Those damn cats!

As I begin to feel myself lose my grip on the very end of the rope I am hanging onto trying to do what I must in the aftermath of my mother's death in December, I realize I really need to prioritize the things in my life.

The issue at this time? Trying to find homes for her two cats. I was able to bribe one of the cats into a no-kill shelter. He decided to play his "meanest and worst cat that ever walked on the face of the earth" when we walked into the cattery at said shelter. I am home now, two days later, listening to him meow. If he is not meowing to get outside (which means he will go right back to mom's house), he is hissing or growling at the most laid back cat in the world, Knobby. I should mention I am allergic to cats, but had decided to sacrifice my own health to care for my mother's beloved cats. But I discovered something in the three days he (the cat, his name is Tiger) has been in our house. I am not the only one allergic to cats. Evidently so our my boys, and evidently Knobby does not bother them either. So I am pulled between trying to either provide or continue to find a home for Tiger and Sam (who is still at mom's, but I had thought we'd bring him over soon too) or protecting the health of my children.

Obviously, the kids come first.

But that does not answer what to do with the cats. Leave them at mom's, hoping that with each passing day they do not get more and more "wild" from very little human contact, in hopes eventually someone want a cat who saw a poster I have hung up somewhere? Drop them off at the pound or some other place that will most certainly destroy them both and directly defy what my mother would want for them? Take them myself to the vet to have them destroyed, comforting myself that at least I was with them when they died? But having to pay the hefty euthanasia fees?

It is not as easy as it sounds. Any way I chose to go, I am left with a huge helping of guilt. I cried before taking Tiger to the no-kill shelter, I felt so guilty. My mother died less than two months ago. The thing that brings me to tears should not be what to do with her damn cats, but the grief of missing her. And there is some more guilt! I cannot even get my tears to respect my priorities.

I guess the stress and tears over finding homes for these two cats helps me keep my mind off the fact that my mother, who was such a huge part of my life and the lives of my children is gone.

My Christmas letter...

‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving, as I sat down to write
A Christmas letter for all those far far from sight.
To send to the friends and family of we lucky Mews
To tell all the exciting, and not so exciting, ‘08 news.
Despite outsourcing, relocations, & because we have not won the lotto, Al is still happily and gainfully employed at Advance Auto.
He loves to compute with his trusty friend Trey
Whom Susan named in a fit of dismay,
Howard Albert Mew the Third,
Having to make room on the couch for him, how absurd!
Susan stays busy cooking and cleaning,
Not to mention the two boys who need preening.
Her newest quests being digital scrapbooking,
Creative leftover remaking & getting ready for homeschooling.
Al and Susan made a journey alone
To be reunited with Al’s high school friends, now all grown,
It having been twenty years since their last meeting,
It was obvious their youth was a-fleeting.
John-Paul is now four, potty-trained and whiles no fool,
Still digs for pirate treasure on the playground at preschool.
Benjamin soon will turn two,
Loves cooking, singing and music class too.
He loves most of all, his brother John-Paul,
And doing everything and whatever and all
His brother does, the good and the bad,
Which sometimes makes his mother quite mad.

Al’s parents remains in good health and form
Spoiling their grandsons is to them the norm.
Delaine had some heart problems at the first of the year,
But she has improved and left all of good cheer.
Susan’s mom often enjoys the boys
For a morning or afternoon, her wee bitty joys.
Though at times Betty is quite sad
For she lost her best friend, and it does make her mad.
And after being properly diagnosed bipolar
We have all thankfully gotten off the roller
Coaster of Susan’s sister Ann’s illness,
No more do we distress.
And there is nothing Ann dreads
Now that she is on the right meds.
She lives in the County of Isle of Wight
And her recovery and future look bright.
Susan’s brother-in-law Alfredo and his boys are well,
Despite having to wish Ann farewell.
Alfredo even has two guys who work for him
And his work calendar stays quite full to the brim.
Mauricio is 13 and a football player,
While Daniel is 12 and a violin player.
Both boys enjoy scouting
And by the looks of them are sprouting.
That’s about all to report on our year,
So, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good year!

Thanksgiving

Somehow Thanksgiving has become my responsibility. My mother passed the baton onto my sister, who gave it to me. Last year I did it because Ann had just gotten out of the hospital, after a year or so of battling mental illness and addiction. She's better, but she also does not live here anymore, so I am not the official Thanksgiving host, not to mention other holidays. If that doesn't make you feel old I am not sure what does! Now I should mention my brother-in-law will cook the turkey, he always does, on the grill, so that is one thing I do not have to worry about. Thank you, Alfredo!

I have to admit I am not a huge Thanksgiving dinner fan. I like the turkey and mashed potatoes, bit the rest I can leave... So it is hard to get enthused about creating a meal I really do not want to eat. I am trying to make it my own, but some folks are too darn attached to some items. I can say that I have successfully exorcised the dreaded green bean casserole from the menu. Alleluia! But I did still buy the french fried onions.

On the menu: the classics for us, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams, stovetop stuffing. Instead of canned cranberry sauce we are trying a spirited one with port and orange liquor... A squash casserole is the green bean casserole's replacement, and in hopes of getting rid of candied yams next year I am doing a sweet potato and butternut squash bread pudding. I'll let you know how it goes...

Oh, and of course the sweet potato and pumpkin pies will be there...an eggnog pumpkin pie.

So, as far as what the holiday is really about, I have much to be thankful for. Ann is doing much better, and that, honestly, would be enough for me. But we have the resources to buy all that food I am dreading cooking. Thank you God! We have our health, and we are never without something fun and exciting to do with the boys... We have our friends and our family, and we have the ability to worship God openly.