There’s a video of Theodore that I can’t stop watching. He’s on his back, on my lap, purring.
It’s the purr the reach of his paw the pink of his nose his eyes staring at me
It’s his back legs resting on a pillow
He was sick on Saturday. He died on Sunday.
My youngest keeps saying “He was just so young.”
Before I took him to the emergency vet, I had to look up his birthday. I couldn’t remember which year we adopted him.
Born in 2017 Home in 2018 Died in 2023
He was just so young.
For the first couple of years he and his sister Talula had to be isolated away from the dog. Thank goodness we finally got our dog Finn trained, but I can’t stop thinking of those wasted years when he didn’t have the run of the house. I’m sorry, Theodore.
He was the fluffiest cat I’ve ever had. His name was Theodore Hobbes We called him Theo and somehow the kids called him Bearlious and I was known to occasionally call him fluffer-nutter-peanut-butter.
He was the sweetest.
He used to wake up from his nap to check on the other cats and the dog whenever there was a little scuffle. When our newest kitten Clyde got into it with Finn, Theo would shuffle in, usually still groggy. He would walk over to Finn and give him a swat.
He liked to sleep on my head at night, and swat all my things off my nightstand in the early morning.
The vet said his urinary blockage was most likely caused by stress. It could have been his change in routine after Clyde came home from surgery and was isolated in my room for two weeks. (No head sleeping for Theodore.) It could have been something we weren’t even aware of, like a new cat in the neighborhood.
Clyde is our baby cat. He had a urinary blockage problem and needed surgery a few weeks ago. But Theodore? Theodore never had this problem. I don’t understand.
I miss him, and I don’t understand.
Did he try to take care of Clyde by taking Clyde’s health problem? Seems like a crazy question unless you ever met Theodore and watched him take care of his family.
He used to love sitting by the window next to the frontdoor — the one he could just reach — and just stare.
Sometimes you’d walk into a room and he was sitting in front of a mirror just looking at himself.
Usually you’d walk into a room and he was napping.
If you were lucky enough to have him sit on your lap, like I was most mornings, you would have a chance to scritch and scratch his soft, soft fluffy self.
Scratch him in the right spot and he’d lick his front leg. Without fail. Full of party tricks, this one.
Grief is full of wishes. I wish I snuggled him even more. I wish I never got annoyed when he tried to sleep on my head while I was reading in bed. I wish I took him to the vet sooner this past weekend. I wish we had more time with him.
We miss him so much here.
But, I know Theodore is fine wherever he is.
What do I know about cat after-life, but that he’s free of any pain.
I just hope that somehow he is in a lap purring reaching his paws — and that somebody is loving his pink pink nose his pink pink toes and his fluff oh that fluff
I might have a cold coming on, or is it allergies? my son made me hot cocoa he wasn’t even making it for himself just for me with maple mini marshmallows was it the smooth hot drink or the kindness that made my throat forget to be scratchy?
these rainy September days the coziest stay inside days I love sweater weather! but also note to self find the therapy lamp because the sun is not around so much
I’m glad I watched so much Little House on the Prairie when I was a kid and when my daughter was a kid
I feel it has prepared me
My daughter was madly in love with Charles Who wouldn’t be? Pa Ingalls Working, farming, playing the fiddle Played by Michael Landon
But, it’s Ma Ingalls I was thinking about today She worked and farmed too – sure She sewed everyone’s clothes – yep Once she had to cut open her own leg when it was infected and she was alone – of course Plus, she made breakfast for everyone
This morning I realized I needed to rewash my dishes Since my neighborhood is under a boil water advisory I realized I needed to repack my son’s lunch Rewash his strawberries Maybe not drink the coffee I had set up the night before
I boiled water in a kettle Let it cool a bit Washed the strawberries and all the lunch containers with safe, boiled water
So you can just call me Ma
I mean, then I told my kids to grab a granola bar, and I stopped at Starbucks on the way to an appointment —
I’m writing every day of March for the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers
I’m keeping all of my plants a little bit alive.
I think it’s because I give them each the same amount of water. Once a week, maybe every two weeks, I remember to water them.
I know they each came with care instructions. My money plant does better if I give it two ice cubes once a week. My cactus is supposed to dry out before I water it again. I have some succulents I’m supposed to water from the bottom, and an African Violet that used to be one of a pair… it needs lukewarm water poured from the side. Oh, and a new jade plant that I need to make sure not to overwater.
But they all seem to survive if I just water them about once a week, sometimes forgetting.
Equitable watering for all.
I mean I do a little bit of intervention. If one of the plants really needs an extra dose of water that day, I’ll do it.
But for the most part, I’m not differentiating between plants. If I had a green thumb, then maybe I’d be able to decide what’s best for each and every plant. I think there is an app that helps you determine what your plants needs. There’s probably plant food suited for each one. I bet they could each thrive!
But this way I know that the plants are at least surviving. If one of them needs a little extra water, surely they could all use it.
What’s good for the cactus is just going to have to work for the others.
I even put some fake plants in there to inspire my other plants to do better.
I’m writing every day of March for the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers
Spring with teenagers
Sunshine, hoodies Cold, shorts Snow yesterday Bike ride today Financial Aid forms School pickup Work dropoff Dog walk Dishes Dinner Dishes So many glasses Where’s my soccer ball? Homework- mine not theirs Spring
I’m writing every day of March for the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers
Even though it’s Clydes’ first birthday and it’s snowing and there was a lockdown and fun lessons with kids and dinner with friends I am too tired of writing
I’m writing every day of March for the Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers
My friend has been gone for a few years now, but sometimes she sends me messages. Usually, I see hummingbirds or cardinals or bunniesand rainbows at the times I need them most. Sometimes she’s in my dreams.
But imagine my surprise when today, in the middle of presenting at in-service, my phone told me she was on Snapchat.
Somehow I think she’s laughing about this.
Either that or she has been trying to tell me something and I’m not getting it, so she’s trying social media.
Or, maybe she just wanted me to have something to write about today.
On a Thought 