Weekend Open Thread: Gratitude
This was a hard week for me, and the weekend is definitely welcomed. Miles, who was diagnosed with diabetes last week, took a sudden turn for the worse Sunday night/Monday morning. He and our other cat, Simone, stopped eating and drinking. I think they picked up some virus or maybe ate something contaminated — I’m not sure. Simone, strong an an ox, trucked though it, but by Wednesday, Miles still wasn’t eating or drinking and his already-stressed body started breaking down.
I took him to the vet immediately and she told us he was in really bad shape and may not make it through the weekend. She said we should consider putting him down, which was shocking and devastating news to hear (he’s only 6! He was fine a few days ago!). But we went with another option: taking him home, starting him on insulin right away and seeing if we could nurse him back to health. I stayed up with him all night long. The next day was my birthday and I couldn’t stand the idea of going to sleep and waking up to him not being there anymore. It was a long night to say the least. He was so sick and I thought I was watching him die.
Well, I am so, so relieved and grateful to say that Miles has made a dramatic improvement in the last 24 hours. He’s eating and drinking again and we’ve taken him to the vet twice in the last day for IV fluids, to which he is responding remarkably well. Though he’s not out of the woods yet, he has light and life back in his eyes, and I couldn’t be happier to see it.
I’m filled with a lot of gratitude and hope today and thought I’d make this weekend’s open thread topic about just that — gratitude. Let’s focus on positivity for a couple of days! What are you grateful for?
Love the idea of a gratitude thread. I think it’s such a nice escape from the usual daily complaining over traffic, headaches, etc. When I was a kid, my mom would put me and my siblings to bed with a prayer and we each had to name 3 things we were grateful for that day. I’ve turned that into a bit of a tradition now that I have a kid of my own. It really is something that has stuck with me and often I’ll find myself looking around my home thinking of all I have to be grateful for in life. Enjoy your weekend!
Thats a great idea 🙂 We do it on some holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter), but not every day. We should start that. Right now we ask the kids the same question at dinner every night: “What was your favorite part of today?” Turns out, sometimes they think about it all day at school or wherever they are just so they have a good answer.
That’s so cute that they sometimes think about it all day! We don’t always get to have a sit-down dinner 🙁 but I love the idea of asking what the best part of the day was. My kid isn’t very forthcoming with details, so when I have to pull them out, I’ll ask best/worst part of the day.
Oh Miles! I am so glad to hear he is doing better… and you are a champ of a Mom to have stayed up with him all night. I love the topic of this post – an excellent day to kick off the weekend. I spent some time in India when I was very young (decades ago, conditions were pretty rough), and I always thought people in this part of the world had so much to be grateful for. Then again, I get bogged down too – by focusing on bus schedules and job shenanigans and the trials and tribulations typical to my (our) decade of women. I am most grateful for
– having a few minutes to type this out before heading home
– my job, it’s pretty great
– my new sweater with a fake furry trim thing,
– my body, which treats me well despite what I did to it in my twenties
– my brain, which is happy more often than not, which I think is a gift
– being in a point in my life where I am stable, and have it in me to support the people who spent so long supporting me
– Brownies and my Kindle, which are waiting for me at home. A good way to spend a Friday night while my fella is out with an old friend. Before I read this and started writing I was feeling a little cranky about not being included…now I’m thinkin’ it’s not so bad. Thanks for posting something that shifted my thoughts this Friday afternoon! Have a lovely weekend Wendy!
I am grateful my (adult) children are healthy & not in jail. Seriously. 🙂 If anyone has read any of my posts you will understand! Hope you get some much needed rest over this weekend, Wendy.
Food trucks. Not deep, I know. But every Friday, there’s a plethora right outside my building. I had a delicious, hot lunch from one and a 3:00 chocolate fix from another.
And now, my boss is playing 80s music on her computer in our super conservative office to round out our work week. We’re considered the rebels.
It’s the small things that make me appreciate life.
SO feeling your food truck love! My city only has four (yes, only four) of them, but they get together once a month for a food druck festival. Much awesomeness abounds.
I’m very grateful and proud of my husband. He was going though a bit of a mid-life crisis regarding his webcomic, but he persevered and he was open-minded to consider bringing his webcomic to print form for a brief moment to distribute to a local comic book/hip-hop convention that started this year. It really exposed him to areas of our home city that he was not aware of – and now he is interested in exploring!
druck = I meant TRUCK. The food is not drucky at all. It’s SO delish!
I live in the capital city of our state and work right downtown. On the “square” (4 blocks surrounding the capitol), we always have awesome food trucks, trailers, and stands. I’m always thrilled when it warms up and they come back out after the winter. We only have 1 or 2 that stick around during the ridiculous winter months.
I’ll take this opportunity to say I’m grateful for dearwendy.com. In light of all the back-and-forth I read in the comments of another post, I just want to say, Wendy, what makes this site so so so so much better than any other is your thoughtful responses, all the commenters’ thoughful responses, and the sense of community we have here. Other sites get run down with crass commenters that have nothing better to do than stink up the whole place with their crude, inconsiderate comments. Dearwendy is not like that. It’s clear that you put in a lot of time and effort in helping the LW – and we all benefit from that. So thanks. And do what you gotta do to keep this site that way!
Seconded! (no thumbing available?)
I think we should just have a “Like” button the way a lot of other sites do. That way we can all encourage each other without the negativity of thumbs down. But that’s just my own opinion.
I “like” that idea 🙂 but I also like skimming through to see the controversial comments that turn blue. Admittedly, it gets under my skin seeing so many thumbs down for my posts and other nice ones. Usually with no explanation. Sometimes I think people simply remember my user name from a comment in a past thread and just thumb me down regardless of the post. Maybe I’m just paranoid though. I do hope it gets nicer on here than in recent weeks and maybe your suggestion is another answer to that in addition to the rules Wendy has implemented today. Either way, I’m glad to have become a commented after being just a reader since the launch.
Yes, I do feel like people develop personal vendettas against other commenters and then simply thumb down whatever they say regardless of content.
True. no more Piranhas !
The problem with that is that someone can say something mean and negative and then other people can “like” that. I’m trying to decrease the ways in which negativity on this site can spread. We’ll see how things go for a while and maybe in a few weeks i’ll add a like button. Right now, I really just want to get rid of some of the negative voices that have been plaguing things around here.
