The End of an Era

A-choo's passing a week ago was the end of an era...  All the animals my husband and I have adopted together in the first 20 years of our marriage are gone.  Ames, the cat, died 7 years ago at the age of 15.  Simba the dog passed last September at the age of 16. And now A-choo has left us, 21.5 years later...

She went out as she lived - independent and on her own terms. She died in the middle of the night while we were sleeping.

I can't say we were surprised to wake and find her gone, but of course we mourned her.  Living to the ripe old age of 21.5 she was a big part of our life together. We adopted her from the Denver Dumb Friends League in 1992 when she was 10 months old. 

Suffice it to say, she was a charmer from the beginning. Why "A-choo" you may ask. When we first met her in one of the little visitation rooms at the shelter she was all over us - sweet and loving and cuddly as could be. But she sneezed. A lot. It was kind of cute. So we dubbed her A-choo. And she came home to join her big "brother" Ames. 

As I said - she was independent. So once secure that she was in her forever home (who knew it would be 21.5 years forever) the desire to cuddle lessened and she took on her role as aloof A-choo. We loved her all the more for her distinct personality and catittude! When we hugged her and she squirmed to get away we told her she need 2 minutes of "forced affection." She always let us do it.

She liked popcorn and would give you those eyes when she wanted some. (Only the puffy part so she wouldn't choke, though.)

She took catittude to new levels. 

She was silly

and she liked a good party.

And a good box.

She was beautiful. Not in an ordinary cat kind of way. She was really beautiful.

I will remember her as playful and silly and funny and mischievous. 

But mostly I will remember her as thoughtful, wise and special.

She was so special...

Rest in peace, 'Choosey. You will be in our hearts forever.

Don't Stress!

The saga continues and I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say it is a good thing the second ultrasound - the one that was missed - was found and viewed. 

*Remember, people ~ always get copies of your medical reports! A little side bar - when I asked for a copy of the second ultrasound - you know, the one that was missed - my nurse said, "Its already in the mail. I know how you work."  That made me smile smugly.

Anyhoo, some interesting things were caught and there will be more testing in my future. Oh joy. As things stand now - for the next 10 days anyway - it could be something; it could be nothing.

So my job - according to my doctors and my friends and my confidants - is to put it out of my mind. Don't stress because that will make things worse. Have you ever tried to not stress when someone tells you to not stress? Its like when I was first learning to ski ~ I was on a small slope with a T-bar lift. The operator said, "Just remember, don't sit down." What's the first thing I did? Of course ~ I sat down. Don't stress. Right.

I'm advised to stay busy, have fun, relax. If you've known me for 5 minutes you know I don't relax at the best of times... certainly not now.

But busy? I can do busy.

I brought out my knitting looms and am reminded that once I get started they are extremely addictive for me.

It may be 100 degrees outside, 

but it is never too soon for me to start stocking 

my winter inventory.

I discovered a really funky loom I hadn't used.

And it makes skinny little tube scarves

I'm still experimenting and this one 

will get some embellishments.

But I had fun creating it!

The Mister took me to a Colorado Rockies baseball game at Coors Field last night.

I have to admit although I enjoy the ambiance of a ball field

I'm really a bit more of a fan of the sky.

So I spent some time on the other side of the stadium

watching the sun set over the city.

We went for a bite after the game ~ Spicy Chicken Tacos I failed to get a pic of, but they were yum.

And after all the walking we did

a cold glass of prosecco was in order.

Oh ~ and it was Flag Day, ya' know.

I'm cutting back on my work day and clocking out a little earlier in the afternoon to watch movies (and knit).  I try to get at least one movie in every day. Struck by Lightning was a cute one I caught the other day.

I'm a regular visitor to the park in the early morning hours

There are a couple of "people" in my life I don't slow down enough to really appreciate

 I'm doing more of that

So I'm trying. 

But it's a challenge.