(Archived from Tess)
Your story brings back memories.  I remember my dad always had handerchiefs.  Some were plain, some had stripes, others his initials and even some looked like damask-type material.  My mom and I had some too for church.  It wasn't always comfortable blowing your nose on the embroidered part of the hanky.  You'd always find one crumpled up in the bottom of a purse you rarely used.  Kleenex is definitely more comfortable...

(Archived from Ruth)

Redbird I am new to this forum and just getting around to reading through all the posts here. I have just found this thread and I love hearing your take on life, your cat and bird anecdotes, and your wonderful reflections. Sorry you haven't been so well lately, but I hope the writing brings you even half as much pleasure as it does to those of us who read it. What a gift. Thank you.

Ruth

Sacred Ritual Violated
well I am here this morning to tell you that my morning scared ritual has been violated by Foote the cat.  Now at my house I have some special things that I do each day...and I have special places to do those things.
One is my "watching the birds chair" and one is my "reading chair"...and this is well known to those who reside in the house...like Foote the cat and my son Sam.
Another thing you need to know is that Sam is Foote's best buddy, friend and anything else you can think of as well as her conspirator.
Now I had noticed lately that when I wanted to read...Foote was in my chair..and if I wanted to sit in the sun and bird watch...Foote was in my chair..seems that Foote knows my time table well...
Now after retiring 7 times I finally did retire in 2004...why is this important...well my sacred ritual has been going on since that time.
Now here is the scene....
Each morning my sacred ritual is...I get up and make my coffee, get my Little Debbie's Oatmeal cookie...and for those who don't know...it is 2 oatmeal cookies with gooey stuff in the middle sometimes  fresh strawberries with it or a banana or sometimes just my cookie.......then I get my paper and sit down to read the morning paper front to back...in my reading chair..
suddenly I began to notice little bits of paper in the floor and suddenly large bits of paper in the floor..MY PAPER...not only was Foote laying in my
reading chair but she was reading my paper her way..
now Sam her conspirator said..well I think she is using it to clean her teeth after eating her dry cat food...now I am not buying this statement or reason..
I have not decided how to solve this problem yet but thinking...........
redbird
"the word writer

Something I read today!!
With dreams, you're the only witness and you're free to do whatever your subconscious tells you.You willingly do it in the privacy of your own mind.
hummm

redbird

This story is for all of those who are caregivers...and especially for Steelergirl who has much love and strength for her masto person.


A Love Story...
at my doctor's office yesterday...all the folks there are very good to me but the receptionist told me a little story that I wanted to share with you as you know how I love cardinals (redbirds)
she told me about a loud thump on her front picture window and when she went to look there was a lady redbird lying there. she had flown into the window... now as she lay there... the daughter was saying...oh she is dead and Claudia(the office lady) said ...wait and let's watch a minute..and the bird continue to lay..after a few minutes she went outside and nudged it and it raised it's head and made a chirp..so she went back inside the house to watch and suddenly the male redbird came and flew down beside her...now you know that redbirds mate for life...he talked to her and nudged her and finally took his wing and fluttered it around her stroking her and talking...she raised her head..he flew up to a branch and continued to talk to her chirping and encouraging her and suddenly she raised herself up and against all odds ...knowing that someone loved her ...made her flight to the branch..they sat there for awhile until she was able to continue her flight to somewhere and together they flew away..what a love story and even though they were birds the encouragement and love that was shown conqueror the day...
it told me that no matter the odds we masto folks face each day with a little encouragement we can get up and face what life brings
love to all
redbird
the word writer

(Archived from steelergirl)
Thank you, Redbird- for sharing, and caring. Your story made me cry-not from sadness-rather because so few stop to realize that regardless of how complicated and hopeless situations may appear, the answer is really simple: love and allow yourself to be loved. And you are reminding us of that...Especially in those most complex situations, true love-be it from a mate, a physical have a cup of coffee friend, or a cyber group of friends, sometimes is that missing magical element that mixes in and the playing field is altered, the outcome is sure, and the road is less treacherous.  

There is an energy about pure love that blends with our physical energies-or so my puny little brain believes, and creates a synergy that can-when nurtured and supported-really work miracles.  I believe we all have it in us, to make these things happen, but we have maybe lost touch with the simple power of love and joy.  

of course!  I also believe in unicorns and fairies and that someday, somehow, my family and I WILL skip gaily across a rainbow.....  so, hmmmm- laughing- i guess you gotta consider the source!!

I love your stories and your heart, your beliefs and your willingness to reach out and share your all with us.   Thank you for those gifts!!  

and to all the other caregivers out there....  chin up! keep believing and loving, keep fighting and stay fierce enough to do battle.  Hang on to that gentleness of spirit and purity of heart that allows you to love enough to stay the course with your loved one.  Our road is hard-in part because of the battles to wage, for me? primarily due to the inability to make it better for him- to take it away. Bask in admiration for the courage and strength that it takes our loved ones with masto to keep going on, to keep at it, to learn to sidestep some pitfalls- and crawl painfully out of others.  And if yours is like mine? and has an indomitable spirit, a rowdy, irreverent sense of humor, and a truly loving and strong heart, consider yourself blessed to be that person's partner in this journey.

YIKES- philosophy and poor grammar and misspellings!!   but from the heart!
thanks for giving me a place to share what is in my heart, a place to be safe, a place to learn and a place to read of beauty in the world and in others!!
steelergirl

OH steeler girl...there is no charge here for misspelled words etc..we just need to say and hear the words
redbird
the word writer

WOW Deb had to almost  pick me up and land me here but hopefully I am here...I have missed you.  just a little story for you this day

Charlie Brown
I am sure that most of you know the stories of Charlie Brown and all his friends..Lucy and linus and linus's security blanket...
well I have a Charlie Brown pillow..yup sure do..one time I spent the night with my daughter and she had some new pillows..oh my they were soft and upon telling her how much I enjoyed them..she put one in my car for taking home.
So now I have this pillow...and I decided to name it "my Charlie Brown Pillow"..let me explain..
My Charlie Brown pillow is a great comfort to me..when you lay your head on it seems like things go away...when I am ill..out comes the pillow and when I can no longer lay in the bed and must move to the recliner it goes with me..I can hug it and lay my head on it's shoulder and feel great comfort..I can use it to prop up my body in the recliner and when I had the last hip problem the only thing that I could stand touching my hip, leg and foot...yup you guessed it...my Charlie Brown pillow
now one would wonder if this was magic or again a remedy for what is happening to you and your body..now I am not sure but I know one thing..I am glad that daughter gave me my pillow
redbird