Ugh, you’re right! Maybe best to eliminate it all together. Or, maybe there’s a way to show names of the thumbs downers. Well, finally leaving work!
No don’t eliminate!!! I know its tacky or whatever, but I love when I get thumbs up. It makes me so happy!
I understand! You run a really great site Wendy. I’m grateful to be part of this community!
I’m very glad you’re trying to eliminate some of the negativity, Wendy. From the beginning I’ve loved that you’ve created this site to be supportive of those who write in to you–even when what they really need is a kick in the pants. You are awesome at helping open people’s eyes and asking the questions they really need to think about. In the past week or two I’ve noticed that people have lost sight of that and some have just put down the letter writers. I’m sure that has just added stress on top of raging pregnancy hormones and a sick kitty. 🙁 Know that people come back to your site time and time again because we appreciate the work that you’ve put into it.
I think just a thumbs up with no thumbs down would really be a positive force to the site. I always hated thumbs down.
I think we’ll probably go to a simple “like” button but I want to give it a week or two to sort of clear out the negative energy and make sure the shit-stirrers are no longer lingering about before I put one up.
Wendy, can we still say things like “bag of dicks” and “pussy”? Because sometimes those are the only appropriate words to use.
You know it.
Getting rid of negativity is always an honorable cause 🙂 Sometimes I wish more people would pay attention to that idea.
That’s too bad. For one the thumbs are a quick way to sort out what might be worth reading and what’s worth skipping. In a busy day, that’s a great time savor.
For another I’ve been surprised by thumbs down in the past. That said, a thread with controversy sometimes is indicative of a hot topic and that’s worth having. It’s not always cut and dry MOA world out there. If it were, there never would be such a large body of artistic work dedicated to the love after all.
That’s so sweet. Thank you!
Thirded.
Thirded.
Thirded.
Oh Miles!
I am grateful for my cat Ginger. She’s laying beside me right now, looking lovingly into my eyes and purring. No matter what happens in my life, and the decisions I make, she’s always here loving me to bits.
🙂
Good luck Miles, hang in there!
Poor kitty. I’m glad he’s doing better. What an awful scare!
I am grateful for my Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in so many ways, including blessing me with my daughter and a good job.
I’m very thankful for my family and husband. And for my two dogs who make me laugh every day when I come home from work and always greet me with kisses and hugs (my one dog really gives hugs, he’s a shelter dog and i think he just needs to feel safe). I’m blessed with a very great life that I need to remember to be more thankful for 🙂
And I’m glad Miles is feeling better. It’s so scary and a very helpless feeling when your pets are sick. I hope he gets lots of relaxing and loving in this weekend!
My one dog gives hugs too! 🙂 If you don’t hug her when you get home, she gets her feelings hurt, haha.
I’m so thankful for my cats. I look at them and just feel so overwhelmed with love and joy and happiness. They greet me everyday at the door when I get home from work, roll on their backs and look up at me, waiting for a tummy tickle. They lay on top of me when I’m on the couch reading or watching tv; one on my chest and one on my stomach. They sleep close to me every night, one on each side.
My older cat traveled back and forth with me between Ottawa and Toronto for a whole year while I was going to school, and was such enormous comfort to me when I was away from home, lonely and depressed. She’s been with me through two breakups.
My little one, a Siamese, is so full of spunk and energy and personality. She makes me laugh out loud on a daily basis. Always getting into something silly!!
My cats make me so happy, I am just really grateful to have them in my life. I’m also grateful for a wonderful mom, who is not just a mom but my Mama and my very best friend in the world.
Oh and I’m grateful for nieces and nephews who run at me with arms wide open for hugs. And a little one that puts her head on my shoulder when I pick her up. It makes me feel so good to be loved like that.
The weekend…I know….lame…but so in the forefront of my mind.
Very sweet idea for an Open Thread Wendy, and glad to hear that Miles is recuperating! I’m currently contemplating adopting a kitten from a friend’s cat’s new litter, and it’s good to hear about the reality of the ups and downs of raising and loving an animal.
I’m grateful that my birthday is tomorrow and I have a few fun weekend plans to celebrate (yay!). I’m grateful for amazing and involved parents who both called to ensure my safety during last night’s crazy San Diego black-out. I’m grateful for the things I’ve learned about life and the peace I’ve found within myself in the past few years. I’m grateful for places like this site where people can communicate and exchange ideas respectfully and learn from each other.
Thank you universe!
Happy Birthday fellow Virgo!!!
Thank you!
Kittens are little miracles 🙂
I am 90% sure I will be adopting him… your comment above was very encouraging in favor of doing so!
Anybody have any general tips on raising a kitten BTW? I’ve never done so before, and I know very little about cats…
I got my youngest cat when he was about 4 months old (still a kitten but not that young). General tip: watch out for the claws! I got accidentally clawed constantly when we played until he was full grown. It seemed like he couldn’t retract his claws all the way until he was about a year old.
I love cats and kittens, they always have such interesting personalities!
Kittens scratch a lot, and there’s not a whole lot you can do about it because they are still very little and don’t yet know the difference between nice play and rough play. Be wary of scratched up hands!
If the kitten is very little when you bring it home (like anything less than 12 weeks), it’s best to confine it to one area of the house for a few days until it gets used to things. Slowly let it begin to explore on it’s own, day by day.
Begin training them right away before they develop bad habits. My Siamese climbs the drapes and now that she’s a year old I can’t seem to get her to stop. It’s ok to say “NO!” and tap them on the nose with a finger when they are being bad.
They need to be spayed/neutered usually around 6-8 months. They will likely need 3 sets of shots and de-worming medicine. This can get pricey 🙁 You should also give it food specific for kittens, they need the extra fat and nutrients as they grow up.
But, they are very very silly and adorable to watch as they play. Kittens will honestly find amusement in anything! They are so soft and cuddly purry and sweet that you can’t even be mad at them when they chew through the straps of your brand new $120 shoes (sigh… lol)
But no matter the hassle, kittens are definitely worth it 🙂 I wish you best of luck!
Yes, I have heard about the claws, not looking forward to that part. Should be quite an adventure though…
Thanks guys!
