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Love come softly, brush against my heart
Yearning for its closeness, not ever to depart
In God’s Infinite Wisdom, I place my life,
And trust for tomorrow, what be, what might
Whatever path this love may go
It carries with it the willingness,
to let it go
And hope that one day, it will again, brush against my heart ....
To stay forever.
Karen A. 05/30/06 
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It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!
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Apr 16, 2006 10:35 pm
1461 Views
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I was talking to my nephew’s wife one day on the phone and I could hear my six year old grand nephew in the back ground, grumbling and complaining about something. Apparently school had been canceled on account of snow, but by the time Devin was able to go outside to play in it, it had all melted.
To get him focused on something else, his Mom asked him if he wanted to talk to his “Auntie Karen.” He said no. So, she and I talked a little more and Devin continued to grumble in the background. Again his Mom said, “here, why don’t you talk to your Auntie Karen.” This time, his response was “No, cause she’ll make me feel better.”
Well, first off, how wonderful a feeling it gave me to know that my little grand nephew would think of me in that way. It just blessed me real good.
I got to thinking later how wonderfully transparent little kids are. They just tell it like it is. We lose that as we grow older and life experiences sometimes dictate just how much of ourselves we really show the rest of the world.
Isn’t it so like our nature to be in a foul mood (or sad) and sometimes resist the attempts of another to pull us out of it because we would just as soon stay grumpy, thank you very much.
I’ve had the occasional bad day or two (or three  ) and when I do, I have some very close friends for whom I may talk to and let them love on me and encourage me and pull me out of my slump. However, there are times I just don’t want anyone to say anything. Let me be, let me wallow. I need to feel the emotions and sort them out. Usually those are times when I end up laying it all before the Lord, expressing to Him all the disappointment, all the hurt and all the loneliness I am feeling. There always seems to be a lesson to learn during those times too, mostly just to be more trusting of His watch over me.
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To be a kid again
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Apr 15, 2006 6:42 pm
1390 Views
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I'm not a Mom. It would have been nice to have been one, but it just wasn't to be part of my journey here on earth. I do have a nephew and a niece for which I have enjoyed some great times with.
My nephew and his wife live in another state. They have a six year old named Devin. I have not met my nephew's wife, nor Devin, but we talk on the phone weekly and I have grown to love them very much.
It pleases me to no end that my grand nephew likes to call me. He had a little bit of a problem with his speech for a while and still tends to talk a little to fast, but we can carry on a fairly decent conversation.
He called me today to tell me he lost his first tooth. Apparently, he and a friend were playing and had a shoe tied on a pole, swinging it around. Well, guess the shoe got a little too close to his mouth, and whack ... tooth out. They think he probably swallowed it. When I responded with excitement for him, he said "Yeah, well it's about time!" I laughed. I guess all his little school buddies were losing their teeth and he was feeling a little left out.
That's what is so neat about little kids .... every "first" for them is like winning the lottery. I love it.
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Most actively watched blogs
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Apr 15, 2006 5:56 pm
1446 Views
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I'm always checking out the "most actively watched blogs" on the right side of the blog page.... wondering if there will be a time that I'll see my picture there (vanity, it'll get you every time)
Well, today drsoulmate's picture was there. Oh my gosh! I do admit, I have read his blogs ... and then wished I hadn't!
It gave me a good laugh  Guess I'm going to have to spice up my blogs.
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Well, now you know
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Apr 14, 2006 12:58 pm
1489 Views
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I went digging and found this picture. I decided I didn't want to be a mystery anymore So there you have it. It's not the best picture, but it will have to do until I find another. This was taken about four years ago. The reason my face is kind of scrunched up was because I was making a "kissy face" lol.
I'm planning on taking a trip up to visit friends in Oregon in June ... so maybe I'll get a picture then. In the meantime, now you know.
Karen
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Easter thoughts
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Apr 13, 2006 7:17 pm
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Well, now that I've finished Sissie's story, what do I do? Thanks to those of you who left me comments, I appreciated every last one of them.
Easter is a wonderful time, and it causes me to think about all that I am blessed with. This Easter I can add to that list the blessings of finding friends here on SFF. It's a new place and I am just getting to know some of you, but you have opened your arms wide and have welcomed me so warmly.
May God richly bless you. Have a Glorious Easter. Hallelujah, He is Risen!
