work and home, and left for the drive to work.

 

The morning seemed to slip quickly by and then my desk phone rang.  It was Annie assuring me that Cleo had gone through the procedure and was given pain medication and was "sleeping" as we spoke. 

I shuddered...thankful that the procedure was over and swallowed down the bile that had risen in my throat.  I felt GUILTY!!!!  I had put my pet through a procedure that I am not entirely in approval of...any more than I think "cropping" ears on a Schnauzer is in anyway humane and I had never allowed Max or Buddy or little Heidi to go through this awful procedure.  I wouldn't have allowed Gretchen to endure it either, but it had been performed on her before she had found her way to my home.  

 

I left work early ...headed for the clinic and stood sadly infront of Cleo's hospital cage.  She slept quietly occasionally opening her eyes and then falling asleep again.  Annie assured me that Cleo was fine.  I looked skeptically at her bandaged paws and left the clinic to go home.

 

 

Friday:

This afternoon, I left work early again.  I drove home quickly and retrieved Cleo's favorite stuffed animal ...her "baby" from her kitty bed.  I brought a small bag of her favorite cat food and the little stuffed animal as a gift to Cleo and drove toward the clinic. 

 

Annie met me at the reception desk and led me back to her hospital cage.  Cleo's front paws were still bandaged and her eyes warily watched as I placed her little stuffed animal "Baby" beside her.  Without reservation, she first licked "baby" then licked my hand softly with her pink rough tongue.  My voice softly crooned loving words to her...I asked her for her forgiveness, already knowing that she had forgiven me. 

 

Tomorrow (Saturday morning)  I get to bring her home from the clinic.  I cannot wait.  Annie said that they would send liquid pain med and also antibiotic home with Cleo tomorrow.  I am glad it is over. 

 

I pray the God of Cats above will forgive me...and hopefully this procedure will become but a dim memory for Cleo and myself. 

 

 

 

 I also pray that someday declawing will have become a simply painfree procedure perfected by the advancing

animal care and veterinarians who strive constantly for the humane care of our beloved pets. 

 

May it Be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This weekend was a very unique experience

As I found myself looking

Through the Eyes of

My Seven Year Old Granddaughter.

 

I saw such sparkling innocence

Briliant within her green eyes...

That Shined brightly

 as the stars that twinkle

In the Colorado night sky...

 

 Each sweet moment

Was a time to treasure...

With joy and excitement

As pristine and fresh

As If I were seeing

For the very First Time...

 

The flight of the birds

As they soared in the air

Dipping and Floating

Upon the current of the wind...

 

 

And laughing at the squeal of delight

at seeing

A  tiny  deer mouse

Nestled within the

Lawn's green grass

Outside my living room window.

 

Oh if only I can

remember this time

And savor it always

When my eyes can no longer see...

And I sit quietly alone...

 

May I remember this weekend

As seen through the

Eyes of

My little Jordan.

 

 

Tina

 

My first-born granddaughter Tina, age 20, is living with me.  This has been an experience that I probably will never forget.  Each day her smile is like sunshine bright and new upon the horizon.  Her laughter fills the condo and my heart with joy. 

 

I know that this time in our lives will be remembered by both of us.  Someday she will look back and remember our laughter over a funny joke or the serious talks that we share with one another.  What a joy this is and a priviledge for me as a Grandmother to experience in my life. 

 

Cleo has adopted Tina as one of her own.  She purrs and has been delightful.  I think Cleo has definitely settled in and is becoming more and more sociable with each day.

 

I remember Tina when she was born.  A tiny fluff of innocence as she lay in my arms.  Today she is a grown woman and I am proud of her.  I was uncertain about her choice to move from Michigan back to Denver.  My heart was heavy with worry.  However, she has proved me wrong in worrying over her.  She is a capable young woman and she has made some definite decisions for her future.  She has enrolled in College for radiology.  A good choice and it makes my heart sing.  She is following in her father's footsteps.  Dan must feel such pride!  I know that he shares my joy in this.

 

Tina is in the Spring of her youth and I love feeling this springtime within my soul.  It reminds me of my youth, and it brings the sweetness of Life full circle within me.

 

Life is such a joy sometimes especially if one looks for the sunshine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreams Are Made of This...

 

Sometimes when I close my eyes

I see the palm tree waving in the breeze

And I smell the Ocean

Breeze as it whispers against my skin.

 

Ahhhhh

Dreams are made of this.

 

 

 

 

 

I am home now in Denver...but the vacation in Florida was absolutely delightful.  My son Don and I drove to Coco beach on Sat. July 1st to hopefully watch the launch of the Discovery into space with seven astronauts.  It was cancelled that day and also the next day but went off without a hitch on the 4th of July. 

To say that it was spectacular is probably an understatement.  I was estatic.  I have never in my entire life seen the launching of a rocket into space and I truly felt in awe and humbled by the experience.  The fire from the rockets engines lit up the sky and I watched until my eyes could no longer track it in the sky.  What an amazing journey for these astronauts into the expanse of space.  I cannot even begin to fathom what they must feel!!!  My spirit jumped for joy as I watched the rocket climb out of sight. 

 

Coco Beach was absolutely beautiful!  I waded out into the ocean feeling the waves lap against my body...warm and cleansing.  I felt the past several months of worry and tiredness literally wash away from my spirit...from my soul.  I felt alive and as one with the sweet sense of peace that flowed within me.  I really understand why humans are so fascinated with the Ocean....the awe and majesty is beyond any description that I can put to words...but even now as I write this, I feel the renewed sweetness of the experience fill my heart.

 

I loved every moment that I spent with Don, Lisa and my grandchildren.  I look forward with great anticipation to my retirement and my eventual move to Orlando.  I felt wonderful at sea-level.  I think my heart likes it (smile)...and I know that I do!

 

I also have a bitter-sweet melancholy at leaving my daughter Debby and Jordan who live here in Denver.  However, I will always fly home to my mountains and to my daughter and granddaughter to be with them a few times a year, so that consoles me.  And I truly look forward to being in Orlando with Don, Lisa and my other grandchildren to be a part of their lives and they a part of me!

 

My cat Cleo is a great companion...she is doing wonderfully well adapting to me...and I to her!  My oldest granddaughter Tina, age 20, moved back to Denver from Michigan, and is currently staying here in Denver with me.  It is wonderful to have her here.  We are very close and really enjoy one another, so her stay has been extra good for me...being a Grammy is one of those wonderful experiences in life!!!!

 

Tonight I am relaxed.  It was a busy work day at the facility.  The boys were happy to have me back from Florida.  I got the usual hugs and "Hi Grandma" from them....it was great!   Sometimes I marvel at how wonderful life can truly be.

 

So if you sense a lazy sweet sense of serenity within me...you are sensing me correctly!   Life is being very good to me.