They have tiny needle like claws that enable them to climb right up your leg and into your heart. Heavy denim long leg jeans are the only option to avoid scars on your legs. This stage doesn’t last long, by the time they’re 3 months old they’ll stop that and find something else to climb. Although I’ve never tried it some folks claim it you put them in the freezer at night they’ll stay little longer. Same goes for human babies so they say. 😉
They don’t sleep through the night. Just so you know.
i would say to be careful when you play with them, meaning that you don’t let them develop the habit of playing with bare hands, feet, ect… anything that when they are in adulthood, you dont want them playing with. as much as everyone up there said that they have sharp nails, kitten nails are NOTHING compared to adult nails. so just make sure you play with them in the right ways, and then also make sure you aren’t rough with them- then they will learn either to be afraid of you, or they will learn that they can be rough back, which again, isn’t something you want them doing when they get big.
i say this from experience… lol. we got 2 cats when they were kittens when I was younger, and i played very roughly with my cat, mickey… well now, he is huge and he thinks that he can still play like he used to when he was a kitten, and is a little mean too. so just be careful. think of what you are doing in the context of how they see it, not how you think your doing something, if that makes any sense, lol.
So true! I’ve always been very gentle with my kittens, and they have all grown up to be gentle cats. I’ve had friends who’ve made the mistake of playIng with kittens the same way they would play with a puppy, and this can result in a rough, aggressive cat.
I don’t know if this is legit or an old wives’ tale, but when you pick out your kitten, pick one that will let you play with/hold their paw for a couple of seconds. I’ve always done this and I’ve ended up with sweet kitties, but maybe I’m just very blessed.
Don’t let him think of your hands as toys! Otherwise you will get scratched and bitten. I told this to my boyfriend when we got our cat, he chose to ignore my advice. Now Niko is 2 years old and will rip his hands to shreds when they play rough, but not me! He’ll go to bite, realise it’s me and give me a little lick instead, it’s really cute 🙂 As someone else said, don’t be afraid to tell him off and give him a tap on the nose if he’s doing something you don’t want or he’ll never learn.
I’d also say introduce him to plenty of people, one or two at a time. If he gets used to being around people then he should grow up to be a sociable, friendly cat. Then if you need someone else to look after him for a few days it’s not a problem.
Finally kittens are wonderful creatures, although it doesn’t last long, he’ll be a cat before you know it, so enjoy it as much as you can while you can! Good luck 🙂
Happy birthday! And good luck with the kitty if you decide to take him/her home. Pets bring so much joy to one’s life. Yes, it sucks donkey balls seeing them get sick or knowing that you will outlive them — in that sense they’re like bringing home a heartbreak waiting to happen — but to enjoy them for the years you have them is worth it, I think.
Have fun!
I’m very happy that Miles has improved. They might be animals, but they are still our babies. I hope you have a lovely and drama free weekend ahead of you.
For my family – without my mom, sister, and cousins (my three “might as well be siblings”), I would be very lost.
For my cats – the Fuzzy Bunch is what I call them, Cal, Bucky, and Muffin. They are pure love and entertainment on 12 paws. (So glad Miles is pulling through, BTW. Here’s hoping he stays strong and healthy.)
For the ability to write – I’ve been using my FB page, poetry and my own blog to vent, reflect, laugh, and think out loud. It’s a great release.
For life itself – this weekend we’ll be remembering so many who lost theirs needlessly. Here’s hoping everyone takes a second and remembers to honor their own, and the lives of loved ones still with us (or on the way).
Oh I am so glad your kitties are doing better!
I’m so very grateful for my new job that doesn’t require me to work 70 hours a week during busy season and actually let’s me take off labor day. I’m grateful for my wonderful fiancé, our kitties and our families. And last, I’m very grateful for the massage I’m about to get and have been waiting for all week!
I’m grateful that radiation therapy is drastically improving my grandmother’s energy and quality of life. I’m grateful for my loving boyfriend, who makes my life less stressful. And I’m trying really hard to be grateful for my dissertation committee, who are really great about providing constructive feedback, and who are invested in helping me to improve the quality of my work.
Super happy that Miles is on the mend and hope it continues.
I’m grateful for the advances in medicine that make illness and disease treatable in those that we love both 2 and 4 legged ones. My wife is transitioning from private health insurance to medicare, which doesn’t cover quite as much (she takes 28 pills every day) but we’re able to handle the additional expense and I’m truly grateful that such is the case.
Lilly Pad, Cuddles & Little Bit all say “meow”
translation:
Hang in there Miles, get well cause you’ve got to help take care of Wendy’s baby.
So glad Miles has made an improvement! I’ll keep him in my thoughts this weekend.
I’m grateful for my mental health. I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I broke up with my boyfriend of 2+ years 2 weeks ago today, and I’m grateful for the friends, family and distractions that have helped me cope surprisingly well. The relationship didn’t end badly, and he’s a wonderful person, but I came to realize that it wasn’t right for the long haul for either of us in a few key ways. I’m grateful for the opportunity to find the right person for me, and for the opportunity to keep learning about myself and relationships in general.
I’m also grateful for my dog, Abby. She turned 13 over a week ago, and I’m amazed at how much she has experienced with me. We got her when I was 10, and now I’m 23. She’s been a best friend and loving companion for my childhood, adolescence, and now into my adulthood. She’s never judged me, always given me love and affection, and never let me down.
And I’m so grateful for the opportunity to move into my new apartment in a few weeks! I’ve bought some really nice furniture, have planned out the design of everything, and am really excited to start living in my first “grown up” place. I’ve been living at home for the year since I graduated college, and I’m grateful that I was able to do that – I saved a lot of money, spent time with my parents as an adult, and really learned a lot about life and being an adult. It’s the right time to part ways, and I’m very excited about the next phase of my life.
Breakups hurt. I’m glad to hear that you’re doing ok.
I’m sorry for your loss. Enjoy this upcoming free time for what it is!
Oh man, that sucks (about the breakup). Hang in there, darlin’.
Thanks, all. It does suck right now, but being in a relationship that I knew deep down wasn’t going to last sucked more. Being on the fence and trying to make it work, when it just wasn’t, was unbelievably difficult. But after making the decision, I may be upset for the present, but I feel more at peace now. Which I guess means it was the right thing to do, however hard.
Oh, RR, I’m sorry about the breakup. Those are the worst 🙁 Hang in there- I know you know it, but it never hurts to hear it again: You will feel better soon 🙂
Yay for the new apartment!!! I’m in the same boat – living at home for the last year since I got my BA – but expecting a place of my own very, very soon.
