In the six and a half years since I stopped blogging, this was just the latest in a series of such celebrations and memorials – for two of my four much-loved sisters, one older and one younger - for my dear mother-in-law, sister-in-law and nephew - and for a number of good friends. It was a reminder, if one were needed, of passing time and the fact that life brings constant change.
Thankfully by no means all the changes have been sad ones. One of the happy and satisfying ones has been the transformation of our three grandsons from gangling schoolboys into (very tall) young men in their early 20s. The eldest is already in his second job since graduation and thoroughly enjoying life in the big city. His younger brother graduated this summer with an excellent degree and is busy job-hunting, and their cousin, the youngest of the three, starts his second year at university this month.
Another of the happy changes was our adoption four years ago, in the middle of the pandemic, of our beloved black cat, Larry. It was over 20 years since our last cat died and couldn’t be replaced, because we were constantly on the move. We had almost forgotten how totally a cat will take over your life if you let him and of course we did let him, becoming completely besotted with his affectionate nature and endearing ways. We can’t imagine life without him now.
Talking of Larry,
I hear scratching at my study door, which means that it’s his tea-time (his
time-keeping is remarkably accurate) and
as we all know, dogs have masters, but cats have slaves…
Well done for getting back into the blogging habit, says he who hasn't posted for nearly 5 months 🙁 I do hope Larry appreciates how lucky he is to have you both as his slaves 😉
ReplyDeleteOh, I think he does, underneath it all, Ricky. :) I'm enjoying the blogging, though the brain cells aren't quite as quick-firing as when I started blogging 13 years ago.
DeleteLuckily, the happy balances the sad over time....you have your grandsons' future to enjoy still, too...and your state of slavery! I don't think our dogs have the same view of relations as yourself, somehow.....even the latest arrival, a tiny abandoned puppy, is now intent on ruling the roost.
ReplyDeleteI cannot become subscribed on Wordpress for some reason, so hope you will continue to put the blog on FB in case I miss it!
Yes, it all balances out somehow, Helen, though it doesn't always seem like that at the time. Did I miss a mention of the new puppy, or is he or she a very new arrival?
DeleteI wish I could help you get subscribed, but the only thing I can suggest is that you follow using your old fly in the web Google account, since WordPress won't let you add the new blog address to your blog list, even though I see the old one is still there and still updating. Sigh... I'll happily share new posts to FB or message you when I post one.
Thank you, Kathy!
DeleteThe new puppy was found by one of the big dogs eating from his bowl....hearing a disturbance I found him looking at the pup, totally bemused! Just a tiny thing, he must have been dumped nearby and luckily made his way into the garden.
What an enormous stoke of luck for him that it was your house he was dumped near. He has definitely fallen on his paws and I can well imagine him now with his band of devoted servants and followers. :) We need photos...
DeleteHi Kathy! Glad you resumed blogging after your hiatus. And thank you for visiting my blog! Wanted to say that we visited Wales in 1999. Loved it! Stayed at Cilfodig Farm Ponde, LLandefalle, Brecon, Powys (on Farmhouse B&B card) - 300 year old farm. Wanted to visit Hay... but during Book Festival so no vacancies, but we did check out the town. Had read the book "Lady of Hay" and wanted to see the area and castle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Rian and good to see you again. I remember you mentioning your visit to Wales when I was still posting on my old blog. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Wales is beautiful and the people very friendly.
DeleteI love that you are blogging again! I look forward to reading about all your news again. I have always loved reading what you write.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you, Sally, and I'm glad you've found your way here. I hope I can keep up the standard I tried to have in my old blog, but I doubt I'll be posting as often, now that life is much quieter.
DeleteA lot has happened in your life between blog posts which is understandable. I am looking forward to your future posts.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it has, Susan. Often we don't realise at the time just how much, but looking back like this puts it into perspective. Thankfully life has been much less eventful recently, which we appreciate.
DeleteI do seem to have found a way of commenting after all....again, avoiding using the phone. I had forgotten how much better things look on a bigger screen. Fondest wishes for your staying put time. It quite understandable how Larry clearly rules the roost now.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you've found your way out of the commenting maze, Janice. I'm still tripping over things that don't work quite as I remember them, but like you, I'm getting there. Larry does indeed rule the roost, but we are willing slaves... :)
DeleteIt is lovely to read your news, and I am so sorry you have lost two of your sisters. What a merry bunch you must all have been growing up. As one of six, I sometimes wonder how it will feel when one of us passes on, as life wends its way. Your grandsons sound so grown up and capable now, to the pride and joy of all I feel sure. We now have another three grandchildren, quite small (twins just turned four, and little sister, two). Hello to Larry, who sounds like an organized Mr. Cat.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's lovely to be sharing news again in a more considered, longform way than FB allows, Trish. Yes, it's been hard to have so many close bereavements in so few years. My elder half-sister was 8.5yrs older than me and almost 20yrs older than my youngest sister, so we were never five living at home at the same time. I think 4 were quite enough for my parents in a very small house. :) Enjoy your new little grandchildren. They grow up so quickly...
DeleteAs requested, I'm trying to comment as me, with my own website URL, rather than my Google account, to see if it now works.
ReplyDeleteAnd it did! Welcome back to commenting from your own blog, Ricky.
DeleteWelcome back! I seem to have found my blogging niche in Blipfoto now, but this is a lovely reflective piece of writing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine. It's one of the reasons I wanted to try blogging again. FB is great for quick posts about daily events, but they are very ephemeral, except for the yearly Memories reminder. They don't really tempt me to reflect or think back, which is what I so much enjoyed when writing my first blog.
DeleteDear Kathy - I love the way that you appear to have reawakened several other blogs that I too remember and enjoyed in the past.
ReplyDeleteGoing from August into September tends to put me in a reflective mood too. May be it is because the last day of August is my birthday, but I remember my two brothers who are no longer here, one older the other younger, my lovely sister-in-law, and so many of our dearest oldest friends.
Thank you, Rosemary, but I should point out that it's the other way round. The sight of another couple of bloggers, who are also Facebook friends of mine, relaunching their blogs, spurred me on to have a go myself. I had to start a new blog, because the name of the old one no longer fitted, and here we are.
DeleteYes, there's something about the change of seasons as the year wanes that awakens memories and reflections in many of us, particularly as we get older. In the church's year we're approaching All Saints and All Souls and for everyone there is Remembrancetide on the horizon.