Many Topics At Year's End

Beauty

Looking through our west-facing-windows, I see several grades in the landscape with many tree lines. Just now I took our new dog out and the tiniest snowflakes were falling. The fading sun created a magical glow. The snow looked like different colors of smoke drifting through rows of bare-limbed trees. We passed a stream that was full and rushing a few days ago when temperatures were in the 50's. In contrast, today it is 6 degrees and there are thick icicles clinging to the rocks. Through a new layer of ice we heard rushing water.


Painful

I handed over a check for $2000 today. This is a small portion of what our new septic will cost.


Did Your Siblings Get Their Asses Kicked?

This morning I was checking my e-mail when Mae tapped me on the arm and said, "Help." She was soaking wet. I sprinted to the living room and saw Sam with a glass of water and an evil grin. This afternoon I caught sight of Sam air born just before he landed on our dog Jack. The poor dog growled and relocated. Today I have spoken the following more than once, "Get off your sister!..Hands to yourself!...No one likes hands in their face!... Let's start over (when he's sassed me) I will ask you again..." Dave and I are only children. We hope we're doing the right thing. We have friends with horror stories like a sister who tried to poison the new arrival; an older sibling who bounced a baby jumper against a door frame with her in it (may have been the same family-Debbie Stevens?). I thought about these stories this afternoon when I was feeling helpless and frustrated. I realize this behavior is not new, it's been happening as long as families have been forming. What I'd like to know is, would your brother/sister have gotten their ass kicked for Sam Dewey's behavior today?

He Calls It Like He Sees It

Yesterday, after speaking with my friend Anna http://www.mylifewithlucas.blogspot.com/ , Sam and I had a conversation about money management.

"Sam, I just talked with Lucas's Mommy and she said Lucas has his own money and buys things in stores all by himself. You are a big boy and you're smart, maybe we should start doing that."

Sam's response, "Not me, I'm too crazy."

I asked him to repeat himself so I could be sure that's what he said. Yep, that's what he said.

Lordy, Lordy Look Who's 40!

Double D is 40 today! For years our birthday ritual has been a meal out and private time together. Predictions for heavy snowfall encouraged dining in tonight. Thankfully, I had a chance to zip to the store before the snow turned heavy. Plan B is Surf and Turf and an early bedtime for the Dewey children.

Those Where The Days?

Now that Sam is a student in the public school system, Dave and I feel nostalgia for our early school years. Our conversation began by recollecting the cigarette smoke wafting into the corridor from the teacher's lounge. I remember my fifth grade teacher smoking in the classroom when we were outside for recess. One of Dave's teachers would light up after the bell rang as her students exited the classroom. When I was in High School, we actually had a designated smoking area for students.

Dave and I agree the following story takes the cake. When I was in elementary school, the classroom for kids with special needs was across the street. Every day the class would come to the elementary school cafeteria for lunch. The general student population sat at tables placed against the walls. There was one table in the center of the room where Special Education students sat. Whenever someone got in trouble, the punishment was to sit at the center table with the special ed students. I wonder when they stopped doing that. Jeez, I hope they stopped doing that. I don't know for sure because this was back in New Hampshire. Hmm. I'll have to post a follow up on this one.

Whatever

I went to the grocery store this afternoon and parked in a snow covered lot near the cart return corral. Apparently I misjudged the standard parking spot marker because someone placed this note under my windshield wiper. Thankfully, I'm no longer in a place where this would trouble me. I feel pity for the fellow. This person (lacking a dictionary and possessing bad grammar) chose to waste energy being negative about something so trivial during this season of giving. Whatever.

Silent Night

Meike!

Tazor and Meike

Introducing our newest four legged family member, Meike. She is much cuter than this picture, more flattering photos will be published later. Yes, I have heard many a Public Service Announcement cautioning families not to adopt a new pet during the holidays. It is difficult to describe what lead us to this moment. It was like knowing the mail will be delivered tomorrow. I knew another dog was coming.

Meike's last family felt they weren't able to give her attention they'd felt she needed. She had lived with them for two years after practically falling into their laps. When Meike was a puppy, approximately 5 months old she wandered onto a busy road during morning commuter traffic. She was skinny and wore a collar with no tags. Not wanting to see this dog hit, the couple shooed her off the road and tried continuing on to work. Unaware Meike had run back to their truck, they accidentally ran over her. Feeling terrible, they brought her to a veterinary hospital and then home with them to convalesce. The rest of her story is now just begining.

Processing Loss

My composure of the past few weeks has been a puzzle to me. I attributed my comfortable acceptance of Murdoch's death to knowing how hard it had become to be him. I'd shed many tears over the past three years whenever I'd thought about the inevitable. When the day came I took comfort knowing we did right by him. It was one of the hardest things to do, but undoubtedly we did right by him.

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Tonight I watched this picture pass through our screen saver and fell apart. When I look at this I see his tolerance for allowing Mae to place a tiara on his head. I see his cloudy eyes and the skin tag that had developed over his left eyelid. He is licking peanut butter off a spoon with one of his medications tucked inside. I see his white snout and his old man nose. I remember every inch of his body. I miss touching him, and I miss feeling his eyes follow me wherever I'd go.

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I am glad he is no longer inhibited by an aging body. I take comfort imagining Murdoch and Kilo racing down the back hill together trying to be first to jump into the stream. I know I will never get over this loss, but hopefully someday will learn to live with it.