And props for making the hard, but “for the best,” decision. You will be fine. 🙂
Great idea, Wendy! So glad Miles seems to be on the mend.
I’m grateful for my students. This is going to be a really rough year for me, but I’ve got some incredible kids that are totally going to pull me through. Already I had a little 7th grader poke her head in my room during my off period to say hi and give me a hug. And then I chaperoned a school dance which was so worth the hour of my time in laughs. One of my boys did the Cuban Shuffle with me, and I have some hilarious co-workers who were totally willing to learn.
I’m also grateful for a boyfriend who loves me and whom I not just love but genuinely like. I know I probably bore people silly with our stories, but it’s so nice to be able to talk about my SO with such affection and happiness, as opposed to irritation and frustration.
we love you miles and wendy <3 and simone! best wishes.
dunno what the DW community would do without those Dear Miles sections…
I’m so glad to hear that Miles is doing better! I can’t have any pets currently in my apartment, but I’ve always loved my cats and dogs. Some of the most devastating losses in my childhood were pets. They really are family members.
As for me, I am grateful to be off work for a couple days, grateful for my awesome friends, and for my local liquor store for supplying my awesome friends and I with supplies to make margaritas 🙂
I wish i had awesome friends. 🙁
I like this theme! I’m glad to hear Miles is coming back. I would be a wreck if my cat were going through something like that.
Speaking of which, I’m grateful for my own little three-legged furball and the endless entertainment he provides. I’m also grateful for my friends- the few true ones I have, where we can talk about anything and trust that we won’t judge each other.
Can I also say that I’m grateful that after an insanely long dry spell, I have a date this Sunday? With someone I’ve liked for a while?
Well, first of all I am grateful that Miles is doing better! I think that dealing with a sick pet is one of the hardest things people have to do, because they can’t *tell* you what’s wrong. Yet they still look to you to make them feel better.
So I am also grateful for my four-legged baby, Shakespeare. In about two weeks I will have had her for a year. I got her right after I lost my sick kitten. She saw me through my breakup six weeks ago, she has been a great sport about being dragged from place to place any time I go away for more than three days, and she is slowly coming to terms with having two new feline roommates. I guess she, like me, thinks the bigger space is worth having to share a few things 😉
I am grateful for my family for being so supportive and loving, even though I moved so far away from home that I sometimes feel I abandoned them. They have never once said anything to make me feel that way, and they have dropped everything to be there for me whenever I need them.
I am grateful that I’ve recently started talking to someone who has helped to restore my hope for the future. After my breakup I was pretty depressed for weeks and weeks. And even though circumstances would make it extremely difficult, unlikely, and A Bad Idea to get romantically involved with this person, just talking to him has been restorative.
So I guess, overall, I am glad that as of yesterday I am starting to feel like my old self again. I don’t feel run-down, or depressed, or hopeless anymore. I have, finally, regained my positive attitude and my ability to look on the bright side. I know that these things are cyclical, and not every day will be this good, but I am still grateful for today. 🙂
Wendy, bless you for taking such excellent cares of Miles! I’m so glad he’s doing better. I hope he’ll be here giving out sage advice for years to come.
Aww, Wendy- I am sorry to hear about Miles, but I’m glad he’s recovering. I love my dog like she’s my child that when she got a cold last year, I fell apart lol I hope he makes a 100% recovery in the next few days!
I am grateful…
(speaking of pets) that my parents dog is defying odds is alive and kicking close to two months after being told by the vet “that he should be put down and wouldn’t make it through the night”. He has some kind of life threatening tumor that causes no pain but once it ruptures will kill him. He’s 13 and is my dad’s best friend, so I’m grateful for every day he makes it through, because I have no clue what they’re going to do on the day he finally does pass on.
my husband. I had horrible mood swings all week (damn you PMS) and felt like crying everyday. I came home yesterday to an array of chocolate and candy, and a back massage, no questions ask. It’s days like this that I just feel horrible for the random things I get mad at him for that are so little (leaving a drop of milk in the carton and putting it back in the fridge, grrr haha)
my friends and family. I lost a few friends this year ( I was the LW who wrote in about a MOH problem earlier in the summer). It was for the best, the friendships were highly toxic and really draining me. All my friends and family rallied around me and were just incredible. I don’t even know how I plan on making it up to them, but I owe them so, so much.
oh i am so glad that your little kitty is doing better! your a good mom for staying up with him- im sure that had something to do with him pulling through. he knew you were there for him… when my kitten had seperation anxiety, she would pee on our bed, and i slept on the couch with her for like 2 weeks so she wouldnt have to sleep alone outside of our closed door. sleeping on the couch for 2 weeks, or staying up all night with our little babies is so worth it. i love my little zoe so much.
i am grateful for this entire year of my life. after 11 months in a terrible, terrible job, i found an awesome job that i love, with a boss who is great. i got a significant pay raise, and my boyfriend and I were able to quit our part time jobs. we used to have 5 jobs between us! he still works at his old one sometimes, and I still help out at mine on sundays, but not it is not because we have to. there is such a sense of relief knowing that you can leave early, you dont have to have the hours, you can take a day off if you need it, you dont have to take every shift that is offered just to make the extra money… its so awesome. my boyfriend is about to get a promotion, we just took our first “official” vacation together, his brother is getting married in november, christmas is going to be here soon… everything is lovely, and there is no anxiety over how we are going to pay for it. my life is nearly stress free now, which is the best thing i could ever ask for, and what i am most grateful for.
i have a question to put out there for all you cat lovers and owners:
zoe is an only kitty. we have had her around a year, and for so much of that she has been alone, which i feel so bad about. my boyfriend and i both work a lot, and she is at home all alone a lot of the time. i want to get her another kitty so she can have a companion. she acts out a lot, and i think its because of boredom. my boyfriend thinks that if we get another cat, she wont change and we will just have 2 mis-behaving cats… does anyone have any experience with this?
Get her a companion, but make sure it’s a boy and he’s a kitten. Girl cats who are not litter-mates or did not start out as kittens together tend to exhibit jealousy. My Simone is very territorial and when I decided to get a second cat I was very careful about choosing one who would not threaten her too much and who could adapt to her rules. A docile, gentle boy kitten was the answer.
