Halloween Night

Halloween Comment

I have just read a horrible news story about 3 young girls who were killed  by a hit-&-run driver
on Halloween. The girls were in the crosswalk and in 13-14 age range.  How can someone do something like that?  It may have been an accident, but without the driver stopping to tell his side it seems that speed was the issue and maybe alcohol was also involved.  I hope they find him, but it won't bring the girls back. There aren't a lot of  holidays that involve kids being outside at night  (maybe caroling near Christmas). But I feel for the parents of those girls (I don't know if they are sisters or just friends).They will forever blame themselves for letting the girls go outside at night .... etc.  But it is a difficult choice for parents.  Let their children grow and experience life and risk harm or keep them safe, protected and deny them the experiences they need to grow.  Even if the parents had been with the children they might not have been able to prevent what happened, but  maybe they wouldn't feel guilty.  I have 3 grandchildren in that age bracket (13,14-15) and they were out by
themselves on Halloween, and they were fine. But it only takes one irresponsible driver to change    all that,  And the moms will always regret that they weren't there with their daughters and probably
the dad's too, but men aren't prone to guilt the way women are.  (Which would be an interesting
blog topic some day.)

I did have a good Halloween experience in my new home.  The first time in this city as well. I
got mostly toddlers - sooo very cute.  They were all so polite too.  When  I offered them another
piece nearly all declined without prompting by the parents.  One little did take a second piece
for her brother who was at home (don't know if he was sick or what).  But I did enjoy the
little kids.  I was hoping that my grandchildren would show up they are all in their teens (14-15)
but I guess they had other plans.

One of my cats was very timid and frightened each time the doorbell rang, but another one was fine and a little curious.  I wanted to kid with the little ones and say that my cats were dogs in cat costumes, but in the end decided not to, thought they wouldn't get the joke.

New Set of Problems

My life has taken a strange turn.  I now have a homeless woman     (a niece of my former husband who is now deceased) and her chocolate lab living in my home.  She is therefore, my daughter's cousin, but really no relation to me.  I don't mind too much, but I am worried about my cats.  I have 4 and they aren't too pleased with the dog.  I must admit she is a good dog, but she's big and they
are afraid of her.  I told her she would have to keep the dog in the
room in the basement where she is sleeping and make sure she
takes her out frequently because I don't want any accidents in the
house.  Well last night we had a power failure just as I was 
returning from the mall with some fast food for supper.  When I went inside she was in my TV room with the dog and all my cats were hiding and fearful.  Finally she took her out to walk and pee and then brought her downstairs, but that wasn't until after we had
eaten the Chinese food I bought.  My cats did not come out of 
hiding until we finally went to sleep after the electricity was on. 

It's not so much that I mind that she is here, but that I don't how
long she'll be here and I'm definitely not happy about the dog.  
Even though the electricity finally came on I was unable to 
sleep last night. I had to reset my bedroom alarm clock and it
took me about 45 minutes, because it has a tedious way to 
reset it and I didn't have the directions.  I'll need to print them
up again if I can find them online again.  

She does have a car, but yesterday her LR tire blew out so
Larry and I went to Sears to get a new and have it mounted on 
her tire.  I don't know where this is going, and I don't know 
how long she'll be here.   Probably a while more than I'd like.
Today she had just brought the dog into  the house off leash, 
and she immediately went after the first cat she saw.  Sadly that
was Chloe my most timid and fearful cat.  She is still in hiding 
several hours later.  Poor little girl.  I almost told her she would
have to leave but I felt sorry for her so I didn't, but I did have a
talk with her.  I have to tell Lauren no more boarders esp. if they have dogs, big dogs. I will post about this situation again
to update on this situation (which I hope will cease to be a situation
in my house).

