I said goodbye to my wonderful, persnickety, beautiful and loyal friend this morning. I had him with me for nearly half of my life, which is a long time.
He laid claim to a piece of my heart, and it will always be his.
Deadeye
30 April 1992 – 3 May 2010
* French Proverb. And so true. This is my favorite picture of us together – taken by John just before John and I were married – a very happy memory.
Sundays are pretty much the same every time around here. John & I are especially happy to keep to the house and spend time just with each other since he’ll be gone for an extended deployment very soon.
Anyhoo, we usually get up in a hurry, John makes the coffee while I grab whatever I can find for breakfast (cereal? leftovers? nothing?) and then we run out the door to church. By 11:00 a.m., we’re back and we either work on the yard, work on the house, head to work, or if I’m lucky, I head to the barn.
Today we picked out paint for several of our rooms we’ve been trying to finish, John hung up a hunting-scene carpet and did some other handy-man stuff, I planted some petunias and hung some up, and we took in a Rays game (Rays won!)
And the breakfast was special this morning – apple pie courtesy of John’s mom. Even plucked from the fridge shelf in a hurry and eaten plain, it is just as delicious.
Eighteen-year-old Siamese on inspection duty is, unfortunately, not a rarity. I told John he’ll miss that pesty little critter, too, though.
First 6 were a walk in the park.
Next 3 were easy but we would rather have been doing something else.
Next 3 I could definitely feel it. I would rather have been doing anything else.
Last 4, I was sweating like a farm animal and only pride in keeping up (sort of) with My Beloved and not quitting was driving me on.
John did great – soldiering on as always, slowing down to stay with me the last 4 miles.
Good Guy.
So! Do you remember when I asked for people to send me pictures, because if you didn’t, I’d be posting “just words” (and that’s a bit of a snore, innit?) or archival photos of my two ancient felines (so if you don’t like cats you’re out of luck) or nothing?
Well, someone REALLY delivered!
My Aunt Sara sent me a doozy…along with this funny quick message:
hungry bear LOVE sunflower seeds.
time to let the dogs out.
hope you are well.
love, aunt sara
Gotta love Nou Ha-amp-shiah! That is her FRONT PORCH/DECK, PEOPLE!!!!!!!
Now, how can anyone not love a dog?
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Though I hesitate showing this picture because of the state of my crowded counters (John calls this space the Hotzone) – I had to show what John saw this morning when he rounded the corner…
Deadeye – looking like he’s lounging on a rock ledge…
…except that rock ledge is my shoulder – and I’m BUSY trying to order a coffee maker since ours is on the fritz. (See the Starbucks?).JPG)
He doesn’t like it when I try to hold onto his paws…
Uh-huh.
I don’t really know what that means, but it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’ve accepted my lack of talent in the decorating arena, I just buy what I like and then appeal to my mom, Paulette, and Sisi to figure out how to incorporate it in “my grand design.” This is what works for me, People.
Did I mention that the three of them will be here in about a week? I can’t wait!!!! …and they will have their work cut out for them.
Good Heavens…
…especially since I think my Old Man should be part of the Design Picture.
Meet Thumper, who came out for a prowl a couple days ago…
John is here for a couple more weeks before he ships out for Aghanistan, and until I can meet him in Bahrain a couple weeks after that.
Since he’s been home, he’s (and he’ll kill me for posting about this) been discouraged that Deadeye seemingly wants nothing to do with him. In fact, Deadeye only wants to sit on my lap, and sleep next to me. It’s funny, because ever since John came into my life, “my” cat prefers John…and I’ve had Deadeye since I rescued his sorry little bony carcass from The Pound outside of Ft. Hood in June of 1992 when I was just a 2LT, and had much better things to do with my money. (I guess.)
Anyhoo – it seemed that since he had come full circle and preferred me after all, all was right with my world.
And then, tonight, after cleaning up the kitchen, I rounded the corner of this Godforsaken Apartment to find THIS:
So, I moved in for a close-up to see if he’d look me in the eye…the Little Opportunist…and of course, he wouldn’t.
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So, I got a little closer…and he still avoided eye contact!
Deadeye, that is a classic sign, Buster.
A classic sign that you know you’re wrong.
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So I gave him a little space – thinking…he can’t keep this up…as I noticed his tail wrapped around John’s arm – all snuggly and conspiratorial-ish.
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Last chance, you old persnickety Feline – let me down Mano-a-Mano, Baby. I can TAKE IT!
But all I got was this:
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