Nov 27, 2008

In the interest of being fair and balanced, this latest addition to Noah's family. These are Anabelle and Cash, who were adopted through the local county animal shelter. The kittens were sick yesterday and had to be taken to the kitty emergency room. They are on a medication to clear up a respiratory infection, but they are home and on the mend. Noah stayed at our house last night so that his mom could begin cooking the Thanksgiving dinner without the help of a five year old. This morning, we walked to the local Starbucks (why is Starbuck's open on Thanksgiving?), and had a cup of joe. More precisely, a cup of joe and a vanilla bean drink of some kind. My accidental friend Jim was there and we had a nice chat. Poor Jim has anger issues, which is why I give him a wide berth. He regaled me with his latest fallings out. Poor Jim is a lonely and sad old man. He said he is going to have dinner with a friend today, which is good. We had rain over night and that made for cool and cloudy weather this morning. Our walk was pleasant, except for the guy who kept trying to jump in puddles and splash another guy. We are heading to Daughter Sneed's later today for a big old feast. Thanksgiving is a bittersweet day for us all. Our beloved Christian was born on Thanksgiving in 1995 and even though he has been gone six years now, our hearts still hurt and we miss him so. We will be having a celebration of his too short life before we have dinner. Noah brings some relief to the tension of our inclination to not talk Christian or the accident. He is unabashed in his questions about the brother he never knew. He wants to wear his clothes and play with his toys. Like Noah, I lost a sibling before I was born. My sister Cathy died in the late 1940s and my mom chose to keep her a secret from us. We had tons of pictures of her carefully hidden away somewhere and it wasn't until I was a teen that I found out about her. I understand my mom's inclination toward secrecy, but it was the wrong way to handle Cathy's death. The Sneeds have had more than our share of heartbreak, but we have more than our share joys, too. All in all, I think we lead life by a few runs. So Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! Things in this blog represented to be fact, may or may not actually be true. The writer is frequently wrong, sometimes just full of it, but always judgmental and cranky

10 comments:

tut-tut said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you. The kittens look very alert, regardless of their ailment, and very cute on that grandson's lap.

This is the season for reflection, isn't it?

Reya Mellicker said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Christian, and about your sister Cathy, too. Losing a loved one is completely inconceivable - at least to me. My parents and my sister died ages ago, but it still bewilders me whenever I try to understand the reality of what happened.

A life fully lived includes joy and sorrow. You are doing it, and doing it well. I salute you and yours - happiest Thanksgiving.

Cute kittens!

alphabet soup said...

How lucky is that good-looking boy Noah? Not only does he have gorgeous dinosaur 'jamas to wear but he's got two gorgeous kittens as well!!

Ms Soup

Squirrel said...

Thinking of Christian today, too...


the kittens look like trouble to me--but at least they will keep each other busy. Eddy was extra rambunctious today but has finally passed out from overeating.

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Merle!

Megan said...

My family has been extraordinarily lucky in that we have never lost someone that young. I can only imagine, and I sympathize to the best of my feeble ability.

Happy Thanksgiving to Clan Sneed. This is the first year I type that, but I hope it is not anywhere near the last...

Jams said...

I like your perspective, Merle.

"All in all, I think we lead life by a few runs."

That's a good way to put it. It seems to me that Noah may take after his granddad a bit.

Did you release balloons for Christian again this year? I thought that was an inspiring way to mark his life.

One more thing. I have to say how much I love Noah's dinosaur pajamas.

Kurt said...

I got screwed.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

what a beautiful post - a song and a lament, like life is.

there is nothing like the holidays to remind of ALL we have and ALL we have lost. special hugs to the sneed family.

the kitties are too cute (and they have great names) as is noah - I do believe he is the cat's pajamas!

Nan Patience said...

I can't even imagine how it is to lose a child or a sibling. It must be heartbreaking.