Summertime

It's the beginning of summer here in Northern California, and I've felt so blessed this year with an amazingly long spring that seemed to begin back in January. For the first time, my large, blooming plant (I don't know what its called - just that it sometimes has pretty purple flowers) continued to bloom throughout the winter. Then, at the end of January, the trees in our complex began to bud... The air was often warm enough to wear a light sweater. Except for our gift of snow in December, I don't recall having to wear a heavier coat much at all (the kind that is laughingly inadequate in a Kansas winter). So in the beginning of the year it seemed that I was to have a front yard view of a longer spring... a gift, I felt, from God, who had seen us endure too many late springs that go right into the heat waves of summer.

Tabby is becoming lean again, which he doesn't need to do. At 13, I realize now that he will never fatten up, though I wish he and Sabrina could trade a few pounds. I can feel his backbone, though I know he eats well enough. I'm sure it was because of his start in life - he was starving when I found him and his sister, though it doesn't seem to have affected her in anyway. Lately Tabby has starting sleeping in my bed on a regular basis, sometimes near me. He seems to be feeling okay, so he may have just decided for the time not to be so independent in his sleeping arrangements. Sabrina doesn't seem to mind. She just snuggles up next to me as she always does, for the first few minutes.

As winter turned into spring, and spring turned into summer, our little part of the complex filled up with various neighbors. The nice man downstairs, with the tattoos, and his girlfriend who never fail to greet me if they see me when they are taking their dog for a walk. (A beautifully colored pit bull that Tabby steers clear of when he's outside). In fact, it was this couple that helped to rescue Tabby from the roof the day it rained. I'm sure it was the sight of their dog that caused him to want to get as high and far away as he could, leaving him too afraid to jump back down. He knows his bones are older now, and that getting down would not be as easy as getting up. I've exchanged smiles with the young lady who lives kitty corner from me. She and her (boyfriend? brother?) are always very polite. Brandon of course continues to befriend Tabby when he sees him. It seems that Tabby is a regular visitor at his house, as well as in Mary's backyard. I don't think Tabby has ever met Teri or Edith's kitties, since they are indoors. I met Edith's cat once when she invited me to visit, and we shared a pleasant half hour as her kitty rubbed against my legs and purred. Edith is sweet... as I left she smiled, saying, "Come back anytime, honey." That's what's neat about the neighbors here. All are friendly, though never overbearing. We have a new neighbor now, one who knew someone from my former church. (Kara recognized me and said hello one day when she was helping to move my across the way neighbor in. Her mother and I sat near each other in the soprano section of our choir).

My new neighbor has two kitties who look similar to Tabby... Sabrina has seen them in the house a couple of times, when I let them in (because they were curious) but I made sure to stay close in case she decided to become bossy. Tabby seemed to get along with them okay, but lately has become territorial with the male kitty. I've tried using his "nice kitty" drops, but so far they've only succeeded in giving him extra long naps... he's never even encountered Scottie since I've given them to him. I gave him half a does today, and now he's resting comfortably on my bed, no neighbor kitty in sight. So I will probably just need to remain diligent in listening for his occasionally cranky outbursts from outside. He has to learn that they both live here, and that they will need to share the steps and the patio.

The kitties are both resting more these days, and sometimes when I glance at them I am also tempted to want to crawl back in bed. Yet I don't dare give into it... It's been almost two years that I've been unemployed, and I can't risk becoming discouraged and wanting to sleep my days away. Thankfully God has given me plenty to do and I'm never bored. (Cooking, cleaning, organizing, creating, reading, watching over my new little plants, enjoying favorite shows and movies - along with searching the internet for employment, of course. I'll wait for next winter to arrive before I use the excuse to curl up in my soft comforter. For now, I need to continue going through everything that used to be in storage, so that I'll be ready when and if the kitties and I have a new adventure someday. I want to be prepared - whether I have a new roommate, or if my circumstances change, as they sometimes do. When one is trusting in God, they never know what the future may hold. And that, serves to keep my faith interesting. Anything is possible with God. Anything.