See Rat in the basket,,,right side up? That won’t last.

For a creature who is extremely picky about EVERYTHING…..it usually takes very little to please Abby Cat. Seems inconsistent. Take, for instance, an old wet towel, recently used to dry the dishes, the counter tops….to me it is just a towel to be thrown in the washer…………. to Abby Cat it’s happiness.

Now I like fragrant things; flowers, cologne, perfume, talc, room spray, hair spray, fresh cut grass, rain on the way…..a variety of fragrances. I even have a Pinterest board dedicated to my appreciation for fragrance. But, as I said, I like variety. But not, Abby Cat. She  doesn’t  like…..ANYTHING to change. Nothing! Change to her means danger and something to be carefully avoided. She does NOT like variety…..or change. Keep everything exactly the same….exactly the same………please!

To continue my story; The other day I decided it was time to wash her beach towel which is where she lounges most of the day on top the washer. ….all day, every day. I was excited to try my clothes washing detergent with the brand new fragrance…Hawaiian Delight, or was it, Caribbean Breezes? Anyway, it was different. I like variety and it was lovely to smell.

Abby Cat didn’t agree. When the beach towel was dry, still warm and oh so fragrant, I spread it out on the washer. She immediately jumped up there…..but carefully avoided the beach towel the entire time clinging dangerously close to the little edge of the washer not covered by the beach towel. Silly cat! She sat there on the tippy edge for about 30 minutes. I wasn’t going to indulge her whim!…she needed to learn. She jumped down and walked off with ears back; she had been betrayed.

Meanwhile, I finished cleaning the kitchen and tossed the wet used towel on top the washer to wash later. Yeah, you guessed it; Abby Cat immediately jumped up onto the wet towel ON the beach towel, stretched out and stayed there until lunch.

Okay, Abby Cat…you are right! Happiness IS a wet towel.

I began changing about four years ago but only recently started realizing how much.

• I look the same.
• I weigh the same.
• I sound the same.
• I’m still happily married to the same man.
• My faith and devotion to the Lord is still the same.
• My love for our family is the same.
• I still hold the same world view.
• My love for art is the same.
• My love for our cats is the same.
• We live in the same state, same city, same neighborhood, same house.
• I still tell our children and grandchildren the same stories at family events.
• I still complain about the same things; the bathroom scales, cat hair, exercise.
• I still have the same messy art studio.
• My dislike for rules and regulations is the same..unless I make them.
• I read the same kinds of books…biographies and history preferred.
• I still have the same unruly hair.
• For vacations I want to go to the same place every time…Disney World.
• I still have the same small group of friends…the Girlfriends.
• Good heavens! This must stop. Too much sameness.

So, what’s new, Adele? What has changed?

• I now have a blog (That’s what you are reading right now.)
• We have two cats, not just one.
• I have a new website (my fifth one, in all).
• I’ve read only 10 books so far this year. I used to read one per week on average.
• I’m painting in watercolors for the summer. Acrylics will have to wait.
• I don’t go to the gym anymore…at least I haven’t gone this year.
• I no longer like to cook and have no objection to fast food.
• I belong to our local art society and exhibit in their shows and at a local cafe.
• That’s enough. Even I’m getting bored!

But the real change in me has come from the actions of other people (not our family); things that have been said and done; new structures, new attitudes, a new order of things. There were things that used to matter greatly to me…..but decisions, attitudes and actions of others changed them and forever. I was first shocked, then disappointed and finally forced to think differently. At the time I wasn’t ready to think differently. Now I do.

Through these four years my attitudes have changed…really changed. There are brand new things that matter greatly to me and some very familiar things that now seem wonderful and new.

How did I get through all this change and come out on the other side so positive and happy? It is because I know and belong to the One who is constant, unchanging, ever-faithful and kind, forgiving and the source of all power, grace and knowledge…..the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

The continuing adventures of life with Abby Cat and Tomboy!

It all started when Abby Cat, then an “only cat”, got a new toy…….she named him Rat. I detected a certain attitude in her selection of his name. Maybe there is something to the theory of the importance of a name, because Abby Cat didn’t care one hoot about Rat; she totally ignored him……until…..

 As you can see this was back when Rat still had a tail. I never knew what unfortunate accident happened that denied him one of his most important physical characteristics. Have you ever seen a rat without a tail? I haven’t. However, I will admit when I see a rat,  I rarely stay around long enough to observe the details.

When Tomboy joined our family, nothing changed. Apparently he saw nothing redeeming about “Rat”, either. He never played with Rat or in any way acknowledged his existence. Then I began to notice a pattern emerge in Rat’s life; yes, nothing had changed…..until……

It is always the same;at night I put Rat in a dignified position with his head up and the next morning he is standing on his head.

What is it about Rat? Only Abby Cat, Tomboy and Rat really know. I sure don’t!