Tissue crowns, no problem.
I ought also to update the progress of our Rat Patrol.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
The Puzzle of Remission
I have been remiss. Excuse me. There has been some sadness here. Perhaps this jolly photo of my birthday morning will fix that.
My crown is made of tissue paper from a party-popper. Daughter sent it from Chicago to crown me king of my day. This may stem from my cautions when she was a little girl. I told her if she ever got crowned queen of anything, make certain of the crown's composition: Even gold is a metal that can scratch the hell out of you so be sure the pointy side is always UP.
Tissue crowns, no problem.
I ought also to update the progress of our Rat Patrol.
It is a photo of a feral feline Norma named "Tux". It reminds me of a movie I saw in the late 1960s called "Reflections In A Golden Eye" --a film I attended because it was co-authored by Carson McCullers, a very good writer. It was also memorable for a brief scene, in artistically poor lighting, of Elizabeth Taylor climbing a stairway nude --which, to certain teenaged observers, comprised a religious experience. I've been a devout movie-goer ever since. Speaking of movies, here is a Normaphoto of Tux reenacting an iconic scene in "Titanic" in which Dicaprio and Winslet share a kiss on the bow of a big ocean-going wheelbarrow.
Of course, we had to resort to contractual perks and special effects:
2020 arrives in about 20 minutes, so I'll wish all a happy NEW YEAR. Please remember the world is more than politics and movies; it's us and some cats.
Tissue crowns, no problem.
I ought also to update the progress of our Rat Patrol.
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A very, very health and happy New Year to you and Norma dear Geo. This year, and all the years to come.
ReplyDeleteGood wishes appreciated and reciprocated, dear EC. This century could stand some improvement.
DeleteThank goodness for us and cats. I love the photo of Tux poised on the wheel. He has more class than DiCaprio.
ReplyDeleteI also like the birthday photo with the crown. One doesn't need gold to be a king.
Well, it's now officially 2020. Unfortunately I can't say the same for my myopic vision.
Take care, Geo - and warm New Year blessings to you and Norma.
Tux is a spritely little thing, whose 3 siblings have appointed liaison to the humans. They are still afraid to come close. Meanwhile, Tux has been negotiating hunting rights and full run of the property. The world lost a great used-car salesman when Tux decided to be a cat.
Delete:)
DeleteI can see from the photograph that you're absolutely bubbling over with joy. Ahem! You give no indication what the sadness is to which you refer. I trust it is not beyond healing.
ReplyDeleteFor us, 2020 slipped in through the fog whilst we slept. And that's fine. The whole old-year/new-year caboosh is so artificial anyway. Lucy and I looked at each other across the breakfast table, whilst I fondled Elfie's ears (our dog), happy and thankful that we are all together: one day at a time.
Wishing you and Norma all that you would want for yourselves.
Dear Tom, I trust our loss is not beyond some healing: 3 weeks ago, Norma's Mom passed away at age 91. She was full of logic, compassion, humor and good sense. I loved her and I miss her.
DeleteI sure like your description of 2020 sneaking in on silent (cat?) feet. And, yes, importantly and happily, we are together daily. We likewise wish you happiness and good fortune in this and years yet to come.
What a pretty kitty your feral is. Tuxedo cats are so elegant and your visitor seems to be very friendly. My life is filled with cats, two inside and three outside. (Outside have no owners; we are just their food and shelter suppliers, ahem). They are interesting companions and we talk too much about them, but that is what old people do and it definitely is better than politics.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter was right to send you the lovely green paper crown. I am sure you are a king in her heart.
No one knows what 2020 will bring, but I live in hope always. I wish the best to you and Norma.
Dear Arleen, Tux is a brave little thing --main fear was humans, like dinosaurs would be to us. But Norma spoke to him gently and I would walk past him without biting and he was emboldened. Courage comes in all sizes. Good thing too.
DeleteDaughter sent crowns to both of us here and set up facetime from Chicago. She and husband had crowns on too. We had a delightful conversation that only enjoyably descended into confabulation.
I sure hope 2020 brings proper focus to our world and reciprocate your best wishes.
