Not the mama

There is a framed photo of our wedding propped up against a wall in the corner of our bedroom. It's not that I don't like it -- it happens to be my favorite wedding photo! It's just that I ran out of picture-hanging steam, I suppose. Plus, it's usually covered by our laundry basket, so I forget it's there.

Well, I decided to do some laundry the other day, so I took the basket down the hall, exposing the picture.

Rolin has been sitting in front of it since that day, pointing at the pictures and naming those he recognizes.

Cute, right? Aww, he knows who people are! 

Maybe you can even see yourself in this photo? Feel free to point at those you recognize and joyfully call out their names as if you're a 19-month old.

It's fun, yes?

But you know what has got me baffled and questioning my appearance lately?

He doesn't recognize the lady in white, the one holding his daddy's hand. 

You know, the one who birthed him and has never been away from him for more than eight hours at a time (not necessarily by choice...). 

You know, HIS MOTHER!?

He won't believe me when I tell him otherwise. 

To him, this is not mama. 

To him, our wedding photographer is his mother. 

Nothing against her, of course. She's a lovely lady! I just really wonder why I can't convince him that I am the other woman in the picture!!! Ha!

Could it be her cowlick? Maybe. It's similar to the one that makes an apperance at the back of my head if I don't wash my hair daily. And, if we're being honest, I can't tell you the last time I washed my hair two days in a row. Maybe that's it. 

Is it her watch? No, I don't wear a watch. 

Is it her red shirt? well, I do wear my bull shirt from Spain a lot...so much so it's kind of orange now. Maybe that's it. 

I often stand with my hand up like that, protecting my tender Norwegian eyes from the bright sun. Even on cloudy days (which sometimes seem brighter, for some reason). Maybe that's it. 

Temporary Scottsdalians

We spent 30 days in a temp housing condo in Scottsdale. It was nice to be set up in something other than a hotel for this transition, especially with Rolin. It seemed like a 30 day whirlwind, with all our to dos, doctor appointments, mail chasing, no cell service, waiting for our car to arrive and house hunting, so the days flew by.

Our digs were pretty sweet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one with a double sink!), fully furnished, large kitchen with nice appliances, washer/dryer, community pools, next to a park. It was no where near child proofed, so that made things interesting the first few days. We only broke three things total. Thank goodness for superglue.

Scottsdale itself is nothing to shake a stick at, either. Some areas are pretty swanky.

And the sunsets. THE SUNSETS!

The condo was in a community in the Scottsdale Ranch area, which is nestled around a man-made lake. We didn't have a lake view from our condo, but all we had to do is walk across the parking lot to enjoy the view.

There was also a fountain in the center of the community that Rolin really enjoyed watching. We made daily trips to the fountain (because he'd fall asleep on our walks, you see, so whether or not he seemed like he wanted to see the fountain, we went to see it anyway).

Fountain side re-hydrating with ice water. Sweet, sweet ice water.

We used the pool a couple times. There were two in the community, and they were almost always void of swimmers. Probably because it was too hot. Rolin loves the water, and loved sitting in his floatie near the pool's waterfall.

We would have gone more, but it was monsoon season while we were there, making for quite a few thunder storms and haboobs (sand/dust storms), not to mention excessive heat.

Nice to know this feature exists.

Visibility was down to 100 ft. in this sand/dust storm. Can you see the house in that pic?

Rollin' rollin' rollin'

The Thompsons came down the first week we were in Scottsdale to help watch Rolin while we went house hunting with a rental rep. They stayed for a few days, you know, just long enough to start to get used to the heat.

 Grandpa Lee soaking up some patio heat with Rolin.

We went to the aquarium later in the month to kill some time. Rolin seemed to enjoy it more than I expected he would. He seemed entertained the entire time and didn't cry once.

Gazing up at the fish from inside the under-tank bubble.

Jellyfish.

I couldn't help it.

No idea what this is. But it is interesting!

We got two stuffed manta ray toys at the aquarium, one for Rolin and one for a friend, as a memento. We had Rolin choose between blue and green mantas; he chose the green one twice...I thought it was so cute when he made his selection between the two. Now that we've moved into our new place I can't find the damn blue manta ray for his friend anywhere...it's making me feel crazy. I'll probably find it when we move out of this house. The dangers of moving...

Overall, Rolin did the best he could to entertain himself with the limited amount of toys we brought for our temp stay. He played peekaboo a lot and chased his red bouncy ball around the house.

He did end up playing with an empty beer box for a long time one night, so the next day we went and got him a truck he can sit on or push.

We realized too late that he doesn't quite yet understand the concept of hanging on to the truck when you go too fast when parents push you too fast. Sorry, baby!

The truck entertained him for a day or two, then he resorted to batting a stacking cup around as entertainment.

We also practiced speaking names of our loved ones, such as Aunt Brianna and Uncle Joe:

He really did enjoy going outside though, no matter how hot it was. He would get so sweaty and pink-cheeked, but he LOVED being outside. I'd have to drag him back inside kicking and screaming....at least he doesn't hate the heat, right?

