August 23, 2011

• 8 out of 10 Cats Prefer the Oldies to the Hip Hop Stations

  

  (thank you jewishjournal.com for this image)

  I wrote a sad feeling sorry for myself blog and a couple of you got to read it before I made it private (or editing it…ack). I do not mind that you did, but, you know, feeling sorry for yourself has an expiration date. So, there that is.

  I am currently out of town house sitting for a friend. My friend Rolla and her hub went to Vegas to do a trade show. They have a home that is shared with their feline family (Rocky, Apollo plus Bergie next door), an assortment of needy coastal plants plus her mom lives behind her in an in-law quarter. It would be best for her mom to have help and security for the almost week that they needed to be gone. And, as it turned out, the work get away was the best thing ever.

  My stomach aches and my sleep is nil due to the stress of letting everyone down and the need to move back to my old place. I have, indeed, made a mess of things.

  This opportunity is already in motion before all the chaos, disappointment and hurt feelings.

  

   (thank you city-map.com for this image)

  I am staying in Alameda California. It is a next door neighbor to Oakland California which is on the other side of the Bay Bridge from San Francisco.

  I have written about staying in Alameda several times here. I spent the most wonderful New Years weekend here. My friend Rolla was the first of us to have her fiftieth birthday back in January, too. We all came to Alameda to celebrate that big birthday.

  Things have changed a bit since we first made this plan. Her mom had ended up in the hospital after falling from a dizzy spell a couple of days before I got here (she is going to be 81 and her over all health is really great for her age). I knew her memory has been failing her for some time but this episode took it’s toll.

  Rolla is a nervous wreck about leaving her mom. This trade show is huge money maker in their niche business and her brother lives near by for any emergencies. I could tell it was hard on her getting her business stuff together and organizing her mom’s even more special needs in order.

  I show up here exhausted and numb. My psyche aching and blown up. I know that the way I am feeling is self created due to poor choices but not malisciously.

  

  (thank you jandbentp.com for image)

  NEVERTHELESS; Rolla gave me my list of responsibilities and her mom’s agenda. I am ready to be involved with someone else’s chores and challenges.

  Who here is or has been involved with someone with alzheimer’s? I am not quite sure what the difference between dementia and alzheimer’s is. I have to look into that.

  Ok, and home remodeling? How about that? And basic pet care and house keep?

  Yeah, who has time to wallow and self pity with this kind of to do list???? Right?

  Our mornings start with a bang as five asian construction guys swoop upon the little in law quarter to begin redoing the foundation. It is an older place and they are getting necessary upgrades done on the main house and the little cottage (plus a new kitchen remodel that has all kinds of corrections and unworking appliances…) where Rolla’s mom lives in back. On a Saturday.

  Every time Rolla’s mom see’s me, after minutes of my being out of sight, she inquires who I am. She asks if I am volunteering, or who has hired me. After three minutes, if I need to walk out to fetch something or tell Rolla something I will need to tell Rolla’s mom my name and that I am there to house sit while Rolla and hub are in Vegas.

  It is eye opening for me in regards to the things that some families are experiencing with their loved ones as they age.

  

  (thanks actnow.com for image)

  But Rolla’s mom is so interested in my answer and never suspicious. Always smiling and letting me tell her the circumstance again, like new. I like retelling it. Like the past thirty years since I met Rolla has stopped.   The past three minutes can be remade and new. It is Zen.

  Watering the hundred plus plants and garden area around Rolla’s lovely home every eve…my mind stops and showers all those wild flowers and coastal succullents with attention and water. I cannot ruin this. I can make this well. Zen.

  Then there are the cats…

   

  (thank you graphics2.json for image) 

  This is a cat househould. They leave the radio on an oldies station because the cats prefer it.

  It cracks me up. Rolla told me that cats like it on, but sometimes they enjoy the news, if I don’t mind switching it up. 

  Is that not the cutest thing????

  Zen entertainment. 

  I am actually in the room with the radio playing all the rockin’ oldies from mostly the seventies and late sixties to some early eighties right now. Borrowing the one computer that has consistent wifi.

  Rolla also keeps some bowls of chow chow for the neighborhood raccoons and out door stray cats. Earlier this eve thier cat, Rocky Hardman, was meowing his head off at the door. Then brushing up against the chow chow container for the wild life. I see that his bowl is full and realized that he was letting me know that his critter friends bowls were empty.

  SERIOUSLY.

  (I texted Rolla about what Rocks had done and she responded back with “Rocky likes his entertainment!”)

  Too be continued…because things always stay interesting…

  Next episode may or may not include: Getting lost, selling jewelery, making friends, loving Alameda, taking Rolla’s mom out to dinner, enjoying Alameda weather, watching hours of NCSI TV (ME?), new job and finally, getting mom’s house on the market.

  Stay tuned.

  • 3:42 am
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