The Glass Is Half Full? Right! #5: Saga of Marky Mac and Charlie Rose

Dear Marky,
Hey I knowed you for many a yer. You had somm tuff tymes but you got yorselfs out mosst tyme witout 2 many wounds. You keep on keepn on. You an your Rose find common grondes work it outs. Cellebrat her brillants.You an Charlie founds eech ottrs. Strengt in nombrs. Sure tuff dayz ar alwaz round the kerner but wit this foundashen you ar not alone an togethr will find the ansers you kneed. 
Your Frand,
Brian

                           Happily and Sincerely. Love and Congratulations!!       
                                         Marcail and Charlie
           

                   

Happy Birthday Rose!

The Glass Is Half Full, Right? #4: The Boys and Christmas

 
    A wacked out 2016. December with bursts of joy, and goodness, overwhelmed with sadness and peril. But this moment, this morning feels good, has meaning. The boys picked out charities for us, as Ria and I did for each other.  We still wanted to give them stuff; and while my cupboards are full, their years still have room for it.

Mike stopped by on Christmas Eve and brought (I neglected to scale this for the photo) this clever floor mat he had made. It's actually about 2 feet across and something he meant to bring by last year.

A few nights later, Maria and I went to the Great American Music Hall where we saw a flying tartis! And a kind of bluegrass band of Brothers Comatose in full shiny outer space garb. Why not? A friendly full audience, an energetic and excellent band, a willing Maria, and a time and place where burdens are not breathing.  They rigged up a 12 foot rocket ship that their friends and opening band, the Coffis Brothers launched for their intentionally silly entrance.

The Glass Is Half Full, Right? #3: SPCA Adoption At Macy's/ Our Dogs

               We miss you Cailin. Dexter flew solo for the SPCA adoption windows at Macy's. The night was chilly and because of the subway construction  the area was tight.  Prior to his night time post, we met with Traci, Kevin and Jen, Hingee, Mike, Kathy and Bob at Lefty O'Doul's.  I always love it when both sides of the family come together.  Sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews +Chews. Alright!

                 After some wandering in Macy's and appreciating Dexter's people skills outside, pulling people to the windows with bits of information ("Already 188 adopted pets this season", "This is Stan; he's ready for you to take him home"etc.).. Friendly and personable- x5 over me. Proud of the boys.  But it was cold, so I didn't stay out for his entire shift. Who has the hot chocolate?

Stan!!

               

And the homestead:

                                          (not pictured: hibernating turtles, indifferent fish)

Even Honey

                                                             Spocks for Cats. I can dig it!

The Glass Is Half Full, Right? #2 : TromboneO

Big O is wielding his weapon of choice, the Trombone2017 for his school's concert band. We wished he practiced more but when he plays his dedication is apparent. They sounded good, very good.

Music teacher Mr. Reis

With bodyguard O runs through the crowds past the silver hooded monster

backstage after the Sota show

Trek event with Michael Dorn AKA Worf. Worf is a character not just a sound I make barking at a handsome man. Of note, Dorn has been vegan for 8-9 years and he's standing on a big box.

                                                                Boy has hops!....sort of.

Finding A Little Light In Very Tough Times

  Some of the developments of this month have hit harder than usual, more difficult for the number of strikes close to home. Too recent, too unfinished, too much despair and too much hope involved to minimize with my words but for the future years that you guys might decide to read through this, to not forget, the briefest of descriptions. The tragedy of the Oakland fire; 33 lost including Draven of Sota. The injustice to Big Bones, what happened to him a reality to all too many in our society. Worry and concern about our parents over falls, injuries, and stumbles. The greatest concern and hope we all have for Tommy, and each difficult day ahead.

Stop. Remember. Hope. Reflect.

  Within all of this, there are daily graces and times to remember fondly.  The focus will be on some of these if only to lift my own spirit up, for a time.

    Dexter assisted with a memorial for Draven. Hours later continued with the Sota Holiday Spectacular, which is an annual presentation that features all departments. It's overall connecting theme was an Ed Sullivan '60's type of show. Dext made his retro style camera and from his spot on! stage could troubleshoot.  "Ted" Sullyvan was played by the very tall actor Trey who one night had to ad lib for several minutes when two poets from the Creative Writing Department were late to their bit. The following night after they performed their piece spot on, Ted Sullyvan voiced appreciation for their marvelous contributions and especially for their punctuality.

photo courtesy Oliver

Last week Dexter and I participated in an Alameda Community Food Bank partnership event.  Along with donations from the food bank, there were gifts to purchase for 30 families that would otherwise be without. Dan Williams of the Raiders has an organization called "Filling The Gap". He is also the Raiders choice for the NFL's Walter Payton award, essentially a Best Citizen award for a player who gives back to the communities he works in.  Dexter and I, among other volunteers were each entrusted with a $500 gift card- one for each family, and each group was provided with a family's wish list to shop for at Walmart. Last year it was only Williams, his mother and an assistant who did the fulfilling but there were a good number of volunteers to help out and we spread out in the big (my, those stores are large) place.

We were lucky. Our list had no requests for Air Jordan sneakers, which would have eaten up much of the balance of our card, and we were able to get everything on our list: Queen comforter set (in Raiders colors), new sets of dishes, glassware, pots and pans, board games, laptop, other items that I can't remember and a gift card. We went over a little bit but were encouraged to, if it was just a little bit; the organization picked up the additional. Plus being a non profit, there was no tax.

Some of his teammates were there to lend support, Mr. Jelly and Mr. Bean. Meeting Williams, with his friendly face and kind manner, I can not understand why anyone would try to block him or interfere with the work he needs to do on the field. Why wouldn't they just let him step by them? He really seems nice, with such good deeds he continues to do, throughout the year.