Yeah, I didn’t know that before I got my second kitten. So I’ve got two girls. My first cat was NOT HAPPY AT ALL when I brought the little one home but THANKFULLY they seem to be friends now. The older girl will still hiss and spit at the young when when she’s being bugged too much, but for the most part they are friends now. The kitten likes to curl up next to the big cat and groom her. Sometimes now they even groom each other. I’m so so grateful that my two girls get along now.
And it’s absolutely hilarious when they take turns chasing each other up and down the halls!
Introducing a new companion is never a sure thing no matter what gender or age your dealing with. Our current brood is 3 girls and they get along pretty well, two of them have some unresolved issues but no injuries have resulted. With large dry food and water dispensers the limiting factor of leaving them alone is the automatic litter box capacity. There’s no way to predict how they’ll fare, but I do recommend a companion. A bored lonely kitty is more likely to take it out on the furnishings and that’s not good for you or him/her.
Our best experience was 2 girls from the shelter to fill the void of loosing our first cat to heart disease. They were about 5 months old and bonded immediately. They’re kittenhood playfulness is among our most cherished memories.
Our most dramatic introduction was an adult male that was having difficulties at his first home. He tried to assert himself with the girls which left me with little enthusiasm. Even so they sorted it out for themselves and eventually got along quite well.
We got our second kitten because we felt bad leaving our cat alone so much too. It’s helped tremendously! I didn’t know about getting a male kitten to make the transition easier on our girl cat, but luckily the kitty we fell in love with was a male kitten. It took us about a week to get the kitten out of the bathroom, but they get along pretty well now, with only the occasional hiss from our girl cat when she’s had too much of our boy. Now when we’re gone for a while, she’s much less stressed when we get back.
This weekend, I am grateful for my family, and especially my father, who is a 9/11 survivor. He worked on the 69th floor of the south tower, and literally missed the plane by a few minutes. Had he not left his office when the first tower was hit, he would have been directly in the path of the second plane. As it was, he was on the 40th floor when it hit, and only a few blocks away when the tower collapsed. I am so grateful for the chance to have him in my life, and for the incredible love, guidance, and support he has given me in the last 10 years. I can’t imagine being the adult I am today without him. He is often asked if he considers himself a hero for evacuating the rest of his team and helping carry co-workers down the stairwells. He always says he doesn’t think he’s a hero, but he’s always been mine.
This weekend I choose to reflect not on the politics and the division that have resulted since that day, but on the amazing strength, courage, and compassion exhibited by the rescue workers and by the everyday people affected by what is, at its core, a human tragedy. I am immensely thankful that my father is still here. Many kids were not so lucky. So in that spirit, I hope we can all take a minute to be grateful for the friends and family (of the two- and four-legged variety!) we have, and take the time to tell them that we love them.
Like.
oh this is making me cry. nicely sad, quakergirl. your father sounds like a great guy.
Amazing.
I will be spending the anniversary making sure the people I love know that they are loved.
Two thumbs up to your dad!
Thumbs very up.
I just finished watching a 9/11 documentary on National Geographic, and I absolutely think your dad was a hero that day. Not everyone is able to immediately react with strength and leadership in the midst of chaos. I’m so glad he made it out in time, and that he was able to be in your life the last 10 years.
I’m grateful for my entire family, including my boyfriend’s family, and animals. I’m grateful that my little brother has the opportunity to pursue his dreams in college, even though it’s been really hard having him be across the country in CA by himself.
And I’m grateful for the grocery store, just because it gives me so much pleasure walking around and looking at all the ingredients to cook with.
WOW that is amazing. What a guy!
thank you for sharing your story, brought tears to my eyes. i’ll say a special prayer for your Dad tomorrow 🙂
I too am happy Miles will be alright! I miss cats so much, as my life is too transitionary at the moment to have any pets. But pictures and stories of other peoples cats pn here really help!
I have a question I would really love some advice on, if anyone has any ideas?
I live in a house with my friend and her boyfriend as housemates. We are all new to this city, and it has been great having some people from our hometown to, you know, go home to. But in the last few weeks, the girl (my original friend of the couple) hurriedly moved out to a friends house, saying she felt too young to have moved in with him and it was too stressful. she really agonised over the decision, it was not made easily. I thought it would be fine, they would both get their own houses and still be together. I know a few couples who have had a false start at living together (esp as we are all under 26) but now she has told me that they have broken up. Obviously I want to support my girlfriend however she needs it, but the trouble is it does leave me living with the ex-Boy, who has become a friend, although obviously not as good as the Girl. I have not seen Girl, I am respecting her privacy, I have not asked details, I am sending her nice messages, and I know she has other friends around her, not to mention a family member.
My question is, how do I remain supportive of the Girl and the Boy, when I am better friends with the one who does not live with me? The Boy has less friends as well, so may need all he can get. as far as I can tell, the break up was sad but not mean, as in there was no fight or hurt or anything, just knowledge that they weren’t happy. Boy will move out eventually anyway, but how do I be supportive of both?!
Normally, I would hang out with my broken up friend lots, distract her and stuff, but she cant come to my place obviously, and she is living with a friend so cant really invite me over. I dont want to have an emotional talk in a bar where crying in public may happen.
any advice will be great!
ouch, that is a tough one. Best thing you can do for both is take them out. Make them get dressed and go somewhere social. Take turns taking them out of course, but nothing helps more in these situations than seeing life goes on, and its right here.
You can be supportive of both, I think. Supporting someone isn’t necessarily the same thing as taking their side. You can make time to listen if either of them want to talk; you can be sympathetic, but focus more on thier feelings rather than what was done; you can take either one out for a night on the town as the previous poster suggested. Maybe you’ll get lucky and they’ll both choose to keep you out of it since you are stuck right in the middle. If I was in your position, other than offering my initial sympathies, I wouldn’t bring the topic up with them on my own.
Wendy, I’m so glad Miles is better! I really felt for you.
One of my two kitties developed a hernia on his belly button as a tiny kitten (I’ve had them since they were 8 weeks). Usually that type of hernia, which is caused by the belly button not closing properly, only contains a little fat, and can be left alone until the kitten is big enough to be fixed and the vet will fix that too. Obi’s was so big that it actually contained some intestine, and we were terrified whenever he ate or played rough with his brother (and you can’t stop kittens from playing rough!) He had surgery when he was ten weeks old, and at the pre-appointment the vet told us not to get our hopes up, because he was so little there was a good chance he might not survive the anesthesia. My mom and I just took him home and cuddled him and cried.
