sometimes reluctant
Monday, March 27, 2006
What Did It Cost?
Christmas kittens. The two little girls arrived on Christmas Eve and have been the prized possessions of the children since. My best girl chose the name 'Zana' for her sleek, black kitty; "it's Spanish for 'princess'," she explained. My best boy's fuzzy, stripped kitten would be called, 'Lola'.
When they got their last shots, more development had occurred. It had become clear that Zana was male. I don't know how I hadn't noticed, but I was accustomed to saying, 'the girls,' so maybe I didn't want to see it. "Have you fed the girls?" "Do the girls have water?" My daughter did not miss a beat. She changed her kitten's name to a more masculine monicre, but he may always be 'Princess' to me. Old habits die hard. (I'm still pressing for 'Zana-dude' but she won't hear of it. It's goofy.)
Since it's time for the kittens to get 'altered,' I have been doing some research to find out the most economical way to have these surgeries done. It turns out there's economical benefit to having a male cat when it comes to reproductive surgery. It's a less expensive, less invasive surgery. Maybe I'll break down and learn his name after all!
As I prepared to take the kittens to their schedulled appointments, I started the necessary education of the children about the 'after care' rules: "The kittens will be sore.... We cannot pick them up for two weeks..... Blah, blah..."
I then realized something. The children, who are the owners of the kittens, were not AT ALL on board with my plans. They wanted baby kittens. "Kittens are SO CUTE!!!" they exclaimed. I recited multiple reasons responsible pet owners limit the pet population, but they were not moved. They did concede that siblings should not have babies together, but they were willing to bring non-related spouses into the picture right away. They were match-making on the fly. A kitten-mill plan was hatched before my very eyes!
I assured them no litters of baby kittens were forthcoming. I argued that hundreds of cats are killed every day in our area because they don't have homes. I told them when they grow up and have their own homes, they can try to rescue all those cats if that's their life's work, but that I am unwilling to do so. I insisted that the surgeries would occur as planned. (Life can be harsh.)
My little man-child is an entrepreneur. He said, "We can sell them and make lots of money!" I told him nobody sells kittens. There are already too many...blah, blah... He argued, "But you bought them for us for Christmas, right?" "No," I told him, "they were free." He was quiet for several seconds before asking, "You mean the best Christmas present EVER was FREE?!!??"
We had a beautiful moment as we discussed how so many of the best things in life are free. I was surprised at how many blessings they indenified together. How blessed we are!
The kittens are now non-productive members of society.
The best things in life are intangible.
All is well. ¶ 8:55 AM 6 comments
When they got their last shots, more development had occurred. It had become clear that Zana was male. I don't know how I hadn't noticed, but I was accustomed to saying, 'the girls,' so maybe I didn't want to see it. "Have you fed the girls?" "Do the girls have water?" My daughter did not miss a beat. She changed her kitten's name to a more masculine monicre, but he may always be 'Princess' to me. Old habits die hard. (I'm still pressing for 'Zana-dude' but she won't hear of it. It's goofy.)
Since it's time for the kittens to get 'altered,' I have been doing some research to find out the most economical way to have these surgeries done. It turns out there's economical benefit to having a male cat when it comes to reproductive surgery. It's a less expensive, less invasive surgery. Maybe I'll break down and learn his name after all!
As I prepared to take the kittens to their schedulled appointments, I started the necessary education of the children about the 'after care' rules: "The kittens will be sore.... We cannot pick them up for two weeks..... Blah, blah..."
I then realized something. The children, who are the owners of the kittens, were not AT ALL on board with my plans. They wanted baby kittens. "Kittens are SO CUTE!!!" they exclaimed. I recited multiple reasons responsible pet owners limit the pet population, but they were not moved. They did concede that siblings should not have babies together, but they were willing to bring non-related spouses into the picture right away. They were match-making on the fly. A kitten-mill plan was hatched before my very eyes!
I assured them no litters of baby kittens were forthcoming. I argued that hundreds of cats are killed every day in our area because they don't have homes. I told them when they grow up and have their own homes, they can try to rescue all those cats if that's their life's work, but that I am unwilling to do so. I insisted that the surgeries would occur as planned. (Life can be harsh.)
My little man-child is an entrepreneur. He said, "We can sell them and make lots of money!" I told him nobody sells kittens. There are already too many...blah, blah... He argued, "But you bought them for us for Christmas, right?" "No," I told him, "they were free." He was quiet for several seconds before asking, "You mean the best Christmas present EVER was FREE?!!??"
We had a beautiful moment as we discussed how so many of the best things in life are free. I was surprised at how many blessings they indenified together. How blessed we are!
The kittens are now non-productive members of society.
The best things in life are intangible.
All is well. ¶ 8:55 AM 6 comments
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Isn't It Great!
A little guy I barely know approached me today with a shoe in his hand. He was wearing the mate. He thrust the shoe toward me so I could inspect it carefully. He spoke with a delighted squeal, saying, "I got the pink-eye and I stepped in dog poop! Isn't it great!"
I was surprised. Yep, there was the dog poop... and the pink eye.
Is it great?
If he thought it was great, then it must indeed be great. I'm looking forward to the next 'pink-eye-and-dog- poop' situation, metaphorically speaking. I want to try out that attitude.
He was certainly contagious. ¶ 9:18 AM 6 comments
I was surprised. Yep, there was the dog poop... and the pink eye.
Is it great?
If he thought it was great, then it must indeed be great. I'm looking forward to the next 'pink-eye-and-dog- poop' situation, metaphorically speaking. I want to try out that attitude.
He was certainly contagious. ¶ 9:18 AM 6 comments
Monday, March 06, 2006
Do It Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.
Mother Teresa
Thanks, Lorna, at See Through Faith! ¶ 7:54 AM 10 comments
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.
Mother Teresa
Thanks, Lorna, at See Through Faith! ¶ 7:54 AM 10 comments
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Lent
I am a protestant Christ follower. I have absolutely nothing against my Catholic friends, but I'm not Catholic.
None-the-less, I like the idea of setting aside this season to remember the events leading up to the resurrection. In years past, I've given up a variety of things for lent. When challenged, I said to myself, "identifying with the suffering of Christ..." over and over again. In reality, I acknowledge I didn't actually identify with His suffering. I've never suffered that intensly.
This year, I'm going a different direction. I've giving up NOT EXERCISING for lent. I'm parting ways with SLOTH. Let LAZINESS be gone!
I publish this here, because if I don't tell anyone, it won't happen. So, feel free to ask about it. Hold me accountable for bringing the flesh into submission this holy season.
Maybe I'll learn something.
(If I do, I'll pass it on...)
¶ 11:52 AM 9 comments
None-the-less, I like the idea of setting aside this season to remember the events leading up to the resurrection. In years past, I've given up a variety of things for lent. When challenged, I said to myself, "identifying with the suffering of Christ..." over and over again. In reality, I acknowledge I didn't actually identify with His suffering. I've never suffered that intensly.
This year, I'm going a different direction. I've giving up NOT EXERCISING for lent. I'm parting ways with SLOTH. Let LAZINESS be gone!
I publish this here, because if I don't tell anyone, it won't happen. So, feel free to ask about it. Hold me accountable for bringing the flesh into submission this holy season.
Maybe I'll learn something.
(If I do, I'll pass it on...)
¶ 11:52 AM 9 comments
