Hello. Excuse me, but this is my box! I found it myself. It was up here on the table and the lid was almost open. I didn't see anyone putting things in it, no one was looking in it. It just has this bubble wrap and padded paper stuff inside. It's mine! Mine! Mine! All mine! Finders keepers, losers weepers! With everyone else around and the kid home from college, there is just so much a girl can handle. And you broke my name collar, now no one knows I'm Clover and I have to wear this stretchy thing with four, count them, FOUR bells! Just because I lost my old bell and vet tags. It's not my fault you can't find them! (grr...grumble, grumble) And another thing, I need my own space. Why can't I can hide here and curl up and go to sleep? Maybe no one will bother me. (Sarcastic meow) Right! You wouldn't see them treating those Egyptian god cats this way, always sticking a camera in your face and making them share things with six other cats!
Hey! You're not going to make me get out, are you? 
Visit the animals at Friday's Ark and be sure to stop by the Carnival of the Cats; this Sunday hosted by Enrevanche. (end)
June 2, 1951 - Wedding Day
Today is the 54th wedding anniversary of my parents, Loren and Lorane. They met in college and were the country boy/city girl couple. My dad was backward and shy while mom was outgoing and involved in groups on campus. Somehow, they fell in love and are still in love. Yes, things have changed over the years. Two kids, multiple churches to pastor, one grandchild, one new hip, one new shoulder, diabetes, atrial fibrillation.....much is different. But they have truly kept the vows they took long ago...for richer or poorer, sickness, health and they have been an example to all they came in contact with.
Four years ago we had a 50th Anniversary party and my mom thought no one would come. We sent out more invitations than I did to my wedding, over 350. So many responded that we had to change the church venue to accommodate them. Over 275 people came to see them renew their vows, hear the tape of them taking their original vows, see them celebrate with family and renew friendships. People came from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, California, Illinois, Indiana and Mississippi. My brother, the opera singer, sang all the musical numbers from their wedding and all of my mom's bridesmaids were there with her again. We were even able to have a bakery duplicate their cake. It was remarkable to see how many people thought so much of them that they wanted to share the day. They had a wonderful time. It was worth it to see them both so happy.
Now, four years later they are still going strong. Dad still sees her as the girl who knocked his socks off and made him stammer when she smiled. She still worries when he tries to climb a ladder or putters too long in the yard. She tells him how to cook, he tries, they fuss; I stay out of the kitchen when they are doing this tandem baking. The conversations at the dinner table are sometimes difficult to follow. As my brother puts it, "It seems that four people are talking together with some semblance of order, but no one is on the same topic." Mom and I get the giggles when dad says the blessing and asks God to "bless our dear departed loved ones". He's not referring to those who have passed away, but to Nyssa at college and my brother in Europe. They are both a little slower. I worry about their driving at times and I know it irritates them not to be able to do things they once could, but this year has shown improvement in their overall health. For that I am grateful.
If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.
- Unknown
Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made: Our times are in His hand Who saith "A whole I planned, Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!" - Robert Browning, Autumn Crocus: Growing Old
Lorane & Loren, 2005.
Rush hour traffic in Virginia Beach. Cars as far as you can see. Lights change. Cars block intersections. Traffic comes to a halt. Trucks and cars honking as soon as the light turns from red to green. Add in the more than occasional fire engine, rescue squad and police cruiser with lights flashing and sirens blasting as well as the Navy jets from Oceana Naval Air Station doing touch and go exercises all day long, and there is NOISE. Of course, we have our own noise maker to throw into the mix; Max, our cocker mix, hears the sirens with his sensitive ears and erupts each time into blood curdling yowls and howls enough to make one think he has sustained a terrible and mortal injury and is in the most excruciating pain. Ah, more noise.
Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation.
Jean Arp
Entry for Thursday Challenge. (end)
Wooden wings go round and round in the wind, but the birds go nowhere. Stationary in the garden, these creatures can only hope to occasionally turn side to side with the wind or in an exceptional moment, to club an unsuspecting crow that flies too close. Some days I feel like I'm one of these birds, frantically waving my arms, running around in circles and going nowhere. If only I could club a few unsuspecting crows, maybe I would feel better. In anticipation of that exceptional moment...I keep the list of my "crows" handy. Submission for Lens Day. (end)
Uh! Oh! This was good but I got it all over the place!
Happy 1st Birthday, Nyssa! This was 18 years ago and the mess of icing was all over the face, hands, high chair and the mat on the floor. She had the look of - "Now I've gone and done it!" - but you have to let them make a mess so you can capture the memories. Fortunately, she does much better at mealtime now, although I can't say the same about the condition of her dorm room.
Even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections, children tend to be sticky. - Fran Lebowitz
Submitted to Photo Tuesday. (end)
