Author Archives: Humor Happens

Three days to go until my big day. When is your big day? What will you do? It’s vital to make memories to treasure.

I have so many memories that bring me happiness. Let’s list a few:

• For Christmas one year, cousin Shanti gave us crunchy, cheesy treats. We liked them so much, we talked mom into getting them for us regularly. Thanks, Shanti!
• Our friend Betsie made Joy a wonton shaped catnip treat, but Joy shares with me sometimes. (When this happens, I do find joy in Joy.) Thanks, Betsie!
• When mom goes out of town with grandma, she invites Aunt Kerrie to take care of us girls. Kerrie makes it fun by asking us our opinion on things, watching our favorite TV shows, and sharing her dinner. She even lets us borrow her phone so we can text mom with updates. Thanks, Kerrie!
• Aunt Lynn has made mom soft scarves, and sometimes they would fall down from their hanger onto the floor, so I curl up in the scarf and enjoy it’s warmth. Thanks, Lynn!
• Cousin Julie way out in California sent mom some cat decorations. There was a glass cat, and I used to scratch my chin on the cat’s ear. Thank you, Julie!
• Cousin Jennifer has given mom lots of fun cat books. Mom always reads them to us. They usually made me laugh, especially Grumpy Cat. What a hoot! Thanks,  Jennifer!
• Aunt Becky gave us a cat statue that looks almost real if you don’t know it’s wooden. It’s fun to tease people with it and play hide and seek behind it. Thanks, Becky!
• Each spring, mom picks some of Grandma’s buttery, yellow flowers and brings them in for us to only look at. I think they might taste like butter, but then she chases me away, so maybe it’s not a gift to eat? However, it’s rare I get in trouble, so it’s still a happy memory, for the thrill of being the naughty one. I see the attraction for my fellow feline friend Merry and her sporadic contrary ways. Thanks anyway!

These are just some of the many happy memories people have given us over the years. My birth mom was wrong, these two-footed, giant monsters aren’t really so bad. I’m still not going to sit in the lap of one, but they’ve turned out to be filled with kindness and generosity.

I hear my mom making party plans for my big day. So long as there’s chicken, all will be perfect. You see, chicken brings me joy, and it’s very important to have joy in your life.

When I say “joy”, I mean the feeling, not the cat. The cat was named Joy after her mother’s middle name, not because she is a joy all of the time. Even I’ll admit she can be a joy now and again, but mostly I’d call her grumpy puss, hairy-etta, or don’t-you-dare-sit-on-my-mother’s-lap! She knows I have a great mom, so she wants to have her attention. That does not bring me joy.

Things that do bring me joy are catnip, scratching my chin on books and baskets, chicken, resting in baskets, turkey, playing in baskets, ham, a human scratching behind my ears just right, hamburger, sunny spots on the couch, roast beast, long naps, pork roast, sleeping under the covers, and more meat.

Granted, there were a lot of food items in that list, but there were also non-material (or meat) things on there. Those are the joys everyone can experience. I hope you experience joy in every day!

Wahoo! Getting closer to 17 years old. It’s a good thing!

Since March of 2014, my mom has been told I wouldn’t live long. But I’m still here. Her family has feared losing an aunt to cancer for half a year now. She’s still here. And of course, there are others who are not here who left us unexpectedly and/or suddenly.

No matter if you might go today, next year, or in a few decades, it’s okay to plan for tomorrow. I make plans with my fellow felines. I plan to be their matriarch until I’m not. Until then, I rule the roost, the sunniest spots are mine, and all humans are my primary support system. I am also preparing Merry to take over. (Okay, so she thinks she’s in charge now, but I warn her the reality is more encompassing that she thinks it is now.) Part of my plan is that ya’ll are secondary to my needs today. Granted, right now, my needs are greater, but I know mom will make time for all kitties, because she did when my sister was the Grand Dame of our Castle.

Even though the vets keep expecting I’m not long for this world, my mom continues to purchase food and litter for me. She continues to love me like she always has … with great kindness. She makes plans for me to be here, and she has done so since the first day of diagnosis. I also know, since she’s pragmatic, that she also makes plans for when I’m not here. But until then, she lives like I am here, which is appreciated, because I AM!