Faith, Trust and Fear

After the recent shooting in a Colorado movie theater there have been 2 more.  Fewer people died in the last 2 so there was less media coverage, but it still seems sad and depressing that one is safe no where.  In the past 10 years or so there have been shootings at shopping malls, on military bases, fast food places and schools.  It does seem that the world is crazy, and those of us who are sane will be slaughtered by the maniacs or end up hiding for the rest of our lives .  Maybe that's extreme, and I'm not totally serious about it, but sometimes it feels that way.  I have never been personally involved in any kind of violent crime - victim or observer (small things like a billfold stolen or my car scratched and once my purse was stolen right from my kitchen).  I don't know how I'd handle it, but I like to think that along with the terror one feels automatically, I would also try to help anyone near me.  Of course I'm not a hero, and I wouldn't want to lose my life trying to be one.  But it's the stories of previous shootings and examples of many good  people who helped  others that inspire me and make me wonder if I could do the right thing.  I hope I would be able to help rather than freeze.  As a nurse and mother and grandmother I can (and frequently have) put other's needs ahead of my own, but could I do it when someone is shooting at me?  I really don't know, but I think it's good to think about this topic when things are calm and even formulate a plan such as hide, call 911 or play dead.  And in keeping with my own superstition about bad things i.e. as long as one is prepared for an emergency or crisis it never happens to that person I am trying to consider this subject and be prepared.   This  seems to work for me to the extent that even my daughter believes in that philosophy.  But we have never had our lives threatened, and though I
pray that never happens I still don't really know how I would react.  I wonder if anyone does.
I do know one thing.  The world we live in requires vigilance, strength, moral behavior, awareness of our surroundings and more.  We also need to be brave and protect anyone who needs it if possible but most importantly children, elderly and handicapped.   We all know this instinctively, but we need to think about it and formulate a plan - at least in our minds.  I've been thinking about this subject a lot recently; unfortunately I can't seem to stop thinking about it.  Though I don't believe in organized religion, I do believe in God, and it is also my hope that when needed He will be there to guide us out of harms way.  Or is that a guardian angel?  However my observations cause me to think that doesn't actually happen.  If I survive and the woman next to me dies, and if she is a close friend or relative what does all that mean.  Was he there or not?  Why does one live and one die for no apparent reason?  How do we prevent this from happening?  A lot of people seem to have opinions, but few answers.

Coping with "Things"

I've been busy today sorting and saving.  I have such a problem with throwing.  I wonder if anyone else does - oh right they have a program about hoarders (even animal hoarders) on tv.  So the problem isn't mine alone, but I think I knew that.  I form an attachment to everything (except dirt) I have in my home.  I don't want to throw it if it still has life in it.  So sometimes I give it away even when I know no one will want it.  I just hate waste.  I think maybe that came from my grandmother and mother although as my mom neared the end of her life she seemed glad to ditch things.  She just "couldn't be bothered" with clutter, but that was when she was in her 80's.  It might be good if I cought the bug a little earlier.  My daughter is always after me to through things out, but I resist.  I dig my heels in and don't even want to answer.  When I get frustrated enough I do begin to discard things.  Moving has helped (or forced) me to do this somewhat; it has also helped me find things I didn't remember I had or knew that I had them but hadn't been able to find for years and finally gave up and bought another one.  I wonder if many people relate to that experience? I never lost my daughter, and I never lost my cats (in the home) even when I had 8 of them.  Right now I'm down to 3 and I watch kitten videos on Youtube and long for more, but I can't give in to that right now, and it hurts not to be able to go to a shelter and give a little kitten a new home or even an older cat whose time is running out, but do to some committments I can't have more cats for about 2 years. Maybe then I can rescue another cat.  All my cats except 2 have been rescued from the outdoors and one from my sister who was rescued from the outdoors by my sister before I got her.
I took her from my sister because she was a fearful little kitty (about 1 to 2 years old and one of my sisters cats was bullying her. She was so terrified she wouldn't come out from hiding. So I brought her home and my kitties seemed to like her immediately and she was ok with them.
I think if I had a huge house I'd be over the top with "things" that I mostly don't need - just like.  I try to figure it all out, and when I think that I have the answer (seldom) I still crave trinkets, shiney things like rings and necklaces, scented candles, soap, books, pens, cosmetics, jewelry and gadgets  etc.  It's never enough and I don't know why.  I do know it has to stop. And I'm working on that. Sometimes life can be so hard.