Here's an essay he wrote about his father, in 2015.  His father never got to see him become a Raider which would have been his Dad's dream come true.
www.theplayerstribune.com/dan-williams/dad

Some friends put in a lot of effort to share and include their family in their lives. They give and support. We have had the benefit of many of our associations to be squarely in this wheelhouse.  Our friend Tina is certainly one of these special people. Not only has she raised a motivated and caring young man, Giancarlo as a single Mom, she is always concerned about the plight of others less fortunate and is always there for us.
Additionally with great parents who have taken Dexter to more 49'er games than I ever will take him and Oliver combined, we'll always have the particles memory of  the eight year old Dr. Pepper bottle.  That being when the Giants seemed to be on their way to their first World Series championship in 2002 (since coming to SF in 1958) at Tina's request we drove over to their place with a celebratory Dr.Pepper bottle. But the Giants ended up losing the last two games of the series even while leading game six, 5-0.  In 2010 when this even actually occurred (hooray!) it turned out that Tina had kept the bottle of Dr. Pepper in her refrigerator all those years. How sweet it was!  And continues to be. Here's from a recent birthday at a restaurant in the Mission District.

      We had Dexter volunteering again at the SPCA windows at Macy's, advocating for kitten Stan, after a nice dinner with Traci, Kevin and Jen, my sis and brother. Seaplane Adventure. Mike visiting us on the 24th. Ruby's first birthday. Oliver's trombone. Christmas morning and dinner.  Thank you everyone. We hope for the best for those in need. It may not be in December, perhaps it might occur in January but Tommy please come back to your home for Christmas.

There Once Was A Boy

    It's been almost ten years when the short haired brother and sister showed up to join forces with their larger, more awkward two year older sibling.  They took to us as we did to them. Pets, yes but friends and family also yes. Continually comforted by their presence, sometimes annoyed at the early morning meal calls, worried in their absence (usually brief) but always loving as allowed us to hold and care for them.  Often they made us laugh with their pretend indifference to incidents of insult, or of not cat like clumsiness. Usually this was him, this Lighting bolt boy cat, timid cat, friendly cat .  Last week Lightning, died suddenly, unexpectedly from a condition called Restrictive Cardiomyopathy.  We received the bad news that he would at best have months or a year of life left.  Although very saddened we were bracing ourselves for this, knowing that we could spend quality time with him as long as he was able.

    Unfortunately the procedure done for his (I'm writing these down to remember) pleural effusion earlier in the day- to relieve the build up of fluid around his lungs instead caused liquid to fill into his lungs quickly (pulmonary edema) which was too painful for his body to stand. We had already spent two separate visits to Sage (highly rated),  eight hours on this day and two visits days before at the Providence Vet Clinic.  Initially the lethargy and lack of appetite (very odd for him) was attributed to a large abscess found on his behind. Knowing Lightning he probably got into some dispute with another outside cat (raccoon?) and when turning to run was scratched or bitten on his hind spot.

   To her credit, the doctor at Providence Clinic did advise to keep an ear on Lightning's breathing if he didn't improve with great strides, for x-rays. After the weekend we decided to take him in. Not in anyway did we believe he would leave us within 48 hours.

      Outside the heavy night time rain, waiting inside for Maria and Dexter to reroute their path to Dublin. Lightning was resting with extra oxygen and we had signed the papers to let him go if he needed to before his family could  convene.  Harder for our dear friend, and difficult for us. Tough in the day when he kept looking into my eyes wanting me to help ease his pain. We always could. We always could nourish and care for him, We would always find him.  A blessing that we did find him two years ago when he wandered away for three days. Now there was nothing I could do to ease his pain.  While waiting Oliver shed many tears. I could not hide mine.

      I've had two pets that were entirely devoted to me; eager for my attention and affection. Never striking at me with any force or malice. Lighting was one. Going to bed he would be rolled up in the area where my chest or tummy would eventually be. In the darkness I would Spider Man my way along the side of the bed slowly wrapping myself around him into my sheets.  Lightning might adjust, turn in a circle before plopping down on me to sleep. He loved his nose rubbed.

     He was the one that welcomed Honey, sometimes sitting near her or laying in the sun a couple of feet to her side.  He was the one who had appealing dopey tendencies; sometimes clumsy as his older human brother. His big nose, big feet, all 15 pounds of him. Lion like. It was he who would follow Maria around back and forth, back and forth while waiting for a snack. It didn't matter which direction she turned or how often she repeated her path. He would casually follow. He would stalk and tackle water from a hose. He always lost. Lightning would sit for loving strokes as long as we would provide. He purred like an idling car.

When he saw us he crawled to Maria, who was sitting and nestled into her arms. The four of us sat with him as Dr.April gave him two injections. Then he was gone.

Later that night- with his wrapped, boxed body, Dexter dug a hole between two trees where he often sat. Our midnight ceremony, lit by candles and chilled by the cold winter air was brief. His sister- how could we explain? She searches for him daily to wash him. When we were informed to keep them separated so his abscess could heal for a period of a week- Maria didn't. We let them visit each other when we were around. The first time she saw her brother, Thunder leaned into him and rubbed her head into his.  Now she could sense him and she first sniffed, then stood on the box for minutes, before retreating back to the house.  To this day she looks for him and seeks our comfort more.

      Goodbye Lightning. We lost you much too early. I am sorry that I could not help you more.  Your family will always miss you.                      

Once, when I was ill

Dexter at rest with 2 friends

Several years ago when the cats considered Oliver the 3rd relatively hairless sibling.