Fortunately he’s a super trooper and the surgery went fine, even though he had to go back a few weeks later after pulling out his stitches 😛 He’s a big roly poly healthy ball now, and I am so so grateful he made it.
I am also grateful for my job, and my family, and the way my boyfriend occasionally hits me with a pillow and then runs away laughing. And also for this cupcake I have. 😀
I’m grateful that the levees are doing their job and holding in the Susquehanna River. My hometown was utterly devastated by Agnes in 1972 and the river actually crested higher this time – but thankfully the levees are holding. Sadly not all the other towns in the region have been so lucky to have that sort of protection. Thousands of homes are flooded and so many will have to start over completely from scratch. But, again, I’m grateful that my hometown has been mostly spared, and it will still look like home when I go to visit in October.
Oh, there are so many things to be grateful for! I’m not sure where to begin…
-I echo the sentiments of being thankful for 4-legged friends. I’m fortunate to have a very sweet dog and cat to cuddle with daily. Our dog has been with my family for almost 10 years and I love her soooo much. It’s very sad to see her starting to age. 🙁 The cat is a sweetie, but she’s not sure what to think of me yet since she hasn’t been with us for very long.
-Fall! I love things like apples, apple pie, digging out the cute scarves and jackets again, cool crisp weather that’s great for cuddling, and digging out the hot beverages again–hot cider, tea, hot cocoa, etc.
-My amazing friends.
-Cooking and baking. I’ve been experimenting with new recipes recently. It’s an adventure.
-Coffee.
-My boyfriend. Even though he drives me bonkers sometimes, he makes sure that I know how much he loves me…and I love him too. 🙂
Oh I know there’s so much more but I’ll leave it at that. This thread had me feeling all warm and fuzzy now. 🙂
Forgot one important thing! My parents are celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary today. In a time where some marriages last 5 minutes, this is a major accomplishment!! 🙂
I am thankful that in 1 week from tomorrow afternoon, I will no longer be in a long distance relationship. We handled it pretty well, but it still sucks not being able to curl up together on the couch and drink a bottle of wine and unwind at the end of the day or on a lazy Saturday. It’s the little moments like that I missed the most.
I am grateful that there is an NFL season this season, and that I will be there at my teams’ home opener.
I am grateful that this summer I was able to develop pretty close relationship with my mom. Our relationship was pretty strained the last time I spent any significant chunk of time at home, but I’m in a much better place in my life now, and I feel like we’ve pretty successfully made the transition to mother and adult daughter.
Yay! I’ve still got 3 or 4 months left before Painted_dude is with me all the time, and I can’t wait!!! You’ll have to tell me how you bridged that gap, k?
Yay, no more distance for you! 🙂 I’ve been in a long distance relationship with my guy pretty much since we started dating back in 2009 and we’ll for sure be long distance for at least another year yet. I must say I’m a bit jealous!!
I am grateful for my dog, who is curled up on her side of the couch snoring really loudly right now. We are both hoping that Miles will get better. **Sends love and a few doggy kisses.**
I am grateful for the 15lbs I no longer have (not so grateful about having to limit my carb intake. Sugar- the sweetest evil that ever was).
I am grateful for my drivers license and my car (also for not getting into any major accidents- knocks on wood).
PS.How is Simone dealing the baby coming? How is she doing with Miles being sick? Also, why doesn’t she ever comment on Dear Wendy? Is it that she will not lower herself to deal with mere humans and their insignificant (to a cat) problems? 🙂
Simone isn’t thrilled about the idea of a new baby, but I have been giving her lots of love and attention and telling her she will still be my one and only girl and my first baby and that makes her feel a little better. She was a trooper earlier this week when she was sick and spent a of time cuddling with me as she got better. When she gets sick, she wants her mama. When Miles gets sick, he wants to be by himself, so it actually works out ok. She was really patient with Miles while he was super sick and in her own way showed she was worried about him. And when I tended to him, she didn’t get jealous or territorial like she would under normal circumstances.
As for why she doesn’t comment on DW, she just doesn’t have the time. She’s busy running from gymnastics class to french lessons to dates with Russian Blues at jazz clubs. And when she does have some down time, she prefers to curl up in her little bed and listen to Edith Piaf and contemplate her past rather than spend time online.
She lives life, we just write about.
Omg Wendy thisis hilarious! Dates with Russian Blues? She’s quite a classy gal 🙂 I think you should take your kitty experiences and write a children’s book through the eyes of Miles and Simone. I’ll be your first buyer!!!
Ahhh! What a great idea missdre! My daughter is madly in love with our two cats, er, her two cats, Princess Tigerella and Prince Charming. (yes, my neighbors hear me shouting across our home ‘prince charming, come back!’) She often asks me what I think they would say if they could talk. Such a cute concept for a children’s book for a cat loving kid.
yes yes yes this.
Well, you have to be quite classy to get dates with Russian Blues! I’ve heard they have high expectations.
Maybe Drew and I will create a children’s book together. He’s already written two children’s books himself. He’s an illustrator (well, it’s what he went to college for; it’s not his day job) and he does great drawings of miles and simone.
That sounds perfect!
Could you post some of the pictures please? I would love to see them.
Oh Wendy, I am so, so sorry to hear about Miles. He looks like such a wonderful cat and I know how devastating it must have been to be put in that situation. I’m glad that he seems to be better and I wish him a quick, full recovery.
That said, I’d like to say that I am very grateful for my cat, Melaina. She drives me insane sometimes, but I love her to bits. She gives me someone to care for like a baby, someone to hold when I’m sad and someone to cuddle when I’m cold or sick. Also for my mom’s cat, Muzette for giving birth to such a sweet litter of cats (Melaina is not part of her litter).
I’m also grateful for my husband, who has stuck it out with me through some really shitty times. He is truly someone who will stand by “in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse.”
I’m grateful that I have a job. It may get frustrating, it may not pay a lot, but its something that many would do anything to have. It gives a bit of a needed cushion in case of emergency.
I hope your kitty gets better. Nothing’s sadder than a sick animal.
I tend to get grateful for really stupid things because I was really poor for a good chunk of my childhood. So, like, if I’m vacuuming I get happy that I don’t have to sweep the carpet clean. Or I get excited that I’m guaranteed dinner every night. AND it includes raspberries! I could never afford those as a kid but now they’re in MY fridge!
So I guess I’m grateful for raspberries.
we all should be grateful for raspberries…. and not having to sweep the floor. how true!! what a great outlook on life.
Dear Miles,
Please get better soon. ASAP is preferable. Wendy and The Man love you very much, and I think you’re the cat’s pajamas, too.
Love,
Ape
I’m so glad that Miles recovered. I am very grateful that my 20 year old cat died in our home two weeks ago, instead of having to have him put down at the vet. He lived a long full life, but in the days preceding his death it was obvious that his body was breaking down. He didn’t appear to be in pain, but he couldn’t eat anything but gravy. We loved him dearly and miss his companionship, but none of us can live forever. We buried him in the backyard amongst the trees where he liked to lay.
Aw, I’m sorry for your loss, but happy you had so many good years with your little buddy.
Thank you for your kind words
Today, I am grateful for my parents. They both survived 9/11 ten years ago and I thank God every day for that. My life could have been so different, and I am so, so, so grateful that they are still with me. I am so lucky. My heart goes out to all the families who lost loved ones ten years ago. Never forget.
I am thankful that I survived my first full week of veterinary school! I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was about four years old, and now to actually be in the school is both wonderful but kind of overwhelming at times. There is so much to learn, and I want to learn it all so I can be the best vet I can be! I know it will all come, and I am just really grateful for the opportunity.
I also wanted to say that I am SO grateful to hear how much everyone cares about their pets on here. And Wendy, it was really fantastic of you to take Miles home and nurse him all night. As a veterinarian, you have to really give people all the options and take finances into account and often for people the choice ends up being putting their animal down. Sometimes I get jaded after shadowing in the emergency veterinary clinic, and so it was really uplifting to hear about everyone really caring about their pets. Veterinarians (and future veterinarians!) really care too!
I am also grateful for my boyfriend who I will be celebrating the one year mark with in exactly 1 month. He has been with me through a lot of emotional stuff with the applying to veterinary school, and some family strife. We are going to spend the day on his farm making apple cider and I am very excited about it!
Having grown up on a farm I love your name! One of my best friends in college also became a vet, it was her passion in life and I hope you find it as rewarding as she does.
I’m loving that there are so many animal lovers on here too! Congrats on your first week at vet school. I’m sure it will be incredibly rewarding to help our wonderful furry family members!
I’m grateful for my family. I’ve been married to my husband for just over 24 years and I’m still glad to be married to him. He’s there through good and bad, we have fun together and I still respect and love him so I’m most grateful for having the right partner for life. I’m also grateful for our two kids. Our son is twenty and turning out well which is always a worry for parents. Our daughter is eleven and having a super year at school. She has an excellent teacher, both academically competent and also warm, supportive and kind while keeping discipline! That is real talent. We have great long term friends and I really couldn’t ask for anything more.
Wendy,
So glad Miles is doing better! You may want to talk to your vet about fluid therapy at home as well. I had a cat with diabetes as well as a cat with kidney failure and the fluids helped remarkably! It’s not as hard as it seems once you practice and get the hang of it. Kitty gets rewarded after finishing of course!
We did talk to the vet about at-home fluid therapy and we got a lesson in how to do it, but it was just too much for me. My nerves couldn’t handle it. The needle is much bigger than an insulin syringe! The vet is only one block away and we decided it was just easier on us to take him in once a day for a couple of days until he improved or started drinking water on his own.
I know what you mean. I think my vet started me off with a needle that looked like it should be used for tranqualizing elephants! They do come in smaller sizes, if the time comes when it is needed. They can also attach a permanent port so you can avoid the needle insertion completely. I know it really helped to keep my cats hydrated. I also had to experiment with a couple of different insulins to find one that worked. It’s good that your vet is one block away. I’m also glad that you are taking such good care of him. He is lucky to have you.
I’m hugely grateful for the daily joy of life, my friends, my wife who is also a friend, for my two lovely little kittehs, for the borrowed time of my parents, for my dedicated and creative coworkers. I’m grateful for the miracle of music. I’m grateful for our soldiers, those fallen and those serving, for our leaders, for the tough among us, for Seal Team 6, for those of us who #neverforget and those among us who inspire our protection.
I’m going to jump on the cat bandwagon and talk about how grateful I am for my 3 kitties! Wendy, I’m SO glad to hear that Miles is doing better. About a year ago, I had a similar scare with one of mine – she lost a TON of weight, was really lethargic, stopped eating and drinking, and really just looked pathetic. She was only 4 at the time. The vet thought she had FIP, which apparently is fatal. They had to keep her in the ICU at the vet, and it was a weekend, so it took longer for the test results to come back. I cried for an ENTIRE DAY – even when I wasn’t thinking about it, the tears would just keep coming. I thought that the last time I was going to see her alive was when I dropped her off at the vet, or else the last time would be when I went back to put her down. It turns out she had toxoplasmosis, which is super common, so after a couple weeks of antibiotics and syringe feeding, she made a full recovery! 🙂 **side note** Toxoplasmosis is thought by some to put the “crazy” in crazy cat ladies (it’s a parasite that can infect humans).
It’s also my boyfriend’s birthday this weekend, so of course I’m incredibly grateful to have him in my life – he is the best. Last night my parents met his mom, who is visiting from another country, so that was interesting, haha, and I’m grateful that it went well.
And last but not least, I’m grateful for dearwendy.com – even though it’s a serious time-suck when I’m at work! 😉 Thanks, Wendy!!!
I am grateful for my amazing friends and family who make every day of my life better. I’m grateful that I live in a city I love. I’m grateful that in about a year I will be finished with school and be able to pursue a job in the field that I’m passionate about. And I’m so glad Miles is doing better! Best of luck to all of you!
Diggie is my dog. He’s 11 and the only way to say it is that “He’s my boy.” He’s my lap warmer during the day and foot warmer at night.
Wendy, my little Diggie is also diabetic. He is healthy, but tends to be a little weaker than he used to be. Yet he plays so vigorously, you’d think he was a young pup. The insulin shots are probably more painful for us to give than for them to receive. Taking care of them is 100% do-able. Just like there’s lots of love left in Diggie, there is lots of love left in Miles. (And I love going to the pharmacist and asking for the prescription for Diggie. Before I say “canine” their faces look so puzzled!)