Love,
Karen
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A Girl's best friend is her cat - Final Chapter: Saying Good-bye
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Apr 13, 2006 2:14 am
1511 Views
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A Letter to my cat Sissie, a girl’s best friend
Chapter 7
You decided to leave this life here on earth one hot and sultry August Saturday in 1992. You had been slowly weakening and I knew that day that you were dying. I called a friend of mine, in tears, not quite knowing what to do. I didn’t want you to suffer, but I couldn’t afford the expense of having you put to sleep. You didn’t seem to be in any pain. My friend suggested that I just be there with you, loving and comforting you and spending your last hours with you.
Periodically during the day I would sit down on the floor next to you and pet you and talk to you, and tell you how much I loved you. I had to feed water to you from a little eyedropper because you didn’t seem to be interested in drinking any on your own. I had just given you some water when you made your way slowly into the little entryway of the house where it was darker and cooler for you. As I was checking in on you a little later, you began to convulse. I realized then that your little heart was giving out. I began to cry and told you it was okay. That you could go. I wish I could have spared you the pain of those last few seconds and I will forever feel bad that I didn’t take you to the Vet so that you could die peacefully.
I don’t think I had ever before experienced such pain and loss. It was as if I had lost one of my dearest friends. I was crying uncontrollably and continued to mourn your death for days. I remember while at work having to excuse myself to the ladies room where I had more privacy and could cry without anyone knowing.
You were buried up on my folk’s property. They had loved you too. You had been just as much a part of their lives as mine. My Dad and I went looking for a resting-place for you. I wanted to place you somewhere near the house, but was afraid to even suggest it, thinking that maybe down closer to the river would be more appropriate. However, Dad walked over to the side of the house, near an ivy covered tree stump and asked me what I thought of that area. I was so thankful for his sensitiveness to the sadness I was feeling.
After the hole was dug, I gently placed you in it and both Dad and I tossed a handful of dirt on you before he finished covering you up with his shovel. When your spot was covered up, Daddy took one of the flat stones that marked the pathway leading to their house and set it upright in the ground to use as a marker. I don’t think I ever loved him more then that moment for the care he gave in giving you a proper burial and resting-place. He understood my sorrow, without words.
You and I had eighteen years together. You were my companion, loving me unconditionally. I used you as a sounding board, I cried in your fur and loved you as if you were a child of mine. I know only pet lovers will understand when I say that I felt a real “kinship” with you. I felt as if you knew me better than most of my friends, in that when I needed some TLC, you were right there beside me. I remember you lying up at the head of my bed and at times you would place your paw on me as if you wanted to feel connected.
Thank you Sissie, for being my special friend for eighteen years. Thank you for loving me without condition. Thank you for entertaining me and being the warm spot in my bed, purring softly to lure me to sleep. I miss you even now.
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Someone got my email address through SFF w/o my okay
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Apr 12, 2006 7:18 pm
1493 Views
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I received an email today from someone I do not know. It was sent to the email addy which is on file with SFF. The reason I know this person must have gotten it through SFF records is because they refer to me as "Ola2006". The woman just said something like "kind greetings" and then gave me a link to a website. Of course, I did not go to it, and deleted the email.
What concerns me is that someone was able to get my email address from SFF records. I guess I shouldn't assume things are so secure. I have not posted my addy here or given it out to anyone from SFF. Not that I wouldn't, it just bothers me that it was given out w/o my consent.
Has anyone else had this experience?
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A Girls best friend is her cat - Chapter 6
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Apr 12, 2006 10:00 am
1550 Views
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A LETTER TO MY CAT SISSIE, A girls best friend.
Chapter 6
In the summer of 1980 we moved again. This was to be your last home, but we lived in this home together for 12 years. The house was located on Stark Street, a busy active area and right across the street from a cemetery. The cemetery was a beautiful, well-manicured place and I use to go over there and walk through it, occasionally leashing you up and taking you with me. Fortunately, you were a smart and logical thinking cat and never once did you attempt to cross the busy street to follow me or go over by yourself. I know it must have been tempting because there were a lot of squirrels over there.
We were both growing older and becoming more sedate. One thing I miss is how you would climb up and lay on my chest while I sat and watched TV. Sometimes it felt as if you were pressing down on me as hard as you could as if you were hugging me.
Once in a while, even in your old age, you would go a little crazy and run up and down the stairs and through the kitchen to the living room like a wild cat. You were like a big burst of energy. I never could figure out what brought that on, but it always gave me a good laugh.
During this time, I met Elaine. She became a very dear friend and since she lived out of town, would come up and spend an occasional weekend with me. The unfortunate problem was that she had a very serious cat phobia. I did my best to keep you away from her, but it wasn’t easy. I could not leave you locked up in a room during the whole of the time she was there, it just didn’t seem right. So, you were allowed to come out and roam around periodically. You were somewhat friendly, but it was not your habit to get to cozy with anyone but me. However, just your presence was hard on Elaine.