Tux is a friendly feral! And useful too. The weight of a crown is a serious thing, paper or no. Happy birthday, happy new year dear folks xx
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa, Thank you. It was as happy a birthday as we could manage with all that's been going on. Remember, I am 70 now and 70-year-olds are famous for not approving of "goings-on".
DeleteIt does give me the reflected romantic opportunity exploited by Edward VIII who abdicated his throne for
the woman he loved. We're all keeping our paper crowns though. Love to you and yours.
I'm sorry you have had sadness there, Geo. There is no good time to have that happen but at the holidays it seems especially hard. My best to you and Norma.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, cats can make even politics bearable. When I get worn out from the news, it's cats I turn to. And dogs.
You wear the crown well! Belated birthday greetings for a happy and healthy year coming up ahead. And I hope the new year treats you and Norma well.
0_Jenny, Thank You! I too have high hopes for the coming year. It would please me to have a lower mortality rate in churches and schools. It's uphill from there. When humans equal the emotional stability of cats and dogs, things will be about right. Let's keep working on this. Deal?
DeleteHappy new year, Geo. I hope you're well, I think that for another 14 days I'm only one year older than you. So have a good one, youngun'. Mike
ReplyDeleteHappy seventy-second, Mike! I'll raise my glass in your direction in two weeks. It's on my calendar!
DeleteBoy, I guess I guessed wrong, this codger will be 74. Cheers.
DeleteOk Mike, I think I've got it figured out. Two possibilities: In two weeks, you will be 74 and I will be 72; Two weeks ago I turned 70 and you turned 72 two weeks later --which is today, which means time is going forward and backwards at once (RUN!). I suggest we solve this by passing the data to my grandson who is good at math. If we stood arm in arm --like dancing at a Jewish wedding-- the resulting object would be 144 years old--this week. Next week I don't know.
DeleteHappy Birthday Anyway!
"Us and some cats". The best words I've heard today.
ReplyDeleteDear Bruce, thank you for affirming I make sense sometimes. I can't do it every day but it's good to get a compliment when I do.
DeleteWishing you and your readers and correspondents well being and good cheer in 2020.
ReplyDeleteTux is a fine looking gent and you I think you would make an enlightened king.
Dear Tom, I and all my fellow confabulators welcome your good wishes. Thanks! As to Tux, he is more cautious in his decisions than I, and would make a better king. Don't tell him yet, though. He's only a couple months old.
DeleteHappt New Year to you and Norma...Tux is adorable. Hey, I think I had that same crown on my head on Boxing Day. (definitely pointy side up)
ReplyDeleteDear Delores, I believe Tux will indeed be monarch of the world. After all, those who have claimed to be royalty have simply been collected and believed. My hope is that he can keep his crown on and give us a share of taxes.
DeleteThanks Emma. Likewise!
ReplyDeleteTux is precious, friend Geo … and so are you:) Love, cat.
ReplyDeletePrecious Cat, Tux wants to be a friend of all the world --a bit like Kim in the Kipling novel --a little hero.
DeleteI too am sorry about the loss of your mother-in-law, Geo. It is indeed a difficult time. I do hope for you though a wonderful and ebullient 2020! The Tuxedo cat is adorable!!
ReplyDeletePipeTobacco
Dear Prof., Thank you. Norma's handling the loss courageously. She and her younger brother have put their oldest (1 year my senior) brother into assisted-living. 2020 HAS to be more merciful than the past year. Is anybody working on this?
DeleteTux is indeed helpfully adorable. Took 3 months to even get him to approach us. Best to you this new year, Prof.!
Hi, Geo!
ReplyDeleteFirst I'm sorry that you and Norma lost her mother. Losing a mother is always traumatic, no matter how long we are fortunate to have them. Your crown made me laugh. Whenever we spend Christmas with the Barbour side of our family we share poppers and wear the crowns. It's always fun! Wishing you lots of fun in the coming year of you!
Second, belated Happy Birthday. I turn seventy on March 18, so I'm not far behind you. Every decade has its strengths and wonders; I wish you lots of both.
Dear Louise, I had no idea we were so close in age! We could've been in 3rd grade together, full of fun and mischief --like now. I wish you copious amounts of both.
DeleteWe would have been double trouble!
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