A Sunday in January

Here's a post I started a few weeks ago...in January.


After church for the next few weeks (well, not next week, since there's our annual congregational meeting), I'm going to a discussion at church called "Death: The Elephant in the Church." I thought it would be a good thing to attend. The moderator wondered if the discussion would be too tender for me. In some ways, it is, but I think it's good I'm going. Today was a little hard, since we're coming upon the third anniversary of John's death. The class was held in the lounge, which has windows that look upon the courtyard in which half of John's ashes are interred. But it was okay. It's a good discussion group, and I'm with my church family.

Today, we heard reports from various people about traditions surrounding death in different faiths. It was very interesting. Some very comforting traditions, though I think what I currently hold as beliefs are comfort enough. No matter what, I'm going to miss John. Horribly. Yet sometimes, I feel like he's just around the corner out of view but taking care of me, anyway.

So...after I left the church I came home and cuddled with Elvis. I felt like I'd neglected him a lot this week, since I'd worked extra hours for a project I have every year at this time. Though one of the nights I was there, I brought him with me. He got pretty bored, but eventually settled down for a little nap at my feet.

We've been slugs most of the afternoon...and I decided I wanted to get out for a bit. Take Elvis for a walk? Naw, it's pretty cold outside. Let's go for a ride.

So Elvis and I took a little ride around the west side of town. He loves going with his mommy in the car, and is usually quite well-behaved when he's in the car. Past beagles I've had (Max and Abbey, in particular) did not like car rides. Elvis (like Mo before him) LOVES them. But the weather was starting to turn. Thin veils of snow blowing across the road are pretty, but I decided it was time to go back home.

Elvis is now fast asleep, and I will soon join him. Thankful for a warm home, warm blankets, warm pajamas, and a warm beagle.

Trying to decide right now whether to take Tuesday off or whether work would be a good distraction from the fact it's January 19. We'll see.

Three Dog Night...and Day

Last weekend, Elvis and I spent most of dog sitting at my family's place on the lake. As you can see, they spent most of it either in piles of dogs or piled up on me. I didn't mind. It was very cold last weekend--Sunday morning, I think it was 8 below. So other than attending to the necessaries, we all stayed inside. In the photo above, you know the beagle, Elvis. The labs are (from left to right) Homer and Goose. When not snoozing or relaxing, Elvis and Goose play. Hard. I think it's a good break for Homer, who prefers not to play much these days. I think for that reason, he loves it when Elvis comes to distract his son (Homer and Goose are father and son in real life).  

Other that fixing food for me (and putting it in dishes for the dogs), I spent most of the time watching out the window...many people were out ice fishing on the other side of the lake. I felt cold for them, as it was far too cold to be out there (in my opinion, which makes me NOT an ice fisherwoman).

It is a week later, and I'm guessing they're not out there today. The high today, I think, was close to 60 degrees. Well, I'm in Michigan. Our motto is, "If you don't like the weather, wait awhile and it'll change. I'm not complaining, as I said in the previous post. I'm sitting here watching a pretty sunset, and almost all of the snow is gone from last week. It's still February, so I'm sure we'll have more snow, but we have had far less this year than in past years. All of our snow, I think, went to the East Coast, where many people don't know how to handle snow. What's that I read? "To you it may be a snowstorm. To us Michiganders, it's Tuesday."

I purchased season tickets to the local theater on campus for various events. Not sure I can afford it next year, so I'm trying to enjoy them as much as I can. In the past few months, I've seen Kristin Chenoweth (met her, too!), Paula Poundstone (met her), Bobby McFerrin, and Savion Glover. A few more to go, and I'll talk about them later.

That's about all for now...I'll leave you one more photo of the pile o' dogs.

Spring, already...and another anniversary.

It's February 20, 2016. And it seems like spring outside...mind you, I'm not complaining. A week ago, the temperature ended up at around 8 below. I'll take sunny and 55 degrees. I think it hit 60 yesterday, but because of the high winds, it didn't feel that way. There's a breeze today, but not like the gale force winds of yesterday.

Since last I wrote, I have passed another year anniversary of John's death. It was tough--they all will be--but I was able to manage. I took the day off and Elvis and I went for a drive. First, we visited the church yard where part of John's ashes are...and as always, Elvis always knows where to sniff. I've never actually directed him to the area.

After our visit there, we stopped by Stoneleigh, the hospice John was in and so tenderly cared-for the last 8 months of his illness. Elvis remembered who the treat-givers are (a beagle never forgets) and also remembered where the treats are kept. One of these days, we'll go on some walks in the grounds...he loves to sniff around there.

Then, it was a trip to Fort Custer, where the other half of John's remains were. First, I visited Mom and Dad's grave (had to brush off the snow to find it. And then I went to John's grave. As I recall, it was pretty cold that day, and there weren't many people around...and ordinarily, dogs are not allowed outside of the car there, but I figured that Elvis had the right to visit the stone at least once. So...we did.

Ordinarily, I am not at Ft Custer during the weekday, so I was surprised to see the flags flying in the winter, until I remembered that there were flags flying when John was buried there. So, I figured there had been burial services there that day.

So, we headed next to Ft Custer Recreational Area--a state park not far from the cemetery that has about three or four lakes. We were in one of the few vehicles there...so pretty in the winter!

On our way home, I went through a Starbucks drive-through...and Elvis had a free Puppy Latte (a cup of whipped cream). I knew they had those, but had forgotten. They were the ones that offered it. He LOVES that sort of thing!

So...it was a quiet and reflective day...and over all, better than I expected.