Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Spring is Coming to NorthEast Ohio

After months of snow, grey skies and slush, it's so nice to see the sun out again! Slowly, Northeast Ohio is thawing out from a pretty tough winter. It's not warm yet but the pancake breakfasts are starting up here in my town, which always means Spring isn't too far away.

Normally, my parents and I have gone to West Geauga High School for our yearly trek to the pancake breakfasts there. This year we decided to go to one of the breakfasts here in downtown Burton so we chose Burton's High School. It was great! We were given not only pancakes and real maple syrup but waffles and a lot of great sausage too. We ate like pigs, of course. It's tradition, you just have to.

Nothing beats real maple syrup. Our town is full of it, and there's a maple syrup (production) cabin right in the town square. They really make it there, and even tap the nearby maple trees too. I sure missed all of this when I was in Florida for ten years. It sure feels good to be home in Ohio.



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Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Rest in Peace, My Dear Fluffy Cat


Tonight, my dear 15 year old cat Fluffy was put to sleep. He had Cancer of the intestines, and the caring doctor and staff at Burton Veterinary Clinic assured me that nothing else could be done, to prevent or cure his illness. It was a large Cancer that must have grown quite fast, as it wasn't there when he last went for his checkup. So, tonight, I brought Fluffy in, who was shutting down internally, and the doctor said it was the humane thing to do and I agreed. I didn't want to do it, as I work hard to save pets of all kinds NOT to be put to sleep. But his quality of life was gone, his health was gone, and his body was shutting down. I didn't want him to suffer.

Fluffy was rescued from the mean streets of the near west side of Cleveland back in 1997. I'd lived in Lakewood for a short time after returning from being overseas and he would come to my door in the dead of winter, begging to come in. He smelled bad, was a tomcat-about-town and wasn't taken care of by his lowlife humans, who left him out in bitter cold temperatures all day long. So, I moved, got him fixed and de-flea'd and he has been living the housecat life of luxury ever since. He missed being outside, but adjusted to a kinder, gentler existence quite well.

So, with heavy heart I say goodbye to my dear old friend, my sweetheart boy, who travelled to Florida and back with me, my gentle old giant. He was a more reserved cat, not as outgoing or attention-seeking as my other cat Beau so I would seek him out to brush or pet him. But he knew he was loved and he loved my parents and I very much. Just last night my parents had come over, and he actually sought out my dad to see him.

Rest in peace, my dear Fluffy, you will always be in my heart and I hope that you find Blackie up there in Heaven and start fresh, well and whole. I love you with all of my heart. Your human mom, Carolyn