A New Year, and a Reflection on the Old

I'm glad that it's 2012 at last...  2011 was not a gentle year for us.   I don't want to complain too much, because I know that there are so many that had it far worse.  We still have jobs.  We still have a home.  We still have our health. We don't live in a warzone.  And yet...  I'm still relieved to see that particular year behind us.  (It says a lot about my feelings about the year when I have to say "Gosh, at least we don't live in a war zone...")  I don't want to go into the ways that 2011 was a bit rough on us, so I'll highlight some of the good things that happened, as a way to keep things positive.

Foster kitten Ophelia who will NOT HOLD STILL for the camera.

- We started fostering kitties on an as-needed basis.  We've had fun, had some great temporary guests, and got to play a role in saving lives and finding homes for cats that might not have otherwise had a chance.  It is enough to give me a warm glowey feeling.

We watched Patches and Mitchell get their very own homes, and hope that we will see the kittens get snatched up quickly by families that are going to adore them.

Argos with Dove and Casper, two "adoptables" that have since been adopted.  

- I started blogging for Steel City Greyhounds. (Not here, at least most of the time, since this blog isn't just a Pittsburgh thing.  It's linked to from the organization's website.)  The group has found two of the best dogs in the entire world for me, and I wanted to "give back" to them, and to the hounds that are up for adoption.  It makes my entire day, no, week, when someone adopts one of these deserving dogs.

- We adopted Maera!  She is a fantastic addition to our family and we really enjoy her personality.

She is young, and has a very young soul.  This means that she is wildly curious about so many things that I take for granted.  It's like seeing the world through fresh eyes.

It has also taught me lots on how to "dog proof" a house.  I thought that I learned these lessons with Argos, but I was so so wrong.

- Charlotte is still with us!  I know that it may seem morbid to celebrate the fact that your cat is still alive every new year, but you have to understand that her prognosis was not good.  In 2008 she was given six months to a year to live, and on this first day of 2012 she is perched on the back of my chair, watching me type and twitching the back of my head with her tail every once in awhile to remind me that she's still the queen.  Fortune smiles upon us.  I know that the day is coming, but it hasn't come yet.


- Our animals have enjoyed reasonably good health, with a couple of minor and one major exception.  (RIP, dear Romeo.)

-  I met so many of you for the first time!  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I truly appreciate the pet bloggers that I have met.  This lovely group of people has been an excellent support network.  I was stunned and honored at the outpouring of sympathy that people, friends and strangers alike, gave us when Romeo passed away, and have greatly enjoyed reading your stories, updates and looking at your pictures...  It's great to see so many people so dedicated to animals, and really helps me to see these glimpses into your lives.  As someone who has many, many non-pet and non-pet-friendly people in my life, it is good to get confirmation that no, I am not crazy (or if I am, at least I am in good company!)

I hope that this first day of 2012 is a good one for you, and that the year is a gentle one for all of us.

As for the belief that what you spend New Year's Day doing being what you'll do all year long...  hmm. Let's see.  Doing dishes.  Taking dogs outside.  Cleaning up kitten poop.  Letting kittens run all over me.  Petting cats.  Snuggling dogs.  Yeah, you know what?  That sounds pretty awesome to me.  I think just to be safe and to lock in some "leisure time" I'm going to have my husband take me out to lunch.