I’m happy to hear he is doing better! I know how scary that can be. There are just those moments when you know you are grateful for the tiniest things. I am grateful for many things. My husband and stepkids, my job even if I don’t always like it, my animals, and even my huge family… we may not always get along, but we always have each others’ backs.
I am so glad Miles is feeling better! I hope you all have a lovely weekend!
We shall be tidying and cleaning (fall cleaning? Opposite of spring cleaning…) and being stuck in brooklyn as the L isn’t running and traffic will be a bitch cos of 9/11 security.
I forgot to mention how grateful I am for my mutt. He’s a 70-pound labradoodle – as best as I can gather, he’s a shelter baby – and simultaneously the smartest and goofiest dog I’ve ever met. I’ve had him for 6 years, but I nearly lost him a year after I got him. He’s an escape artist and got out of the yard at my parents’, which is where I left him for the evening while I went and celebrated the 4th of July with my family. He was gone when I got back, and he was missing for three days. Then early in the morning on the 4th day, my dad was getting ready for work and heard something at the door. He opened it, and there was Otto. He’d been grazed by a car in the dark and had spent those three days lying on the side of the road, and then finally he dragged himself back home. He was really sore and had a cut on one hip and a little road rash, but otherwise he was fine. When I went and picked him up he ran to me and kept looking back at my dad like, “I found her! I found her!”
So even though he makes me crazy, I love my dog. I am so grateful for him; being responsible for another life made me grow up more than just about anything.
I’m thankful for having a job. Even if it isn’t the best job. I am just glad I can pay the bills, be in the same city as my boyfriend and learn new things every day. Being in a foreign country has it’s challenges, but I am so thankful to have a life full of adventure and get to share it with someone who loves it as well.
I hope Miles continues to get better! Your life must be so full of changes right now!
I’m grateful to have wonderful people in my life who truly love and support me. My parents are the most amazing, loving people I have ever known and I’m blessed to have them in my life.
I’m grateful for my cats, Fuji and Calzo. There are literally no words for how much I love them.
Lastly, I’m grateful that in 2 weeks I’ll be married to my best friend! Basically everything that could go wrong with a wedding has gone wrong, and we might end up having a ceremony with our immediate families only, but at the end of the day none of that matters, because I get to marry him 🙂
Oh im so so sorry for Miles, im so glad he is doing better.
A week ago my 6 year old boxer died of a heart attack. Its been painful and heart breaking, but im greatful knowing that she didnt suffer. She was being my happy puppy when it happened.
I wish you and Miles the best Wendy, pets are family aswell.
*hug*
Six-years-old is so young. I’m sorry for your sudden loss!
I have a boxer myself; they are the happiest puppies in the whole world! I’m so sorry for your loss.
I’m so glad Miles is ok! Last month my family lost our beloved 12-year-old golden retriever we’d had since he was a puppy. I’m grateful that I moved back to my home state in time to spend some time with him before he died, and grateful for my dog and my parents’ dog for being the best and sweetest girls ever.
I’m enormously grateful that the nothing horrible has happened today. Remembering this date 10 years ago is more then enough. It was something we dare not forget. The very fabric of our lives has changed forever. Our freedom is more limited and our fears more real, but our commitment to caring about others is much stronger. I wish that tragedy wasn’t the stimulus for us to appreciate what we have at this very moment.
From one animal lover to another…. you’re my kind of peeps, Wendy. Here’s to Miles’ full recovery!!!
Poor Miles. I hope he continues to get better. I remember how distraught I was when my kitty accidentally went through the dryer. She’s fine now, but the month or so after was awful, watching her all burnt like that. I really thought we were going to lose her, even with all the blood transfusions and the like.
I am grateful for my wonderful fiance, who has cleaned dishes, woken me up for class, made me tea on multiple occasions, and generally made our apartment a more tolerable place to live, and I am grateful for my kitties, who are much lazier, but serve the same purpose.
This weekend I came to Chicago for one of my best friend’s -since we were 5 yrs old-wedding. It’s really been a great weekend being able to gather in this city with family & friends to celebrate her marriage to a wonderful guy. I was a bridesmaid & yeah, it has been a VERY expensive trip, but I am thankful that I was able to afford it & experience it. I am grateful that my boyfriend came with me-even though he is NOT in the financial place to do so-so that I wouldn’t go to the wedding alone & bc he too, wanted to experience my family & friends. Even though this is my 5th visit to Chicago, I really grew a deeper appreciation for this city. I never took the time to realize it’s unique beauty with all the different architecture inspirations, the river, the lake, etc… Last night my boyfriend & I sat in Grant park, watching the sunset & the surrounding bldg’s & Buckingham Fountain light up. It was such a perfect ending to an amazing weekend.
i love chicago… the best food ever
I miss my Cuban food when I travel, but I must agree, Chicago does have a lot of great food!
I’m grateful the phone company finally decided to fix my phone and internet connections after a week 🙂
Seriously, I’m grateful that the loves of my life, my 2 beautiful daughters are healthy. Working in health care one comes to see all the bad things that can happen, and truly appreciate what a gift good health is.
I’m also grateful that, thanks to a good financial situation I have the possibility to be a stay at home mum for now.
Last but not least, I’m grateful for the weekend away that we’re planning for this weekend!
Wendy, thanks for prompting me to stop and think about all the wonderful blessings I have in my life.
I’m greatful for the opportunity to move to FL this summer to end my almost 3 year long distance relationship, and that my boss is allowing me to work remotely. Yay! I’m thankful that my BF is my bestfriend. I thankful for my wonderful kittie Frank, who drives me crazy when he keeps me up at night and spills cups of water but I couldn’t imagine life with out him. I’m thankful for my wonderful and crazy family and for my BF’s wonderful and crazy family.
Lastly, I’m thankful the Eagles got a W to open their NFL season, and the Gator’s pulled out another blow out. Horray football season!
Well even though I am late to the “Gratitude” party & I have mentioned this before, I am grateful my mom is still alive. Having fought 2 consecutive cancers for over 2 years she beat them both. 4 years later, there are a million side effects and she still suffers daily but she never complains. My eyes well up every time I think about it.