Double rainbows to you

Who doesn’t marvel at the wonder of a rainbow?  There’s something about seeing such colorful grandness arching overhead that makes all of humanity stop and stare.  And a double rainbow?  Well, that must just bring twice the good fortune.

We recently spotted this double delight while at our son’s and new daughter-in-law’s wedding in Colorado.  We were conversing during the rehearsal dinner, everyone thrilled with the light rain that was falling then (instead of the next day at the outdoor nuptials), when the natural phenomenon was spotted.  Oh, my, we all gushed.  Surely this portends extra special good luck for the happy couple.  And because we thought it, it is true.

Since that day, this picture has beckoned to me more than once. 

A good friend’s mother was celebrating her 91^st birthday and my friend asked 91 people to send her mother birthday wishes.  Their address?  Rainbow Road.  Of course, I sent a copy of this picture in my card.

A dear mentor of mine recently celebrated her birthday.  She’s given me the comfort and wisdom of her old-soulness, in ways I’ll never be able to repay.  But, she reads this blog.  And, so, I can offer her this double rainbow of good wishes.  J

And, lastly, we just heard about the death of a very special aunt.  As we prepare to bury her and to say our goodbyes, this picture, again, makes its way to the group of us.  We feel lighter looking at it, as if we’re connected, again, with our loved one who has joined the spectrum of light.

It’s time for me to pass the double rainbow on, and so, I give it to you.  Take from it what you need and keep it for as long as you like.  Then deliver it to others who will make good use of it.

 

Callie the cat is 21!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALLIE!

Our wonderful calico cat, Callie, turned 21 years old on Saturday.  Yes, you heard correctly. Twenty one.  And, she’s still kicking.

Callie is now officially legal in every state, and by cat/human charts is the equivalent of 104 human years old.  Perhaps a tuna juice toast is in order?

According to our veterinarian, cats, on average, live to be about 12-14 years, so, yes, this puts Callie at the top of the charts.  Granted, everyone seems to have a story about some or another aged feline, but our vet says our little ball of fur is the oldest cat he's ever seen.

And we are grateful.

So, cheers to little Callie, recently deemed “calm and beautiful” by an admirer.  Thank you, Callie, for many warm memories and for your comforting presence these past decades.  



Roe v Wade turns 39 today!

Happy Birthday, Roe v Wade!  (Although I don't know too many 39-year-olds in such danger of death and/or dismemberment.)  President Obama has recently vowed to protect women's rights to safe and legal abortions, to protect their rights to choose what is best for themselves -- their bodies and their futures.  But, he faces increasing opposition.  Test your knowledge about Roe v Wade by visiting the informative website below.

Roe v Wade

Callie the calico cat is 20!

Happy Birthday, Callie!  Our wonderful calico cat is 20 years old today, which, translated, is 100 in people years.  The average cat’s life expectancy is 12-14 years, but nobody would ever accuse our Callie of being average.  She’s a cat with “personality,” and that’s putting it lightly.

As a kitten, she immediately knew who the mom of the family was.  On her second night with us, I woke up to her standing by my side of the bed, looking up at me and meowing frantically.  “What?  What is it?” I asked her.  She looked at me like the upset little baby she was and threw up.  The poor thing felt sick and didn’t know what to do about it.  I cleaned up the mess and brought her back to bed to cuddle – and she was very happy.

Callie is known for her mischievousness.  When we were having our two-story foyer wallpapered, she somehow managed to climb the scaffolding, much to the work crew’s astonishment.  We had wars over her being on the kitchen counter.  I’d put down two-sided tape to thwart her and she’d carefully walk around it.  I’d take a few steps toward the kitchen from another room and could hear her jump down from the counter seconds before I could catch her in the act.  She sometimes waited for my daughter to climb the stairs and then she’d pounce at her feet, chasing her “sister” up the stairs to bed.  She had her share of stuffed mice and cat nip and, in her youth, she could spend hours playing with a piece of dangling string.

She was our chief bug catcher for years.  If she happened to be sleeping and I found a spider, I’d go and get her and she’d take care of it for me.  Most times, she found the flies and spiders herself and made sure to keep our home bug-free.  There was even a brief period when we had a little problem with field mice.  Our dear (declawed) darling would catch them all and would proudly bring them to us for our approval.

She knew the difference, though, between mice and the cute little chameleons my son kept as pets.  When one little lizard escaped and was missing for over a week, we feared he’d met his match in Callie.  Suddenly, one day, we were watching television and Callie came and stood right in front of us all.  Upon closer inspection, we noticed a squirming object being held daintily in her mouth.  It was Einstein the lizard!  She’d found him and was bringing him back to us.  She handed the booty over (he lost his tail from fright) and she received a heaping handful of kitty treats for her honorable behavior.

Callie is still in fairly good health.  She has a little high blood pressure, is partially blind and has the beginnings of kitty dementia, but all in all is doing well.  She travels back and forth from Missouri to Wisconsin with us, enduring the eight-hour car trip like a champion.  She adjusts to two houses and two vets and is happiest when all of her people are home, chatting, and she gets to sit on someone’s lap right in the middle of things.

Tonight, Callie Lou, we’re having shrimp, your favorite, and you will get your own whole piece to celebrate your amazing life and to show you how blessed we’ve been to have you as a member of our family.  No champagne toast, though – at least not this year.  You’ve got one more year before you’re legal.   

Happy 200th Birthday Fanny Fern!

Fanny Fern is one of the world’s many lost writers.  Just a few generations after her death, few people, outside of academia, have heard of this woman whose words took the country by storm. 

I fell in love with Fanny Fern in graduate school.  I loved her work and I loved her story.  I was incensed that the world had forgotten about such a remarkable writer, such a remarkable woman.  So, I began researching about her.  I wrote papers.  I read and read and read.  I wanted to bring Fanny Fern back to life.

It took nine years for my Fanny Fern passion to become a published book.  My historical novel, Shame the Devil, officially comes out today – July 1, 2011 – with SUNY Press.  Fanny Fern’s birthday was July 9, 1811.  I recently realized that my book, my Fanny Fern re-birth project, will come out just in time for the 200^th anniversary of Fanny Fern’s birth.  I don’t know anything about the timing of the universe or astrology or nudgings from the beyond the grave or anything like that, but you’ve got to admit – the timing is amazingly coincidental!