Basically, it’s a good idea to plan for both the best and the worst. Then make the most of the best, and grab a shoulder or two to hold you up for the worst. (We’ll also pray for the best, just to encourage more good in the world.)

Only a half-dozen more days until I turn 17 years old. I am having a purrfect time sharing my ancient wisdom!

Today’s topic: Sharing. It can be fun and annoying. It can have benefits and drawbacks. No matter, I still recommend it … in most cases.

Having shared meal time, nap time, bed space, sunny spots, snacks, catnip, and mom with my sister for most of my life, it is odd not doing so today. At first, I was super sad to be without her, but then I found that it’s nice to have mom all to myself. But I will always treasure having had a sister to share my life with each day. We just got each other. We had routines that just made sense to us and no other cat in the house. I highly recommend having a sibling around with which to share life.

Now I have two other house cats that I should share with … when I feel like it. It’s wasn’t easy when they arrived, because they came along much later. Yet I’m glad they are here, because Merry is more vocal than I am, and she is a great reminder to the humans that we have needs. Joy gets in trouble for sitting in the human favorite places, so I know my desire to do the same is expected feline behavior, and I must live up to expectations.

Sometimes we all share the guest room together, mostly when it’s sunny in there. My feline roommates made the argument for that room long ago, so it’s a reserved place we can all gather and rarely get hollered at for sitting in someone else’s favorite place. They also make the request for treats on a more regular basis than I do – probably because I don’t always feel good. But when they make that request, mom shares with me too.

Sharing doesn’t always mean that you are giving something up. It can mean that you gain because others will remember that you shared first. Sharing is a gift that lasts in the hearts of those who appreciate it. Give it a whirl! And come share some treats with me!

As I near my great celebration of 17 feline years, I must remember to take time for peace. To take time daily to rest and relax. To pray and to meditate.

Cats are most excellent at meditation. We have in innate ability to be fully aware of our environment while appearing to be at rest. Instead of following my lead of meditation, my human chooses to call it “radar ear awareness”. The one thing I am not able to control while meditating is my ears. They still turn to most sound. Mom thinks this is adorable and points it out to anyone nearby that my radar ears are working.

I guess this comes from an old TV show called MASH. It was some show long before my lifetime. However, she has shown me re-runs of this. I don’t see why she would even consider comparing me to Radar from that program. He turned is whole head! I mean, really, you humans sure need to learn better how to angle your ears instead of your whole head! It’s so obvious.

I wouldn’t still be here today if I didn’t have peace in my life. Rest is so important to health – mental, emotional, and physical. It can help give you peace of mind, body, and spirit. So if it appears that your cat is resting 16 hours a day or more, it’s to be healthy, happy, and harmonious with their fellow humans. It’s vital to YOUR health that we do so. Trust me, you don’t want a grumpy cat in your life.

PS: Mom wonders why I often rest holding a foot or two. I keep telling her it’s because they stay warmer that way, but she still thinks there might be another reason. Please talk to your cats about it, so that you can better understand and share it with my mom.

Only eight days until my big day of celebration! Today I’d like to share with you what it means to purr.

Sometimes I know my mom thinks I purr just to comfort her, and she might be right. She knows that cats purr when they are both happy and afraid. I purr when I’m happy to share that happiness. I purr when I’m frightened to comfort myself. Sometimes mom thinks I purr because I know it makes her happy to hear it, but I’m usually also purring because I’m happy to be with her.

Purring is a unique way cats can share joy and fear, but mostly it is joy we share. I love it when people help me purr and their smile just grows and grows because they know I’m happy too! It’s almost like a love competition. I purr harder to see their smile grow, and by seeing their smile grow, I magically purr louder!

Although you two-legged beings and drooly dogs aren’t able to purr, you can show happiness in other ways. Smiling is my favorite. Laughing is good too, because then I can feel you shake a little like purring. Dogs wag their tails, which makes them shake, too!

To purr is to be happy. So be happy, purr a little!

Nine days until I celebrate my 17th birthday. Until I was 16 years and nearly six months, I shared everything in my world with my sister Daisy. Although we were from the same litter, I’m sure she was several minutes (equaling years in her mind) older because she felt that she was the boss of nearly everything in my life. I didn’t mind, because I like not having to make too  many decisions. Now that she’s gone, I need my mom more, because it’s odd not having my sister by my side.

