One Year Ago

Today marks the one year anniversary of Murphy’s death. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone for 12 months – especially after the years of enjoyment he brought to my life. He was born in Battle Creek Michigan on February 5, 1988. As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, his first cat box was in an adult foster home that cared for men with Down Syndrome. There were other cats in the litter, I don’t know how many, but I do know he had a brother. In this photo, Murphy is just days old and that’s his sibling on the right.



His mother was a Persian named Moonbright Weber’s Samantha. I don’t have a picture of her, but I do have a shot of Murphy’s dad whose name was Kitty Lands Flaming Shainasee. He was born on 8/13/85 and was a flame point Himalayan-persian.



Murphy was always a little stand-off-ish and some people thought he looked mean because of his facial features. But really he was the sweetest boy who loved his step sister, Maddie, and who made me happy through any number of sad times in my life. He watched a lot of people and jobs come and go. He moved with me to the 8 different homes/apartments I’ve lived in over the past 18 years. And all of that without complaining or expecting anything except a little food, water and a clean litter box.

Here are some more photos in memory of The Murph…Also known as: Smurf, love bug, butter, bug, hun bun, sweet boy, stretch Gordon, muffin head, fluff ball, squeezer cat, special mister, fluffinator, jaba the hut, etc…

Internet Creativity

How many times have you seen an invention that you wish YOU had created or read an article that you wish YOU had thought of first? Since starting the blog, this happens to me all of the time, mainly with another person's words or ideas that make me laugh or think. Yes, it's a form of jealousy - call it "genius envy" if you wish. Take that phrase for example. I just thought of "genius envy" - made it up all by myself. But then I thought, wait, let me google that and see if anyone else has already claimed it. Sure enough, there is a musician (trumpet player) named Ron Horton who has an album by the same name. I've never heard of Ron Horton or his album - so does that mean I'm copying him? Is this what patents and trademarks and copyrights (oh my!) are all about?

Anyway, you know those old photos that have been made into greeting cards with funny captions? I wish I had thought of that. Well, today I saw a variation of that idea...

My neighbor forwarded me this website and I just about peed my pants. One because it was so clever, but two because I would have had easy access to the material - vintage sewing patterns. These two Atlantan's made my day and I'm thinking the website will also resonate with my sisters - since our mom was a home economics teacher and still is a master seamstress...

threadbared

Once you go to the website, click on "about us" and get a laugh out of the biographies. Then, just for fun, browse through their sewing patterns and captions. Made me chuckle and I love to share chuckles. "Chuckles" are one of my Dad's favorite candies and he's been known to willingly share them - must be where I get it...

Mom's Day

I'm pretty sure my mom has never much cared for Mother's day. I can't put words in her mouth, but I think she dislikes the pressure it puts on other people. You, know, feeling like your family has to do something special for you just because it's mother's day. Or maybe she just doesn't like the attention? I'm not sure which it is, if either, but I'm going to go ahead and do something special for her and give her attention too...a mother's day blog entry.

Here's a picture of my mom when she was 14; wasn't she pretty!?. She still is. The last time she visited here in Atlanta, we were out for a walk around the neighborhood and we passed an older couple. The woman said to my mom "you have the most beautiful hair"! My mom smiled and said "thank you" but the woman just kept on gushing about how nice it looked. It is some pretty gray hair, mom. I'm hoping mine looks the same whenever Pam, my hairdresser, says I can stop coloring it. My guess is that date will be some time shortly after I've single handedly, fully funded Pam's retirement account.

One of my fond "mom memories" is how she was my number one fan during my high school basketball career. She would go to all of my games and cheer from the bleachers with her own made up phrase: "That a go, Carrie O." That support from the stands has continued on throughout my life. Whatever I've wanted to try or be, mom has been behind me 100 percent. And she's this way with all of her kids and grandkids.

It's pretty amazing that mom and dad will get in the car and drive for 12 hours just to come see us. And when they get here, they don't just sit around - they work in the yard or on the house as if they were contractors with a deadline. And when we're done working, mom will sit on the front porch with me and drink a glass of wine.

I have many wonderful mom memories, but here are just a few to let her know I love and appreciate her:

* she helped me make a very cool sweat suit in high school sewing class
* she used to pack my lunch every day and would write a sweet note on my napkin
* she made my prom dresses, but didn't make me where dresses when I didn't want to
* she took care of me when I had mono and when I had foot surgery
* she's always available by phone for cooking emergencies and/or reminding me how to make pie crusts
* she put together a recipe box for all of us kids that included the family meals and desserts we love
* and when I come home to visit, she always prepares my favorite dishes, like tater tot casserole.

I hope you have a terrific day, mom, and go ahead and let people be nice to you!