Milo & Otis

Sixteen years ago, two kittens arrived,

            Now only one old cat survives.

Sixteen years ago two kittens battled and played,

            Now one old cat sleeps all day.

Sixteen years ago, two kittens tormented a mouse,

            Now one old cat lies around the house.

Sixteen years ago, two kittens attacked our toes,

            Now one old cat prefers to doze.

Milo and Otis were brothers who became part of our family sixteen years ago.  Milo is a short-haired, yellow tabby, while Otis had long, tri-colored, mostly white fur.  We lost Otis a little over a year ago to a respiratory infection.  Since then Milo has become a grouchy old man, howling his demands between naps.  His hair is falling out in clumps.  He takes daily medication.  He refuses to drink from a dish, instead preferring the bathroom faucet.  When we spend a night away, he meets us at the door howling his displeasure.  He wakes me up at 5:30 each morning and demands we go to bed by 10:00 each night.  He hates when I talk on the phone, usually batting me with his double paws and howling through the entire conversation.  Over the past six months, Milo has been losing weight and fur.  His time with us will also end someday soon.  We will miss him as much as we miss his brother.  More than a pet, he is an old dear friend. 

End of Summer Get Away

 

As hectic and crazy as each day seems to be, the best moment I could think to share is from our recent runaway trip to Acadia to bike the carriage trails.  My husband and I used to go to Acadia to camp and bike every year when our son was small, but we had not been in years.  We found ourselves with an open weekend, so we took off and left our busy lives at home.  We took our time and spent the entire day biking.  I was imagining we had biked at least 30 miles, but after double and triple checking the map, we managed to bike just over 20.  We were blessed with a beautiful, cool, crisp day that ended with sunset on top of Cadillac Mountain.  What a fabulous adventure to end our summer.

 

 

I am . . .

I am called
Auntie
Sweetheart
Mom

I am energized
By biking country roads
By inhaling the smell of the ocean
By singing praises to God

I am motivated
To learn
To help
To teach

I am an adventurer
Flying over the mountains
Sailing on the ocean
Traveling across the continent

I am at peace
On the back deck
Holding a sleeping child
Looking at the stars

I am fulfilled
By the love of family and friends
By memories of the past
By hope for the future.