I know I was fortunate that mom took us in together. Many cats are split up when they are adopted. Even though we had our spats, there was friendship and love that I treasure even now. We were good at sharing most things, in part because our mom treated us equal. Even though my sister demanded to be pet first and foremost, I knew that there would be equal pets for me later. Mom was fair like that in all things. Mom misses her too, and we reminisce together. She tells me I’ll see Daisy and grandpa in Heaven one day, but that I don’t need to rush there.

Treasure those you are with. You don’t have to agree all of the time (even mom and I have our spats now and again), and you don’t have to be together all of the time (mom often leaves me for work, and my sister often took the best spots in the sun), but if possible, take time to love those in your life. You don’t know how long they will be with you, and you don’t want to miss a single opportunity to show them how precious they are to you.

Greeting! This is Daffodil, and I am confiscating my mom’s blog for the next couple of weeks. I have a very big event coming in my life, and I’d like to share some insights with you while I have the time and energy.

On August 1st, I’ll turn 17 years old. (That’s 17 cat years, but 84 human years). If I make it to that birthday, it will be such a huge accomplishment for me. You see, on March 7, 2014, I was diagnosed with severe kidney failure. I shouldn’t have lived through that time, but I did. Here it is nearly a year and a half later, and I’m still here. I’ve heard multiple vets tell my mom in this time that I have little time left.

Ha! I’m here to report that I’m still here! But I too can feel that my time is limited. Certain things are more difficult than they used to be, and my mom has to water me once-a-day. If I make it through these next ten days, I’d like to share with you something I’ve learned in my many feline years each day.

For today, I’d like to share that it is a blessing to live each day like you’re dying. I do my usual things each day, although sometimes a bit slower than usual. I spend time with my mom when she is around. I sit in the sun with my fellow felines in the afternoon when I feel like it. The only difference is that I push my way into a couple of things I used to feel like I shouldn’t do.

Now, I ask for those things, and the answer has changed to, “Yes, my funny pants!” at least some of the time. It’s worth asking again. She thinks the long hair on my thighs looks like pantaloons, whatever those are, so she sometimes call me funny pants. Because I’m getting some extra loving, I don’t cough up hair balls by her shoes anymore when she calls me funny pants. So you see, we both win!

Fun Facts about Fathers: Census Bureau News — Profile America Facts for Features Father’s Day: June 21, 2015.

My dad was pretty awesome. I’ll be giving thanks that he was in my life on this Father’s Day, just like everyday.

I so wish everyone had a father like mine. Too many don’t have the comfort of a good father or father figure or parent in their life. I am so glad that my nephews are amazing father’s who would move sun, moon, and stars to care for their children and their wives.

Of all the gifts my father gave to me, the two I joke about the most are the small, gappy teeth, and the wide, wide, wide feet. But the best gifts he gave are not seen but felt in the heart.

May your heart be filled with all good things.

This afternoon my mom said that she would go out and mow the lawn. I asked if it was dry enough from earlier rains, and she hoped it would be so. However, she no sooner opened the garage door and started the mower when it not only rained again, but in a torrential downpour with nasty and whipping winds. It only lasted a few minutes, but it left leaves and small branches scattered. She turned it off, shut the garage door, and returned to the house.

When she said that she would mow, I was laying down to read and nap. I didn’t feel one bit guilty because I buried my cat Daisy this morning, with help from my nephew Chris and brother Bruce. Since she passed on in January, my brother has kept her on ice for me so that we could wait until the ground would be more kind. For one moment of fright while digging, we cut through what we thought was a root, but turned out to be an electrical wiring.

Fortunately, a few years ago our home was separated from the farm electricity. Today, our home did NOT lose power, nor did any of the barns, and my brother did not get electrocuted. I am not about to forget this burial of my beloved Daisy. She whom my dad chose and then she chose to thank him for her freedom from farm life with all of her days. She is now in the earth my dad cared for all of his days.

This evening I keep in prayer all who have served in the military. I give thanks that nephews Bill and Ben and uncles Ralph, Jim M., and Robert all came home to live out their lives. Many cousins have served as well. May all have peace of mind, respect, and find joy in life. For some, it’s more difficult than others.

A cloud with the rainbow beneath it.