Muscatine

  Jeff asked all of us a question.  Where are some of the old posters?  I remember the pen names of some of the people he mentioned.  Some of them I remember very fondly.  There is a reason I just had to come back & check out this site.  Many of you are hometown people, true-blue Muscatine bred!  (Definition?  LOL!  Too much like me!)  I was/am addicted.  You guys are awesome... (although I close my eyes when I read about manpons & that thingy you all pass amongst yourselves...it is a vision I DO NOT need to see in my dreams...thank you very much)! 

  I found friendship, loyalty, support & criticism from all of you.  They all reflected where I was then.  I listened to them all.

  Tonight...I'm sad, frustrated & scared.  Just when I thought our lives were finally on an even keel... 

  This week I found out that my very best friend in the whole world has breast cancer.  I found out that I will probably lose the job that I have had for over 20 years,  (the job I LOVE going to every day)!  I'm sad, pissed & frustrated & I came home from work in a foul mood!

  My husband, kids & grandchildren have tried to be supportive.  (YEAH...like they need to be upset along with me).  Who was my support system tonight?  My very own little man... my sweet little shitzu dog.  He was on my lap all night, listening to me, licking my tears away, cuddling with me & HE DIDN'T TRY TO FIX ANYTHING...nor did he show any fear for the future.  He JUST LOVED ME. 

  Someone said on here that DOG spelled backwards spelled GOD.  That our precious animals show us the love that is there if we only believe.  I believe...and I know that many of you do too.  Women, children & men... we all have been blessed with the love of our precious pets.  I remember the outpouring of love our family received after we lost our precious Angel, (Ernie's companion). 

  How have you been touched by your pet?  There are so many out there that are looking for homes.  I feel peaceful as I write this.  Life may suck in the future...but I have the love of this precious little dog... I looked into his eyes & I know that everything will be ok. 

I hear you dear lady and you will be hearing from me.

Oh, Tlou, I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles.  Wish I knew what to say to help, but I really don't.  So, I'll tell you about our pets.

  My oldest daughter has a cat that her grandfather got for her from a friend of his.  The cat is psycho.  Probably the most psycho cat I've ever seen.  If we are upstairs, she loves me.  She'll let me hold her and cuddle her.  If we're downstairs, however, she can't stand the sight of me.  She loves ice cream and cream cheese, but won't touch tuna.  But she's super smart.  After the kids go to school, she'll sit at the bottom of the stairs and stare at me until I follow her.  She'll take about five steps and then look back to make sure I'm still behind her.  She does this until we get to one of the kids beds.  She'll hop up on the bed and just look at me like she's asking where her kids are at.  Then she'll go to another bed and do the same thing.  If the baby is sleeping late, she will go the baby's crib and sit next to it, look at the baby and then look at me.  She never tries to jump into the crib, and any other time of day she doesn't want to have a thing to do with her.  It just seems like she worries if baby girl isn't up at her normal time.  She snuggles with the older kids when they are trying to sleep.  And, when one of them are crying, she's right there tapping them on the arm or leg with her paw like she's tyring to ask them what's wrong.  She is definitely part of our family, and if something were to happen to her, I don't know what we'd do.

     Hope things start to look up for you real soon, Tlou.  Hang in there.

  LJ... I look forward to your response & your wisdom.  Frazzled...you are so sweet; I love your kitty...and I appreciate your words.  I have faith that life will work out...I have a sign that says "Something good is about to happen".  It will... I have my precious little dogs' eyes to tell me so; and I have faith.   

  We had a sweet siamese kitty named Sugar.  She was just as independent as your cat, Frazzled!  LOL!  C'mon people...tell us how your own pet made a difference in your life?  They all have this loving soul that wants to be supportive & fun!  It's not a weakness... TELL us how they have made a difference in your life?