Reading and Reflecting

I've been working sick for a couple of days. Today and Wednesday were the days I felt the worse. I've been doing some reading and reflecting, something to keep my mind busy while my body rests. Talked to my daughter and my son today. My daughter informed me her ex's mother died Friday morning. She said she'd been bed ridden for the last year, but she'd been walking again since October.

The years fly by so quickly. I found a 1997 picture of me with Momma Cat, and she was full grown in the picture. I was wearing Christmas red and smiling with the cat cuddled in my arms. Now, she's gone. Funny, she died the same day as my daughter's ex-mother-in-law. I've had cats for pets all of my life, but I'd had this cat longer than any other one. She was about 14. My son gave her to me, and I transplanted her in Florida when I moved here. She traveled in a camper trailer in 2004 during Hurricane Frances. We parked the camper in my son's yard to ride out the storm. I found myself pulling out photo albums and looking at pictures through a mist of tears and memories. Where did the time go? I raised her from a kitten. She was my company when no one else was around, and she loved to sleep on top of the couch. Finding her brought memories of when I was a little girl and found my cat dead on the way to school. I felt like that little lost girl again for a few minutes, and I let the tears cleanse my soul and thanked God for the company of the cat for the past 14 years. He's blessed me with a golden Cocker Spaniel, a German Shepherd, and another part Siamese cat, so I still have pets to keep me company. Momma Cat was special because Rodney gave her to me when someone threw her out as a tiny kitten. He picked her up and brought her to me, knowing I'd give her a good home and raise her because I loved cats. She was a beautiful cat with blue eyes. God has blessed my life with beautiful pets, and I thank Him for their unconditional love and company. Animals taught me what true unconditional love is. They don't care what you look like, what you wear, or what kind of car you drive. They love you for you and to them, you're the greatest person in the world. Thank you God for pets, especially my grandfather-clock-chewing Cocker Spaniel. Rodney, thank you for the cat that brought your mom many years of company, love, and companionship. She never bothered anyone, not even in the end, and she was never any trouble. Having her all these years enriched my life.