We entered 2021 with the hope that the worst was over. Things seemed to be improving but the confusion and divide over what worked and what we were willing to accept was stronger than ever. Everyone had an opinion. If I’ve learned anything in the time I’ve been alive, it’s the ability to distinguish what I can and cannot control. So I did what I thought was right for me and started to plan what was possible.
2021 did not start on a happy note. Buddy, our cat, became terminally ill. I have never made the final decision regarding a pet without first asking the veterinarian what would they do if it were their pet. The decision was agreed by both of us.
Buddy was an interesting addition to our lives. In 2010, while Butch and I were living in my friends house in New York, this feral cat would pass through the yard on the way to somewhere. It seemed friendly and would come closer if we called. This turned into leaving food and eventually coming into the house and settling in. We decided to keep the cat as an indoor, outdoor pet. This lasted for a few weeks until I discovered dead birds, chipmunks, mice etc. being left on my deck. I was told these are gifts and not to reprimand the cat. Being feral, Buddy was a prolific hunter and the “gifts” continued. I finally reached my limit and did exactly what I was not supposed to do. The “gifts” appeared to stop. That is until I was cleaning out under the deck. At least a dozen more were stored there. That day Buddy became an indoor cat. We took Buddy to the vet and all was well but we really had no idea how old Buddy was. I don’t know why other than the fact that Buddy was a cat with attitude to spare, we assumed Buddy was a male and never questioned that assumption. We did know that Buddy had been sterilized. The tip of his left ear had been removed which I initially thought was an act of cruelty but I later found out that it’s called ear tipping which indicates a feral cat that has been sterilized. Buddy was with us for 9 years. It was pretty obvious he missed Butch. They were inseparable. Either on his lap or around his neck like a fur scarf. After Butch passed, he tolerated me because I fed him and changed his litter. Three years later, he found his person again in my grandson. When It came time to move to Georgia, we wanted to be sure Buddy was prepared. Movers were coming for the household and my car. Lucas, myself and Buddy would be flying. Since there are no practice runs for pets on aircraft, I took Buddy to the vet to be sure he was healthy and to see if there was something I could give him in case he was nervous. Buddy was fine and the vet advised a tiny dose of Benadryl if needed. While we were there I decided to confirm Buddy’s gender since it never occurred to us to ask previously. You guessed it! Buddy was a girl. Armed with this new information and the airline approved cat carrier, we said our good byes to New York and left for the airport. We arrived at the airport to find our flight had been cancelled and no flights until the next day. I tried my best to convince the airline employee that we should be compensated since I was now homeless in New York with a child, at cat and a phone that was about to die with no charger. I thought all of that had to generate enough sympathy, especially the dying phone. At that time, my grandson loudly offered me his charger which killed the sympathy angle and the person I was dealing with informed me that the cancellation was due to weather and the airline is not responsible for weather delays. Our flight was rescheduled for the next morning which meant we had to stay overnight. We found a hotel nearby and after comedic situations both checking in and checking out, we were finally on our way. Much to my relief, Buddy was very well behaved and we arrived without further incident. We all settled in to our new home and Buddy seemed content. We did notice around the 2020/2021 holidays, Buddy did not seem like herself which was confirmed by the vet. She was a much loved member of our family and we miss her.
RIP BUDDY
Savannah has no shortage of things to do and we did manage to get acquainted with our new home town. We have a minor league baseball team, the Savannah Bananas who never fail to entertain as well as provide an exciting game. We successfully navigated an escape room and had visits from friends and family. In June, I took my grandson to the Grand Canyon for his birthday trip which was a fabulous adventure since neither of us had been there. Rose was also with us. The Canyon was breathtaking. We took tours to various vantage sites, a ride on a vintage train, complete with singing cowboy, and my favorite the Skywalk. This is a glass horseshoe shaped walkway that extends 70 feet out over the canyon so it almost seems like you’re walking on air.
Rose opted to stay behind and do some souvenir shopping since the ride to to the Skywalk was nearly four hours. Definitely worth the drive!
Since 2020 was not the year to embark on another travel adventure, by the time 2021 was in full swing, Rose and I were desperate to go somewhere. Although we had both been to Alaska previously, we decided to book a cruise there. This cruise sailed from Seattle. We left 2 days early to do some sightseeing since neither of us had been there. We spent an afternoon at the famous Pike Place Fish Market. Great place to buy fish if you live there and a great place to have lunch. Souvenir shopping of course and the Space Needle. At the base of the Space Needle is something I have never seen before and the word breathtaking doesn’t do it justice. Chiluly Gardens and Glass is an indoor outdoor exhibit and workshop of blown glass that has to be seen to be believed. It is actually large scale sculpture. As well as indoors, these sculptures are integrated into the gardens where you don’t immediately realize you are looking at glass flowers and plants mixed in with the actual flowers and plants.
This is a very small sample of what we saw. It’s hard to imagine the work involved to create something this beautiful and this large.
Alaska was, as always, spectacular. Being away, even though mask rules were still in place, was wonderful. We saw whales, sunbathing elephant seals, walruses and took that same train ride that Butch and I took in 2009. It was October and it snowed. We went to the workshop of a totem artist which was fascinating. I was able to purchase a moose antler with a drawing of Alaskan mountains, a bear and a moose for my son in law. Aside from always being there when I need his help, he hunts and has some trophies. Now that we’re all living in Georgia, the only way to obtain a moose antler is to buy one. He was extremely happy to receive it.
Rose has had over a dozen cancer related surgeries which has caused her some mobility issues. In spite of this she has always found a way to keep up. Anyone who has ever been on a cruise ship knows the corridors are endless. This time Rose opted to rent a scooter on the ship which meant she usually arrived before me. Now it was my turn to keep up!
I would caution anyone planning a trip to Alaska to bring their passport. I learned this the hard way. On my last trip to Alaska, a US drivers license was sufficient. Not any longer. Even though Alaska is a US state, a passport or a drivers license accompanied by a birth certificate is required. Based on my last visit to Alaska, all I had was my drivers license. Thanks to my cell phone, my son in law was able to locate my birth certificate and text a photo of it which was acceptable. I was already making plans to meet the ship at the first stop since I thought I would have to stay behind a day to wait for overnight mail. Crisis averted!
This trip was so appreciated after living through the pandemic. Hopefully, both the traveling public and the carriers practice an abundance of caution in the future.
The holidays came and went with the usual festivities. My annual Thanksgiving extravaganza and a Christmas party where my friend Tim was Santa Claus.
And this year the Christmas cookie theme was snow globes and ugly Christmas sweaters with a giant Gingerbread Boy!
Thus ended 2021 with the hope that 2022 would be a new year filled with health and peace.