The Birthday Ritual

While I was celebrating my birthday at a beach front restaurant this past week, three people at a nearby table were having an interesting discussion about birthday gifts. The female of the group said that she would never want to get an appliance (unless she had specifically asked for it) for her birthday. Her philosophy was if she and her husband needed a washing machine, the household budget should provide it rather than being given as a gift. Overhearing this story, it reminded me of the time one of my hairdresser’s clients was certain she was getting a diamond for her birthday. She got a vacuum sweeper!

Birthday celebrations—the tradition varies from family to family. My family’s tradition when I was growing up was to have ice cream and cake. My mother baked my favorite white cake and decorated it with hard sugar decorations that were bought at the local five-and-ten store. Family members with summer birthdays usually were treated to homemade hand-cranked freezer ice cream. For my January birthday, I enjoyed store bought Neapolitan ice cream and was partial to the chocolate part. A picture was snapped when I blew out the candles that were inserted in cute little plastic holders. My maternal and paternal grandparents joined us.  Cards with money were given along with wrapped gifts. Miniature plastic baskets were filled with nuts and mints. In fact, I have a collection of these vintage pastel baskets and candle holders—pink, blue and yellow. My sister and I fight over them when we spot then at flea markets!

Although I am too far away to celebrate my birthday with my immediate family, I still look forward to receiving cards and gifts from them. I collect the cards as they arrive in the mail. On my birthday morning, I delight in opening each one and reading the sentiment.  Several cat cards usually find their way to me. Surprise, surprise! And checks still fall out of some of them!

This year I made a toast to my parents as I sat at the high top table built with a Royal Palm growing up the middle. My mother would have loved the restaurant setting as that is her favorite Florida palm. The ocean was as blue as it could be, and it was a glorious day. Perhaps just like the day I was born—except lots warmer than Keokuk, Iowa in January! Thank you mother, thank you daddy.  Thanks to my ancestors who came before me. Because of all of you, I am here today and I am eternally grateful for the best gift of all—the gift of life.

Bountiful Blessings!

Catnip Connection Birthday Gift

Today is a special day for Catnip Connection. This is the one-year anniversary weekend for the launch of this blog as well as my birthday. Some 52 columns later here I am—still writing and loving every minute of it. I want to thank all who have taken the time to read Catnip Connection as well as those who have shared comments. One of the best parts about writing is connecting with my readers. I am also grateful to Tatianna’s Team of Meowleaders, Chatty Cats and Feisty Felines who helped with promotion throughout the year.

My anniversary/birthday present is to send you a complimentary autographed soft-cover Tatianna book. Please email lindamohr7@bellsouth.net with your name and mailing address by January 31, 2009. If you already own the book, I can autograph to whoever you please.

During my birthday week, my ritual is to reflect on all the blessings, opportunities and accomplishments of the past year. There have been many including blogging for the Seattle-Post Intelligencer, joining Cat Writers’ Association, being inducted into Daughters of the  American Revolution, receiving the Merial Human-Animal Bond Award at the Cat Writers’ Convention, having my Tatianna book honored with seven awards, syndicating six animal articles, completing a major home renovation, celebrating my mother’s 90^th birthday, co-writing a surprise cookbook for my mother, doing a hometown book tour, being a college professor, and vacationing at my mother’s house during Packer’s last days and getting to tell him good-bye.

My biggest blessing is my muse, dear sweet Lexie Lee. She is my source of inspiration day in and day out as she lounges across my lap or lies nearby on a window sill. She listens to me as I read my drafts out loud, and her meows tell me to keep writing about kitties! That I intend to do. If you have any topics you would like to read about this year, please personally email me or leave a comment on this blog. I would love to hear from you.

Bountiful Blessings!

No More Homeless Pets

In celebration of the Best Friends Animal Society’s 25^th anniversary, a list of 25 Ways to No More Homeless Pets is on their Web site. Here are 10 that stand out for me:

·         Adopt from a shelter or rescue. Don’t buy from a pet store, classified ads or online.

·         Volunteer at your local shelter—walk dogs, clean enclosures, answer e-mails, raise money or write bios/take photos of pets ready for adoption.

·         Spay or neuter pets before they are 3 months old.

·         License, I.D. and microchip your pet.

·         Donate pet food to your local food pantry.

·         Teach young family members about the appropriate way to treat animals they know and those they don’t.

·         Request that the curriculum in your local schools include humane education.

·         Hold a fund-raiser for your local shelter or rescue.

·         Help look for a missing pet for a neighbor or family member.

·         If you find an animal, look for his people and contact animal control. Find out from them if you can foster the pet until either his family is found or until the right home turns up.

Last night my mother mentioned that her neighbor had called to see if one of her dogs happened to be at my mother’s farm.  This neighbor is about one mile across a field from my mother’s place. She has three dogs that are always together, and sometimes they pass through her property. When the neighbor returned home from being gone all day, only two of her dogs showed up in the evening. My mother had not seen the missing dog. My heartfelt prayers went out to both neighbor and dog. I wished I was home to help hunt for her pet. I pray the dog is safe.

To view the entire list of 25 Ways to No More Homeless Pets, visit:

http://celebrate.bestfriends.org/twentyfiveways.aspx

Bountiful Blessings!

Best Friends Animal Society

As we move into 2009, Best Friends Animal Society is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. Best Friends is the nation’s largest no kill animal sanctuary and is located in Angel Canyon in southern Utah. Their population including cats, dogs and other animals numbers a staggering 2000. Their philosophy really resonates with me:  kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.

I just returned from spending a wonderful holiday break with my family in Missouri. This year I gave my family a different kind of gift. The Best Friends site features pictures and bios of animals that you can sponsor through monetary donations. A donation helps to provide food, vitamins, medical care and a safe warm place to sleep. I had fun perusing the dogs and cats and matching an animal up to the gift recipients and giving a donation in their names.

Mother is caring for Toes—you guessed it—he has six toes on his two front feet! My brother‘s cat, Homer is a beautiful orange marmalade and is described as a shy sphinx, like he can see into your deepest heart.  My sister-in law’s cat is a fluffy gray and white cat named Lois. My sister loves beagles, and I wanted to find one for her to sponsor since her beagle, Pearl passed on in 2008. However, there were no beagles in the database, but I found an equally sweet looking dog named Sophie 2. My brother-in-law has always had labs, so Trisha, a beautiful chocolate lab was a good match for him. My brother was paired up with a dog with lots of character named Basil.

I downloaded a color photo of each animal along with their biography and included a card explaining the gift. This year American Greetings had animal wrapping paper designed with red and greens paw prints and Meowy Christmas and Yappy New Year on it. I have always wanted to do an animal themed gift, so this year it all came together!

I hope these six animals will be adopted into caring homes in 2009. If you would like more information about these animals and about Best Friends go to http://www.bestfriends.org

Happy New Year and Bountiful Blessings!