Monday, December 22, 2008

Changes in the household

On October 9 we put Butch down because of old age. The poor baby was 16 years old and had developed tumors that were spreading way to fast. Bethany, Alicia, Sundance and I took him to the K-State Vet hospital and they were absolutely wonderful. He lay in my arms as the girls sat with me on the floor as he passed away. Very hard but very needed. It was such a peaceful passing. He was so ready.

On November 16, Sundance was killed by a truck out at the grass dump site in town. He died in my arms as I drove back to the house with him. No ones fault. He was running around, saying hi to everyone out there. One of those things, though I still hurt over him.














The house was too quiet with the three cats. It's just not the same without a dog so we got one. She is a one year old boxer named Melanie and boy is she gorgeous. Milo and Otis tolerate her and MoJo can't stand her. She loves to play, run, and give lots of love. She is definitely JR's dog and will love on anyone until he comes home. It's fun to watch them together. It was also a big plus that she came house broke and spade. Yeah!!

She thinks she is a cat and likes to get into the cat box. Luckily for her my friend Chris gave her a bed so maybe she'll stay out of the box.















Not a happy Otis, Melanie had her pinned in there!

Monday, December 8, 2008

It's Christmas!!

I spent the weekend putting up the tree and lights outside only to have some real help. Here is Otis climbing the tree. He thinks he's pretty cool.















I have a basket of fake poinsettas that I like to have out. Otis thinks this is camouflage for him. He likes to lie in wait for Milo then pounce.



Remember our Soldiers this Christmas

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, my daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, so I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, a lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, you should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, way from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night. It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, that separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', and now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while, but my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... An American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, tor being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, to stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, that we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Michael Marks, 2000