Pets – Cynthia Reyes

A New Year – 2019

January 1, 2019 Cynthia Reyes

We measure a year in months and milestones

Birthdays and other anniversaries

The goals achieved, honours received

And various victories.

Blog Photo - Birthday celebration

These things we dream of, yearn for, live towards

The dates forecast in calendars

And marked off by celebrations

Of our lives.

I wish you all that and more.

But when I wish you a happy new year

I know there will also be struggles

And challenges, and dirty dishes

Because this is life.

And so I wish you:

Laughter

For when things turn out crazy

Faith

On days of loss or disappointment

Wisdom

In times of uncomfortable change

Delight

In the small things, not just the big ones

Blog Photo - Doggies in window

Gratitude

For the gifts you’ve had and will receive

blog-photo-simon3

Blog Photo - Reyes-Grange family with Kinu

Blog Photo - Jerome sitting

Hope

For tomorrow and the morrow after

Health

To do the things you most enjoy

Blog Photo - N and T prep for holidays

Blog Photo - Hockey Game

Blog Photo - D and L

Peace

In the fact of your humanity.

From my family to you: our best wishes for the year ahead.

God bless.

A Good Home, Pets

A Great Outcome

July 18, 2017 Cynthia Reyes

I’ve been wanting to share this story for weeks now.

Our grand-cat, Jerome, disappeared. He’d gone for his usual short walk in his Seattle neighborhood, but didn’t return home. Our daughter and son-in-law were — as pet-lovers everywhere can imagine — deeply distressed.

I could hear the worry in their voices, even as they tried to be calm.

Blog Photo - Jerome sitting

Two days passed. No Jerome.

They searched every nook and cranny in their new neighborhood and beyond. They posted notices, knocked on neighbours’ doors, and prayed.

Relatives in Toronto, New York, Texas, and everywhere, were also distressed. Jerome and his brother, Simon, are loved by us all. The news spread fast, as did the anxiety.

Four days passed. No Jerome.

“Mom”, as everyone calls my mother-in-law, prayed. She made us all smile when she revealed that she had even called the American prayer line “Unity” with a prayer request.

“This poor cat was moved from Toronto and moved again to a new home just a few months ago,” she told the person who answered. “And now he’s lost.”

Blog Photo - Jerome1

“Could you give me the new address?” the lady asked sympathetically.

“I can’t remember it right now,” Mom replied. “I’m a bit upset.”

The lady soothed her and they prayed together.

Five days passed, then six. No Jerome.

The following morning, just before 5 a.m. (just before 2 a.m. Seattle time) our daughter texted the family to say Jerome was found.

Blog Photo - Jerome back safe and sound

Good Samaritan “Abe” lives several busy intersections away from Jerome’s neighborhood. He was out for a late-night smoke and saw Jerome. Concerned, he got close enough to read the contact information on Jerome’s collar and phoned.

It was such good news for our daughter and son-in-law and for the whole family.

We’re very thankful Jerome’s back home. Bless you, Abe.

Blog Photo - Jerome on Pizza Box

A Good Home, An Honest House, Animals, Canadian life, Family Moments, Home, Pets

Not Yet, Not Yet

August 11, 2016August 12, 2016 Cynthia Reyes

Blog Photo - Julius and Dawson Sleeping

The mind knows it’s full time

But the heart beats to a different rhythm

It’s time, the mind says, knowing

Not yet, the heart says, hoping

He’s shaky and blind, says the mind

But such strong spirit, says the heart

Blog Photo - Dawson runs

His hind legs are weak, says the mind

But watch him gallop, says the heart

His mind’s diminished, says the mind

But he has such heart, says the heart.

Blog Photo - Mister D — Photo by Hamlin Grange

The two of them, the mind and heart

Together in the vet’s office

In sad reconciliation.

The fight over.

A life over.

Goodbye.

Goodbye dear friend.

Fare thee well, loved one.

Thanks for being our faithful companion.

Dawson listened quietly as my daughter, then my husband, thanked him for being in our family, and bade him a loving farewell. Then I read to him: from An Honest House, the chapter I had lovingly written about him.

Would you believe it? He lay perfectly still on my lap the whole time I read, attentive, as if taking in every word. I shall miss him.

A Good Home, Amaryllis in Bloom, An Honest House, Blessings, Cycling, Family, Family Moments, Friendship, Pets, Re-blooming Amaryllis Bulbs

Great Moments

May 31, 2016May 31, 2016 Cynthia Reyes

I’m big on the small things in life.

Blog Photo - Amaryllis in full bloom ~The amaryllis that flowered again – two years after it first bloomed at Christmas, a gift from my friend Jean. How lovely to have an amaryllis reblooming in May!

~My husband cycling again. For my birthday gift, I asked him to “go cycling with Bill”. Bill is his former coach and dear friend. So off they went, and that started him cycling again.

Blog Photo - Cyclists B and H

Our wet winter meant he hadn’t gone cross-country skiing and missed the activity.

Blog Photo - H cross country skiing ~Our older daughter and son-in-law live in the USA, and I miss them a lot. I look forward to hearing from them, including their weekly call together on a Sunday. I also miss their cats, Simon and Jerome.

So it made my day when they sent new photos of the cats. Below, Jerome is practicing the art of camouflage. Can you even see him?

Blog Photo - Jerry camouflaged on carpet

Simon, meanwhile, has come out of the closet. (Yes, for years – until very recently — his favourite place was inside a closet.)

Blog Photo - Simon 2

Blog Photo - Dawson runs

~Dawson, whom our younger daughter rescued four years ago, was looking weak the other day, especially when compared to Julius, who has energy to spare.

Blog Photo - Two Small Dogs

Mr. D. is old now, and he’s mostly blind and part-deaf. But he must have heard me fretting about whether “we’ve arrived at that time”, because, just hours later, he was running around. One day a decision will have to be made, but not yet.

~And finally, the daily phone call from our younger daughter. She calls after work each day and when the phone rings, I’m delighted, eager to hear how her day went, glad to hear her voice.

Such blessings.

Here’s to life!