Bird-staring

String-swiping

Treat-devouring

Pet

Furniture-leaping

Carpet-scratching

Lap-snuggling

Pet

Hallway-zooming

Acrobatic-loving

Fine fur-shedding

Pet

Personality plus galore

Greets me at the door

My heart will adore

Forevermore

My highlight today was talking on the phone with a friend for two hours. Usually during school breaks we like to go out for breakfast and catch up. At the end today’s conversation we decided we could do something novel the next time we talk: FaceTime! (She recently purchased an IPhone.)

I don’t know what tomorrow’s highlight will be but I know it’s worth it to call a friend.

Today I finished reading a book that I started earlier in the week: The Priory of the Orange Tree. It was over 750 pages – every page a step away from our current reality. It was filled with magic, dragons, friendship and strife.

I’d much rather be with dragons than a world with a virulent virus.

Havarti cheese on multigrain toast

Savor the artisanal bread with every chew

Apple and blackberries for dessert.

Simple meal but satisfying

Imagine a toddler strapped into a high chair.

A wiggling wriggling toddler, that doesn’t really want to be there.

You exasperatingly spoon food into his mouth only to have him spit it out.

Food plonks onto the tray table and dribbles down his bib.

You patiently wipe it all up and try again.

Now replace that image of the toddler with a cat.

A 15 pound cat

A wiggling wily cat

A cat that most certainly does not want to be there

But instead of having a high chair, with the blessed strap to hold him down and anchor him in place, you have your arms.

And a syringe of antibiotics that you are to administer by mouth

This said cat has previously been acquainted with said antibiotics from last summer.

His memory is sharp.

He did not like this rodeo last time around.

He stares daggers at you.

He does acrobatics fit to qualify him to be a member of Cirque du Soleil, all in the name of evading you.

At last you have him pinioned, rapidly squirt antibiotics into his mouth and breath a sigh of relief that it is done.

But wait!

That relief is short lived.

Cat has payback.

Cat chomps his jaws open and shut, open and shut.

Spit drools down.

You dash to get a paper towel.

Meanwhile cat bolts.

Spittle flies from mouth, landing on sofa, pillows, chairs

He dashes through the living room fleet of foot

Leaving a trail of slime on carpet

By this time he has worked up a lather of regurgitated liquid

Masking his mouth and frothing down his chest

You make a dive

He evades you

You yell “Hey froth face!”

You tackle him paper towel in hand.

Wiping his maw, goo be gone.

Next up, armored with a fist full of paper towels, you wipe down his flight path.

Inwardly sighing that this is your life for the next six days, twice a day.

Froth face follies.

I received a phone call this morning from a friend that works in health. To say that she sounded stressed is an understatement. “Everyone is so busy saving lives.” I can’t imagine the residual trauma she is facing. I felt at a loss how to help her, except to be a compassionate witness.

I knew she needed a pick me up, some compassion, and reassurance. I wish I could do it in person (she is limiting contact outside of work).

I pondered during the day what I could do for her. I decided to send her some sunshine – a bright and vibrant bouquet of flowers that would bring a smile to her face. Lo and behold I went online and found a bouquet aptly named Sunshine Bouquet (at Costco no less!)

I am taking pleasure in anticipating her joy in receiving a surprise bouquet of flowers. I also feel grateful that she will know by this small token that she is valued and appreciated. In my eyes she is a healthcare hero, which I said as much on the gift card.

I’d much rather she receive a bouquet of flowers when she is alive and can appreciate them, rather than if she were dead and I sent them for the memorial.

Celebrate your loved ones while they are alive.

Just today

My city, Vancouver, declared a state of emergency

Just today

My Prime Minister advises all Canadians to stay home.

Just today

My province, British Columbia, declared a state of emergency.

But

I headed out to see my physiotherapist,

a specialist,

that helps to keep my chronic pain in check.

She is a lifeline.

Grateful that I was able to see her today. Tomorrow she suspends service.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

I thought wrong. I thought shopping first thing in the morning would be quiet.

I headed out first thing this morning to get some groceries and stock up on pet supplies.

9 am I was inside Pet Smart. Canned cat food and extra kitty litter. Check.

Quiet, quick, and out the door.

Next stop Costco – 9:10 am on a Tuesday morning. The parking lot was full, cars looping around trying to find parking. It felt ominous. I made my way indoors to the return counter. That was speedy.

Next I ventured into the heart of the store. My anxiety shot up. Throngs of people, easily more than 250 dispersed throughout the store. I slither through the store, IKEA bag on shoulder, not encumbered by a grocery cart.

I toss in bottles of supplements, salad, berries, and a chicken pot pie. I grab a copy of Quick Tax on my way to the cashier. Hand the cashier my rebate check, get the change, head out to the car.

Get home, toss clothes in wash, take shower, put groceries away.

Crash on the sofa, frazzled, and out of sorts.

My sanity savers appear. I focus on them and become grounded.

You’ll never guess who I ran into today while grocery shopping.

I popped in to pick up a few things. The store was busy – people were stocking up. Scooting around picking up grapes, oranges, cheese and a baguette I noticed several customers wearing masks. One gentleman had wrapped the handles of his basket with a plastic bag. I was using my own grocery bag instead of a basket.

I made my way to the cashier. The customer in front of me was purchasing two humongous bags of rice, about 20 pounds each. Leaving the store I mused people were reacting to the pandemic in their own way. All of a sudden I stopped in my tracks.

I smiled and chuckled. Who did I see? No other than Darth Vader entering the store. This customer took masking seriously. No ordinary mask. He invoked the head of Darth Vader!

May the Force be with you on evading COVID 19.

You know that feeling when you are hankering for something just to hit the spot?

Well for the past couple of days I had that. This morning I made myself a breakfast that was just right.

Toast made just right.

The toast toasted perfectly – a light golden brown (not done to the point where it becomes a desiccated cracker).

Eggs made just right.

The whites cooked yet the yolks are still slightly runny for dipping into the toast.

Bacon just right.

Thick sliced bacon, neither overcooked to cinders, nor undercooked with raw patches. Succulent slices of ambrosia.

All combined makes a breakfast sandwich which in sum is more than just all right.

I hope the rest of the day is alright. That the news feed is alright. But I have an impending sense of doom: we are heading for Italy. The world is not alright.

For the moment, I am alright and need to focus on my just right meal.

Delicious.