A Cat Named "Book"

Chanel was over the other evening.  She sometimes pops in of an evening and, of course, wherever she goes a party erupts.

As we sat on the couch just talking and teasing she commented, "I heard of a book the other day called, "A Cat Named 'Book'.  It's about a cat that was kind of a library cat, in a real library."

Well that's all it took to get Jana's ideas humming:

"I can just hear them now: 'Would someone get that Book off the shelf?'"

"Don't trip over the Book."

"Where did that Book go?"

To which Chanel chimed in,

"Book had kittens.  She named them Chapters."

To which Jana responded,

"Now where did that Book put her Chapters?"

When Jana and Chanel get going it's like watching a world class ping pong match.  Ah, humor.  Certainly a loving and necessary thing, especially in a marriage.

Photo credit – Sydney, Australia, photographer Daniel Boud

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Half Hours Strung Together

Jana had already left for work and I was changing clothes to head to the rec center.  The phone rang and I almost didn't answer it.  I dashed to the office and picked up the receiver.  It was Jana.  She'd only been to work for 15 minutes.

"I left my bag of chips for our work luncheon on the kitchen counter.  Would you like to bring it to me?"


"Sure.  I'm headed for the rec center.  I can drop it off in a few minutes."


"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to bring it at lunch time and we could eat lunch together."


"That would work, too.  I'll see you at lunch."

After the rec center I dragged myself home and worked for a couple hours before my computer alarm told me it was time to go to lunch.  I microwaved my vegetables and brown rice and headed for the hospital central billing office (CBO).

Jana met me with a smile as I walked up to the door and she took the bag of chips from me.

"I'll take this in and will be right back."

When she returned she asked,

"Should we go into the hospital cafeteria or just eat in the van?"

The van it was.

As we sat Jana told me about the visitors touring the CBO as part of the preparation for the sale of the hospital to another owner.  She shared stories about some of the interesting women she works with and the triumphs and trials they each face.

The half hour came and went very quickly and she needed to get back to work.  But it's the small moments and opportunities like these, taken, created, that carry us over the sorrows, disappointments and uncertainties and on to the quiet victories and joys that give meaning to mortality.  It's the half hours, strung together with loving things and bound by hope, that give joy to the journey.

I'm just grateful that Jana is my traveling companion.

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You Go First

Recently I had a slumber party weekend with my oldest daughter in her cute, one bedroom apartment.  Friday night we stayed up watching movies.  Saturday morning she needed to go to work so I slept in, had breakfast, watched a movie and read a business book before she got home shortly after 2:00.

When she came home we went to a place called "Simply Cats" where she volunteers.  This is a facility that rescues cats and offers them for adoption.  It is an amazing facility for cats and people alike and it was fun to visit the different "apartments" and chat with the cats.  Purring all around.

When I came home, Jana was her ever-cheerful, bright and fun self.  One of the things I love about her is her always-cheery disposition.  She acted glad to see me.

Jana needed to go to the library to return some books that were due so I volunteered to ride downtown with her.  She drove and as we rode she said, "I want to hear all about your weekend and I want to tell you about mine.  You go first, and don't leave anything out."

To Jana life is about experiences.  Whenever she is asked what she wants for a birthday or Christmas or Mothers' Day she always chirps, "Oh, give me an experience we can share."  For that reason it's not at all surprising that she wanted to talk about our respective weekends.  But the loving thing is that she offered, "You go first, and don't leave anything out."

On our first date many years ago we went to a young single adult dance.  Due to a misunderstanding (or more accurately, misunderhearing on my part) we arrived one hour early for the dance.  That normally spells disaster for a first, generally awkward, date.

But Jana turned a potentially awkward experience into an endearing one when, as we climbed into my little Opal Cadet, she started asking questions about me, my interests, my life.  Pretty soon I had my sketch pad out, talking about my passion for drawing.

Always interested in others and in their stories, over the course of a wonderful marriage Jana has opened my eyes to the wonder and gift of listening.  My life has been enriched as I've learned to value and reflect that gift, learning from a master.

But when we get together and have stories to tell Jana continues to share her loving thing when she begins, "You go first."  And she still acts as if what I have to say somehow means something.

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Cold Burrrritos

After five weeks of constant back/shoulder pain I finally found out what the problem is when I visited a physical therapist this morning -- a pinched nerve in my cervical spine.  Now we can start rehabilitating it.

So, tonight, since I had no meetings scheduled, I lay down on my recliner in the TV room and relaxed my back while watching a movie.  During the day I leave the door to the TV room closed because there's no sense heating an unused room.  That made it a little cooler tonight.

As I lay there Jana was also with me watching and snoozing.  ("I thought exercising was supposed to make you more energetic, not worn out.")  After awhile she sat up then came over to me.

"Are you cold?"

I guess she read my body language with my sweater on and my arms folded.

"Oh, I'm all right."

Without another word she reached over and got my Snuggy (this year's hot-can't-live-without-it Christmas blanket gift item with arms that make you feel like you're wearing a fuzzy hospital gown) that Chanel gave me for my birthday and wrapped me up like a burrito.

I think burritos must be loving things.
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