On one of her weekend visits we decided to get some movies. For reasons I don’t recall, I had to leave for a few minutes. When I returned, Elaine had this very worried look on her face and told me she was concerned about you and that I should go find you and make sure you were okay. Apparently she had been down on her hands and knees trying to plug in the VCR. As she turned her head to get back up she came nose to nose with you. My, oh my, what a sight that must have been. She said she let out a scream that shook the rafters. You took a flying leap into the air and without touching the floor, made your escape into the other room. Elaine was certain she might have caused you to have a heart attack. Fortunately, you survived, and so did Elaine.
I use to take you with me when I would visit my folks. I’m not quite sure you enjoyed your visits up there that much. Mom and Dad had their own cats and you were pretty snobbish towards them. You wouldn’t have much to do with them, nor me, and usually stayed upstairs, or roamed around outside. Tom Henry and Bobby tried to make friends with you but you just wouldn’t have it. I thought I had taught you to be courteous to others, but you didn’t do so well with that.
Tomorrow, the final chapter: Saying Goodbye
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A Girls best friend is her cat - Chapter 5
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Apr 11, 2006 8:46 am
1526 Views
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When my cat Sissie died of old age, I decided I wanted to write her story. It was my way of getting through the grief of losing her. I thought it would be fun to share that story here and hopefully to your enjoyment. I will spare you having to read it all at one time, and submit it in chapter form. It's not real long, but probably more preferable for reading in a little shorter format. I hope you enjoy the story.
*********
A LETTER TO MY CAT SISSIE, A girls best friend.
Chapter 5
After about a year living in Sandy, I decided to move back to Portland. It was getting difficult for me to drive the forty-five minutes into work each morning without getting drowsy. I was afraid I would end up in a ditch sooner or later. So when one of my coworkers told me her mother was looking for someone to rent the small apartment on the second floor of her home, I went for it.
The place, located just off 82nd avenue and Clay Street, had two bedrooms, a bath, kitchen, and very small living room quarters. Mrs. Trusty was a real nice lady to rent from.
Although things went along pretty smooth while you and I lived there, you again created a problem I was sure would put me out on the streets. While Mrs. Trusty went on vacation she had asked me to take care of her many plants and you usually came along with me when I went down to water them. I never paid much attention to what you were doing while I was there (I didn’t think I had to). One day I noticed that the leaves on most of Mrs. Trusty’s plants looked like they had been chewed on. To my horror I realized you were the culprit! I couldn't believe the damage you had done to her plants! I was scared of the repercussions I would get from it.
When I think back on it now, I should have faced her when she came back, and offered to pay for the damaged plants, but like the chicken I was, I just pretended nothing happened and she never mentioned anything when she came home from vacation. I felt guilty about that for a long time, and I’m still not proud of the fact that I didn’t say anything.
The house on Clay Street is also where you learned to use MY furniture as a scratching post! I had been pretty fortunate with you so far, and my furniture was unscathed. However, your “Uncle” Houdini came to visit. You remember Houdini? He was Mom and Dads cat. Well, while I was off working, Houdini showed you the tricks of his trade and pretty soon I began to notice the evidence of your addiction - shredded furniture! By the time I realized what was going on, it was too late. You were hooked! I'm sorry, this isn't a very nice memory of you is it? Well, I loved you in spite of your faults.
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To simplelady ... regarding your blog about giggles
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Apr 10, 2006 1:31 pm
1491 Views
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simplelady, Laughter is the best of medicine. I have to share with you a "giggles" story.
When I was in high school, there for a very short period of time I referred to myself as "giggles" when writing a note to one of my classmates. Well, I used the name one too many. In one of my classes, there were four of us who would pass notes back and forth. One day our teacher made an announcement that he had found this note and was unable to determine who the author of it was. As he read it I began to squirm and feel a little uncomfortable. Fortunately the note was not too incriminating, however, I knew it was one I wrote. Since I had used a "handle" that only those select three knew, I felt fairly safe in my anonymity, thinking there was no chance my three friends would give me away.
When the teacher finished reading the note he said, "and it is signed, giggles" Without missing a beat, at all, one of those "dear" friends, shouted out "Oh, that's Karen!" I was mortified! Needless to say, I never passed another note, nor did I use the name "giggles." I figured it was best just to stick with my real name, they'd eventually find out anyhow.
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To link to this blog (Ola2006) use [blog Ola2006] in your messages.
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