Good Bye Dear Friend

Yesterday a very good friend of mine took the Lord's hand and left this earth to go home with Him.  I know that for her this is a blessing but for the rest of us, it breaks our collective hearts.

I've know Dene Ann for many years.  She was a mother, a grandmother, a former teacher. To say she was outspoken, maybe a tad opinionated would be to put it mildly.  She was also loving and caring and she loved her Lord and was a faithful servant and prayer warrior.  More than all that, she was my friend.  More than anyone else I know, Dene Ann made me feel loved.

We worshipped at different services yet we worshipped together.  She was always there to lend a hand when I was working in the church office (whether I wanted a hand or not,) we shared many common interests.  After I relocated up the mountain, we retained our friendship.  If anything, it became closer.  She was able to come up here a few times.  Once with a group passing through and just a couple of years ago a friend brought her up for the day.  Last year friends brought her up and we went to ECCO, the retreat center, and to Bass Lake for lunch; places that brought her happy memories.  These were good days - for all of us.

 Dene Ann, me, Judy

Dene Ann, Pat, Gene, Jeanine, me

I made it into town for a couple of lunches and her special occasions; her birthday and then her going away party when her children decided it was time for her to pack up and go to Idaho to live where it would be easier for them.  While she was here and after she moved, we talked on the phone once or twice a week;  even more often during "Dancing With the Stars" seasons.  She was a big DWTS fan and we were her groupies.  We all watched, groused, cheered each show, contestant, judge, with Dene Ann in the lead.  I'll miss her regular calls, and DWTS isn't going to be the same this year.

When I miss her the most, I'll wrap myself in the afghan she made for me.  It's always been special but now even more so.  Since we can't go to Idaho for her service, a group of us will send condolences and flowers and will gather together in the city to celebrate and remember her.  She left a big hole when she moved away but we filled it in with phone calls and cards.  Now, we're simply going to miss her!  We'll never stop loving her.  Peace be with you, Dene Ann, you've earned it.  I love you, I'll miss you, I'll see you again!

The Cat (Dog) Tower

For those of my friends who aren't on Facebook and wonder why I have that glazed look in my eyes; let me share some pictures of the "Cat Tower" I bought for Sombra.  The idea was to give her a place to get away from the dog.  Yeah, well!  So far she still has the penthouse ... don't know for how long, and from there it's a short reach to the top of the entertainment unit ... have to wonder, how soon!

This was the intent, her very own tower, 4 stories, 3 of which were to be all hers

 "Why, and how, are you in my lower patio?"

 "Do I have to share everything with you?"

 "Wait, dogs can't climb, what're you doing in the tunnel?"

"Wow" he said, "a room (tunnel) with a view!"

Another Christmas Past

It's Epiphany, time to take down the Christmas decorations, so when the boys who do casual work for me were here today, we closed the book on another Christmas.

These are two very nice young kids.  Trevor is 13 (14 in a couple of weeks) and his brother, Tony is 11.  They normally do my yard work and some other chores for me but when they were here in early December we put up the tree and hung lights and set out the nativity scene.  Then, while mom and I ate biscotti and drank tea, the boys had hot cocoa and decorated the tree.  It's been years since I got to watch kids decorate the Christmas tree and it was a real treat.  Today they did it all in reverse and packed the totes and hauled them back to the shed, with mom's help.  She's a real gem!

In retrospect, this was one of the best Christmases I've had in more than a few years.  Kids around to help set the mood, participated in the Christmas Eve service at church, friends came over for Christmas dinner, my son and his family came up and spent the day after Christmas (and he brought homemade tamales), no stress, no expectations, no disappointments.  A  very good Christmas!

The house is boring looking again but now I'll move furniture around and, for some reason, I'm in the spring cleaning mode.  Now's a good time to go through stuff and decide what stays and what doesn't.  The weather is such that I can still be outside dragging stuff back and forth; no rain or snow to slosh through.  I've relocated my kitchen table set to the living room and am ordering a kitchen center for additional counter and storage space in there.  I've redone my laundry room and am making better use of that limited space.  All in all, a good start to the new year.  A HAPPY & BLESSED 2012, EVERYONE!!! 

Out With the Old, In With the New!!!

Good-bye 2011!  To paraphrase - "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!"  I've had far worse years but I've also enjoyed far better.  There were few particularly earth-shattering events, it was just a chronically ugly year in so many ways.

Let me put the ugly in the box marked "past" and dump it in the trash barrel.  Now, let me go back and find the highlights ...

Although I lost the last of the cats that came up here with me; I still have my Katie and rescued two new additions to the family.  In March I took in a 7 week old kitten that I called Sombra (Shadow in spanish).  She's solid black and today is a very large, solid, affectionate and happy kitty.  In July I saw a picture of a little puppy who looked a lot like Katie when she was a pup.  In July I rescued a little puppy who looked a lot like Katie when she was a pup.  This little psycho is a pomeranian/pekingese mix.  He was approximately nine months old when he joined the family.  I tried a few names and settled on Kasey as it was the first name he responded to.  Sombra (she doesn't know she's a cat) and Kasey have bonded and I expect they think they're littermates.  They play, chase, wrestle, fight, and sleep together.  Katie has entered her second puppyhood and lost weight in the process.  She's taken to playing with her new, younger siblings and is getting exercise she was sadly lacking.  Katie, Kasey, and the kitty now make up my new family and keep my life full.

Volunteering has made me lots of new friends.  Katie and I are still with Therapy Dogs and visit seniors and go to schools and libraries where the kids can read to her.  We're more active than ever with the SPCA and I still volunteer with my church, again often with Katie's assistance.  And this year I joined a new local Lion's Int'l chapter.  These all serve to keep me moving, out and about, and give me the sense that I contribute to my community.  They also have helped to keep the anxiety ogre down the road.

And the biggest highlight of all ... Last June I had a down & dirty anxiety attack while down in the valley.  The good Lord & the Holy Spirit took the wheel of the car and brought me home.  With that team in control, the ogre decided to move on.  I have an occasional "uncomfortable" period but I know they'll bring me through it and they do.  Last October I went to a dinner down in Fresno.  I didn't survive it; I enjoyed it!!  In early December a friend and I drove to southern California (5 to 6 hours) and spent a long weekend, she at her son's and me at my brother's, and then drove back.  Apparently, the ogre was away or has lost interest.  It was a great success!

Last winter my shoulders were giving me great pain and the doctors wanted to replace both shoulders; not an option!  Granted, we're not having a severe winter ... yet, but the new non-narcotic drugs I'm taking are keeping me from buying that one bullet that I was considering.

A very good friend bought a house just up the road from me.  We've shared dinners, favorite TV shows, trips to the city, wine, fun and our dogs.  We look to each other for affirmation (or not) when we move furniture, make major purchases, or take a dog to the vet.  I have neighbors who've become friends to an extent but this is a friend who became a neighbor.  Speaking of which, a neighbor who became a dear friend let me know that she and her husband will be moving back to the area this year.

All in all, though not a year I would want to repeat, 2011 did have its high points!  Sometimes we just have to remember to focus on the blessings and overlook the uglies.  Now I'm looking forward to 2012 and its promises!