Sweet Boy

I spent alot of time the last 4 days being without "real" internet access. I could occassionally post, or "like" a picture, but no real meaningful communication. So, maybe I'm making up for it with several of these posts.

Most of you know that I keep up with Facebook once or twice a week, to make sure my Mom and Dad know what's happening in our lives KarenJay Rasmussen). I also do it for a plethroa of cousins and friends all over this nation Philene And-Cory Rasmussen). I like to talk about my time at school, the critters, the garden, family, etc.

The one single idea/moment that stuck with me this holiday, was when Aidan woke up from a fever dream about 4 am this morning -- I was sleeping with him, because I'm one of "those" parents, and was worried about him being sick. He turned to me, and I was watching him (as I was holding him) and he said, in a clear voice, "Mom? Are you there? Whatever happens, know I love you." I won't lie -- it disturbed me, and I said, "Sweetheart boy (this is what I call him), did you have a bad dream?" His only response was, "No matter what happens, I love you." No explanation, no desrcription of the dream. He took my hand and put it on his face (because he was burning up and my hand were cool) and fell asleep. Today, he can't remember the dream, but I know because I was there, that for a 1/2 hour, he whimpered, cried and thrashed in his bed. I didn't wake him, I just held him. So, my sweet son, taught me one thing about this entire trip -- "no matter what happens, I love you."

Unconditional love in many forms.

Why I like Animals more than Humans

I’ve always been an animal lover – since I was little.  My parents have pictures of me in diapers, cavorting with a beautiful white kitty.  The legend goes that I and this intrepid hunter would sit in a prime window and catch flies together.  Apparently this predator taught me to hunt and eat these insects.  And talk is that I got pretty damn good at snatching those critters out of the air.  Alfie, I think his name was.  I’m still a fly killer, although I’ve switched weapons from grubby toddler fingers to a stealth swatter.  Ya gotta upgrade in this technology laden world, right?  

My point is that I have an affinity for animals.  I relate more with them than my own kind.  There is no subterfuge with a cat – they’re apathetic to my existence, there’s no middle-ground.  With a dog – if I love them, they’ll love me back ten-fold.  My son has accused me of loving our four legged friends more than I love him, but he knows that’s not true – simply an easy button to push.  Although, if it needs to be said, I do love that particular human more than is polite.  When I was younger, I wasn’t discouraged from this behavior and we had companions and family members of many kinds.  I think the only time I saw my father cry before I was 20 was when he carried our little beagle, “Little Bit” up the road after he was hit.  The bond created with these friends has sustained me in many ways.  I wrote about my boy, Scooter in an essay last year and posted it on my blog.  I haven’t written in so long because I was in mourning for a particular girl named Lucy, who I lost when we moved to Arkansas.  I still love and miss her, but I am finding my voice again.  

Happy trails to all, and please, if you can, share a bit of kindness to a shelter, a friend going through a loss of a fur baby, or just share a post on social media for an organization trying to find homes for those who have no voices.  I know there are other beings out there worthy (children, elderly, soldiers) and I support and advocate for them too, but my particular passion is the four-legged creatures we share this earth with.  Peace.