Item 1: October 1970. A friend of mine had a cat that had just had a litter. He asked if I would like to pick out one for my own.I said OK and went to his house and saw six tiny kittens all curled up beneath their mother.My eyes fell on a gray Persian mix and I knew that was the one. I named her Disraeli Spoonful (Dizzy) for short. Dizzy was in our home until 1984.
November 26,2014: Piper, our beautiful cat given to us by our daughter,Rhiannon 7 years ago suddenly became sick and we had to say good bye to her. For the first time in 44 years there is not a cat or a dog or a cat and dog or a cat and dogs living under the Judd roof.
Much has been written about “empty nest” situation. Children grow up and move out into the world on their own leaving a huge empty vacant house for their parents. Sheila and I have been able to adjust to our empty house especially now since we have four grandchildren who visit frequently.
Adjusting to having no pets can be in itself quite an emotional experience. Seven short years ago we were sharing our home with three dogs and Piper. One by one our dogs left us.It is an eerie, empty feeling not having your dog wagging it’ tail at you when you say, “Wanna go for a walk?” and what better start to your day to have your cat curl up beside you on your favorite chair as you drink your morning coffee and do the daily crossword.
All that is gone now. There is a silence that we will have to get used to. Sheila and I have made a promise to ourselves that after we do some traveling and are able to tear out and replace all the carpeting our pets lovingly “marked” for us it will be time to bring a pet back into our home.
Until that time a huge debt of gratitude to: Dizzy, Spot, Vanessa,Betsy,My beloved Sadie, Pepper,Chloe,and to Piper.
Item 2: Just because it is cool: Christopher Walken: “MORE COWBELL!!!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCd0OjjCz88
Item 3 Things that are beautiful and don’t cost a cent.The changing of the leaves on our thousands of trees here in Turlock. Sheila and I have been fortunate to spend the last 34 years here and as every autumn turns into winter a colorful painter’s delight awaits us all. We do love it so….. And now the rains have come! Thank you.
Item 4: A few years back I was going through a very tough time. Of course Sheila, my two daughters Jessica and Rhiannon and my sister, Maria Nadauld (Above the Bay Booking) were there every step of the way. I phoned Rick and carefully explained my situation and Rick simply said, “What can I do?” I knew all I had to do was ask and I know he would be there.
I would like to offer this quote to everyone one out there who has a trusted friend they can rely on. From Epicurus: “It is not so much our friendship that helps us as the confidant knowledge that they WILL help us.”
Item 5: Many years ago Rick and I attended our K-6 Highland School. I would walk over to Rick’s home every morning and wait while Rick would finish his breakfast and get ready for school and then we would take the walk to school.
One morning while waiting for Rick to get ready I began reading the Oakland Tribune and came upon a poem that for some reason I memorized right there. It was called “An ode to an aging hipster.” I think Herb Caen had just come out with the term Beatnik and from that that came the phrase “hip cats” and then “hipster.” This poem was an early ode to the aging beatnik with a green thumb looking for employment.
Man like I’m tired of making this scene,
It’s a slow drag, you dig what I mean.
This looking for work man, leaves me cold
Like all I get is daddy-o you’re too old.
So like I’m a 49er, but man I feel fine.
I have muscle will hustle
And I don’t tap the wine.
If you want a real gone cat
With a hoe and spade,
Well turn me loose dad
You’re garden is made.
Like this is no jazz man,
I dig the cool soil,
You can’t bug this gate
With honest toil,
So call my pad man
And offer me bread,
And I’ll grow your hip flowers,
As big as your head…….
Item 6: Not to be out done Rick had memorized “his” poem and would recite it to his dates prior to asking for a good night kiss.
They strolled down the lane together,
The sky was clustered with stars,
We reached the gate together,
For her I lifted the bars
She did not heed or thank me
For she did not know how,
For I was only the hired hand,
And she the Jersey Cow.
Rick said this worked every time and I do believe him.
Item 7: Thanksgiving at JJ’s in Fremont: All the family, grandchildren etc. came together for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day celebration and feast. Our three grandsons decided to stage a play in their bedroom. My youngest grandson, five years old, came up to me in the living room with a self made ticket and program handed it to me and said the play was about to begin.My other grandson’s blinked the lights off and on to notify everyone else the play was about to begin.I reached for my can of Pepsi and my grandson said in a matter of fact tone, “No unopened cans or bottles allowed.” I quickly reached into my wallet and pulled out a $1.00 bill and offered it to him. He quickly grabbed it and said, “Be careful and don’t spill it.”
Item 8: This column would be longer and more legible but I just got released from Kaiser Hospital in Manteca for minor surgery and my thoughts are still under the spell of anesthesia and therefore more scattered than usual. I’ve double checked it and I hope I didn’t mention politics, religion, or Rick in my column. If so I’m sure I will hear about it.
Until January 2015: Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat, eat a bar of chocolate, and say something nice behind someone’s back.