The Next Chapter

Good Morning! Well we made it, Happy Friday. Yesterday was so beautiful outside. After work, I worked on chipping away at the huge lake of ice/water out front of my house. The storm drain is front of my house. Our backyards were graded so that when it rains or the snow melts the water runs downhill to the drain. Only thing is in the spring before the temperatures stay above zero overnight, we get thawing and freezing. This year we had a lot of snow therefore lots of ice. Just works that way. So I spent over one hour chipping and clearing the ice from the drain. Also when people park on the street they push the snow and block the drain. Never ending fun. Anyway, I got some exercise. During the day I received a text from Alyaa, one of my neighbours and the friend who spent the most time with Alvin since our last October return to the office. She texted that she would come for a quick visit around 5:00 if that was okay. While I was outside, I did not have my watch on but it felt like it should be close to 5:00 and she wasn’t coming so I walked to her house (only a few away) and rang the doorbell, only Cookie barked. I went home and a little while later here she comes with her daughter. She was carrying something and when she got closer I saw that it was a glass dish with food in it. Alyaa made me a casserole of sorts. An original traditional Middle Eastern dish with kabobs, rice and potatoes. I was so excited. Funny thing is I had been thinking earlier what am I going to have for supper as I did not have leftovers and wasn’t really wanting to cook. Talk about blessed. So we had a lovely chat on the sidewalk with me holding my prize carefully in one arm and the ice pick in the other. We got splashed a couple of times from people not paying attention and hitting the water on the street and spraying us so we moved behind a nearby vehicle. When they left for home, I put the food into the house for safekeeping. Oh, the dish was already cooked, I only had to warm it up. Then it was back to chipping for me. I am afraid to look out front this morning as likely it has iced over again. I cannot wait until the temperatures get into the double digits and remain that way over night and the sidewalks are dry. Then I can get out walking. After supper, I walked to drop off another thank you card but my neighbours were not at home. I texted them and they are leaving on a trip for a week. So perhaps will get it over to them after work. By the way, the dish was so delicious, so good. I thanked Alyaa profusely.

Tonight after work, my daughter is going to pick up Alvin’s paw prints from Guardian. I am happy and greatly saddened to receive them. Just another reminder that he is no longer with me. I have all of these reminders of this passing and of his life. All memories, some great and others incredibly sad. I know that he will always be with me. His urn is sitting beside me right now on the computer desk. I have to take him with him from going upstairs at night and going downstairs in the morning. He was my boy. He will always be my boy and I miss him so much.

I hope that you have a good day. Happy Friday.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities, coffee and forgiveness.

Always, Carol & Alvin (My Forever Angel)

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you? We are great. There is great cause for celebration in my house. Actually I have been smiling and doing a little jig since 5:25 p.m. last night. I was just about to throw in my eggs with broccoli and tomatoes into a pan to be cooked when the phone rang. I removed the pan from the burner and turned it off quickly before reaching for my phone which was not far away. The caller was GUARDIAN (hospital where Alvin had his surgery). My heart felt like it did a small jump or perhaps it was me temporarily not breathing, as I answered the call. The caller identified himself as Alvin’s surgeon (said his name) and we chatted for a minute or so about his recovery before he explained the purpose for his phone call. He said that the results were all back from Alvin’s tests and were earlier than first expected. As I started to write down the most important things, I asked him to repeat something and he said don’t worry I am emailing you the reports and they will go to Alvin’s Doctor as well. First thing he said was no cancer anywhere, no Cushing disease, nothing bacterial and of course, he used different terminology and I sometimes had to ask him to explain in non-medical terms. At the end of it all of the tests which included testing the lining of his bladder, biopsy of his liver and of the stones from his bladder – everything came back negative. He said he of course is starting to show signs of aging but he is 12 and that is natural. The only change for Mr.Alvin is his diet. He will go on an Urinary Diet SO, I believe he called it. Diet I can handle. I told the Dr. S. that I had not given him any human food, none of his favorite treats like bananas and blueberry and carrots. I asked him if the fruits and vegetables that I gave him would hurt him in the future and he thought not. He also said to discuss his diet with his Doctor which I will be doing later this morning, in fact in two hours when his stitches come out. We had a nice chat. He also mentioned that he will need to keep his water intake around the two cups of water each day. That helps to keep the stones from forming. I am glad that I asked him how much water he should be drinking. I measured his water dishes and could tell that he drinks at least that much and perhaps a bit more each day. YAY, Mr. Alvin. At the end of our conversation I thanked him and the team profusely for the care and support that they have given to us. He said if I ever had any questions to email him. I have his email. How nice is that! Cannot say enough about GUARDIAN Emergency Animal Hospital. They are simply the best. Oh, I also asked about the dental chews that he has now in the pantry …. we went over the name etc. and he said that he could have one. Alvin had gotten so excited when I pulled his container out of the pantry so I was happy to comply.

We are also celebrating the 41st birthday of my beautiful daughter and Alvin’s beloved sister, Amanda. She is coming to pick us up and drive us to his stitch removal appointment this morning. Then she is going to pick up some groceries for me including the items that I need to make her “fruit pizza” birthday “cake.” A bit later she will go home so that she can get her family ready and then return here for a birthday celebration. A celebration of life, really. This day holds extra meaning today. A day filled with so many blessings and much gratitude. I have much to be grateful for and I know it. I feel it and I own it.

Happy Birthday to my darling daughter who is the most compassionate, kind, respectful, patient, funny, intelligent, creative, tech savvy, wonderful, thoughtful, gentle, loving of course, girl – woman. She will always be my little girl.

I cannot wait to celebrate later today.

I do know and believe with all my being that “Thoughts do become Things.” Alvin’s results were proof of that. I just kept thinking to myself ….. he will be in great health and only have to change his diet and he was.

Well time to go and have a shower, then breakfast and coffee and before long we will be at the Vet getting Alvin’s stitches removed. Tomorrow is supposed to be +10 degrees celsius and we will be going for a nice walk. Both of us have cabin fever ….. a need for fresh air and time with nature.

Continuing to live in kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin