Notes from the Edge

I decided to go back a year in time to my blog from late October, early November of last year. I hope you enjoy a little humor…

FRED THE CAT

I mentioned Fred the cat the last time I wrote. Here is the story of Fred the Cat.

When I came home I ended up her with my Mother helping her, My Aunt Ellie and my Uncle Carl. It seemed the perfect situation. They needed help, I needed to help and ease myself back into life after ten years in prison.

I rehabbed this entire house about twelve years ago, but over the years things have slid. Three people in their seventies can not keep up the maintenance that needs to be performed on a house as it ages. What does this have to do with Fred? Hold on, I mentioned the early dementia, or stroke stuff, I’ll get there.

So, here I am trying to fix up the house again. One of the thing s that had happened was that racoons had found their way into an old chimney, broken through that into a utility area, found their way into a dropped ceiling in my Mothers living room, and dropped down into her lap (Practically) while she was watching T.V. , with her cats, and all Hell broke loose. Well, maybe not all of Hell actually broke loose but I would say a good deal of it did.

The Cats were upset, or as we say here in the north country, pissed off. The Racoons believed, like Christopher Columbus maybe, that they had discovered this new place, therefor it was theirs. They did not try to make peace, however, with the natives like good old Chris did with my people (Before he stuck it to us, that is…. Just want to keep the record straight). No. The Racoons believed that both the Cats and my Mother should move.

Fortunately Racoons do not always have good access to legal representation, and these were no exception. So as a result my Brother-In-Law Harry came and sent them on their way and closed up the area they had been coming in through. No problem. My Mother lived happily ever after. The Cats basked in the Sunshine, and I came home to a secure well maintained home. No.

Cats are curious about everything. They are probably even curious about other animals or people, besides themselves, but they would probably never admit that though. So, instead of leaving well enough alone, the Cats decided to find out why the Racoons had gotten in, and how, and if a Cat could do it to, and then of course one cat probably dared the other, and so while one held the flashlight the other pried off the fix and got into the chimney. Oh what wonder! What absolute Joy! A way to get in and out of the house without having to use the door (Cats love things like this). And so the cats had their way in and out. Up the roof, into the old chimney, down the chimney, out the broken block that used to vent the furnace, drop right down on the furnace and then spring out of the utility room as soon as the door opened. My mother, who loves Cats, decided in her wisdom that since the cats had worked this out she should help them along by leaving the utility room door open. Oh those were happy cats (I assume).

Then I came home and the first thing I did was shut up the hole. That was how I met Fred. Fred was the only cat still able to find a way in and out, and Fred did not believe I had a say in it, and, well, as it turned out Fred was right. I blocked every hole I could find and Fred found some new way in. Finally, one late afternoon, I came into the Kitchen after working all day on closing the roof line up and any other spot I could find, and announced to Mom that the house was a cat free zone now. The utility door bumped open and Fred sauntered by me to the food bowl Mom had put down for him. She had more faith in the cat than me, well placed too.

That is how I met Fred. I just declared a truce. I thought, this rough and tumble cat beat me fair and square, he can stay.

Fred seemed like a Male cat. He acted like a male cat. He chased the female cats around, corralled them (Cats do that, perfectly fine behaviors for them. I would not recommend you try that at home) So, I assumed Fred was a male cat.

SURPRISE!!!

Fred is not a boy cat at all. Not only is Fred not a boy cat. Yes, this means I had to give him a quick exam. Have you ever had a cat jump up on your lap and turn around and stick their butt in your face? Sure you have. Cat’s do that all the time. They think you Want to see their butt. Okay, it was at one of these times that I noticed Fred was not anatomically equipped to be a boy cat. Right, Fred was missing a few things and had a few things he shouldn’t have had.

“Hey, Ma!” I yelled. “Fred’s not a boy cat!”

“You’re a quick thinker,” Mom said. “I told you he might not be.”

“Might not be,” I said defensively.

“Well I guess I can change that to definitely isn’t,” Mom said and went back to watching General Hospital.

What could I say. Fred cocked her head back to me as if to ask if I got a good enough look. Cat’s are such smart asses, then jumped down and sauntered away.

End of story, except, Fred is looking distinctly fat… Fatter. Mom and I have come to a consensus, Fred the cat is probably pregnant. I said, “Well I thought Fred was just hanging out with those male cats ’cause they were his buddies!”

“Oh, they were her buddies alright,” Mom said wisely…

…

That was written nearly a year ago. It’s crazy to think it was really a year ago, because so much has changed since then. In November last year, a year ago today, my Uncle passed away here at home. Two months ago my Aunt passed away. Fred went out one day and never came back. The house has been completely ripped apart and much of it is done now. The blog listed my first Earth’s Survivors book, the first book I published, as nearly ready to publish. It actually had to wait until January of this year. Since then I’ve done four books in the series.

The Earth’s Survivors (10 book series) Kindle Edition

And several other projects too.

http://www.amazon.com/Wendell-Sweet/e/B00B6QPHNM

Thursday quite a bit of the last year was going through my head, and it made me even more grateful that I had so much to be grateful for. Taking the time to think about it made me realize how important the people I love are to me, and how meaningless the world is without those people. I don’t think I ever really stopped and was thankful in my youth for how much I had. I’m glad I see it now.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the holiday season, I’ll be back next weekend…

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Home: https://www.books.wendellsweet.com

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