Goodbye Sweet Girl
The girl who started it all is gone now. My elder shelter cat, Rory, with the butterscotch colored diamond on the top of her sweet little head brought me good luck. She lifted my spirts, which helped me try new things. I’d wanted to learn more about technology, so I started the blog. Like many, I’d fully intended to post regularly. But life got in the way, and life has been difficult. I will explain a little bit. I do hope to return to my original intention of blogging.
I adopted Rory, named by the shelter staff for her habit of meowing so loudly that it sounded like a roar, in summer of 2018. She was estimated to be twelve years old and obviously had some health issues. It looked like she simply might be malnourished from being abandoned. The health issues turned out to be more significant, but I had a great vet who helped us work through what we could. I believe we kept Rory very comfortable for the time I had her. I’d attributed Rory’s good luck to bringing me a new work experience. It’s been good, but stressful. I joined a large department and learning the ropes was difficult. There is a giant, sticky web of policy and politics where I work. Learning the policy and when to work around it was challenging and the pace is fast. Yet, it was a fun kind of stress to be exercising my brain so much. Two months after starting the job I went on the most fun trip of my life and my spirits were high. But the day after I returned, I learned that one of my oldest and dearest friends had died suddenly. She was in another city and we’d always talked about finding time to get away from work to visit. It didn’t happen often enough, hardly ever, and we were hoping that we could spend our retirement doing this. Facing that this plan will not happen was sad. A few months later I had a doozy of a retina tear, and then my dad went into the hospital two days later. He and his medical team spent a week fighting for his heart to work, but God had different plans. This sent my life on a different path, moving into my mom’s home because I’d promised my dad that I would take care of her.
Rory and I had been at my mom’s house since July of 2019. My mom has lung disease and manages well, somewhat. But she should not live alone. She and Rory were great company for each other, and the adoration was mutual. Rory had health issues and my mom helped monitor her closely so we could continue to make her comfortable. Making room for me and Rory in my mom’s house has been a challenge. This is what’s taken much of my time. I sold my house in February of 2020. I’m still working on fitting myself and my sewing paraphernalia into my mom’s house. I had a three-bedroom house with bonus room. She has a two-bedroom house with a sunroom. Transitioning to a work from home scenario put the sewing room plans on hold. I’m still working on a set-up that will allow for both. I will probably be working from home a good amount of time through at least 2021.
Today I just wanted to pay homage to the sweet little cat who inspired my blog name. She will be my last cat. My previous cat, Claire Louise, should have been my last, as my allergist informed me that my allergy had returned. My allergies are serious. I’ve completed my third experience of desensitization injection therapy, and still have enough issues that I know the smartest thing is to not get another cat. This time I will obey the doctor. I guess the good news is that I will have a bit more freedom, to go away for a few days and not worry about the care of a special needs cat.
I hope to soon share some posts about my creative adventures. A new year is coming, and I am hopeful that life will be a little more flexible in the coming months. I will miss our sweet Rory but am grateful for the time we had with her.