Now we're busy getting settled in at our new house. We've had a crazy time since moving in too, as we were in WA for a week for Nanny's funeral, came back to AZ with house guests, and Rolin pushed through 3-4 teeth, had diarrhea and a terrible head cold. Needless to say, we're grateful for a low-key weekend.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Convertible Cribs

Justin and I have been looking at cribs. White cribs, small cribs, brown cribs, fancy cribs, blond cribs; 4-way convertible cribs, regular ol' plain cribs...there are many from which to choose.

We've narrowed it down to a white convertible crib, but have yet to make a final decision...we've had a few other decisions to make in the last month. You understand.

The convertible crib is a nice idea -- it can change from crib to toddler bed, from toddler bed to a "big kid" bed and from "big kid" bed to to a full-size bed; complete with headboard and footboard.

Justin and I have had several giggle fests about what it would be like for future BT to bring home his/her college sweetheart and for BT to show said sweetheart it's childhood room...

Imagine with us, if you will, future BT saying, "See these teething marks along the headboard and footboard? I did that. This used to be my crib. And these over here? They're from my older sibling(s?). Also, this is where I drew on the crib with a permanent marker...mom hasn't been able to bring herself to clean it off or paint over it because she thinks it's 'cute,' and dad won't sand it down because it's 'nostalgic.' Since I'm the youngest, I got to see the crib through to its full conversion. Yea."

I'm hoping to create or invest in some teething protectors when the time comes, just to save future BTs the embarrassment of 25-year-old teething marks on their full-size bed.

Duplex Chronicles: Best convo of 2012 -- yes, already

The scene: Team Thompson's house in shambles...still decorated for Christmas, also bearing signs of no chores having been done whatsoever over the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. A no-makeup-sporting Christine sitting on the couch with some wicked bedhead, and dressed an outfit that hasn't been mirror-checked...for two days...folding some laundry. A lot of laundry.

Neighbor walks by, peeking in the window as he passes, seeing Christine and the house in shambles. Christine squeaks to Justin to please join her in the living room to talk to Neighbor.

Team Thompson open the door...

Neighbor: Happy New Year, guys.
Team Thompson: Thanks, to you too.
Neighbor: You guys paid an extra $100 in rent this month, did you know that?
TT: No, it's been a long month. Thanks for letting us know.
Neighbor: Yeah, you guys look like you could use some rest...{{Neighbor eyeballs Christine; Christine realizes she hasn't eyeballed herself all day}} Well, at least you get a 3-day weekend to rest up. You have tomorrow off, right?
TT: No.
Neighbor: What? It's a national holiday. Isn't it illegal to work?
TT: No.
Neighbor: That's weird. Are you sure?
TT: Yes.
{{{ pause}}}
TT: We work in retail. All the stores are open, thus, we have to work. We could take the day off, but that would require using vacation days.
Neighbor: That sucks.

TT's head thoughts: Neighbor...you say this EVERY SINGLE "NATIONAL HOLIDAY." When will you get it...haven't you ever gone out to eat on a "national holiday"? How about to a movie, or have you gone to the mall? Have you needed some milk, butter and a dozen eggs? How about some more plants for the yard? DID GHOSTS SELL YOU THESE GOODS on a "national holiday"? NO! People still have to work on these days too!

TT: Yeah. Well. Happy New Year. We'll just pay $100 less next month if that's ok. Bye.
Neighbor: Sure. And thanks for watering my plants while I was on vacation. They always look better when I get back.

... :-D

The Duplex Chronicles: woodworking by moonlight

I often wonder what all our wall-sharing neighbor can hear Team Thompson doing, saying, singing or thinking. Neighbor lives alone so he is inherently more quiet than we. He has no one to talk to, no one to scream “kill that bug!” to, no one to serenade from the shower, no one to listen to rants about poor work days, no one to laugh with until he cries while watching reruns of Frasier or 30 Rock.

Overall, he keeps quiet. He even sleeps in on the weekends until just one hour of daylight remains...but that’s another story for another time.

There is, however, the witching hour. It falls anywhere between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. about every other night, just as Team Thompson is tucking itself in for a long winter’s nap.

Last night was one of those nights.

We were both just about five minutes into REM sleep when I woke to a bang bang bang, hammer hammer hammer.

See, it’s our bedroom wall that butts up to Neighbor’s abode.

Bang bang bang, hammer hammer hammer. Bang bang bang, hammer hammer hammer.

It soon woke Justin. We kept still for about five minutes, just listening. I made myself a deal, saying that if he went on for an additional, and generous, five minutes more, I’d have to go over there.

Bang bang bang, hammer hammer hammer. Bang bang bang, hammer hammer hammer.

Up I got, grabbed my robe, and headed for the front door. I waited outside his door to see if the hammering would continue.

It did.

I knocked…magically in-sync with the hammering.

I knocked again…just as Neighbor started hammering again.

I knocked a third time, louder. The hammering stopped. The porch light was flipped on and it blinded me. Neighbor opened the door, just a crack, and I whispered, “we’re sleeping.”

Neighbor apologized, he is quite kind, by the way, and I replied, “ok, night night,” and went back inside.

Then JT and I lay giggling and making jokes about what it is we think Neighbor only feels fit to do after 11 p.m., or once the neighborhood is asleep.

“Maybe he’s making an armada of tiny wooden ships,” said Justin.

“Maybe he’s making small, wooden puppets that come to life in the moonlight,” said Christine.

“Maybe he’s hulling out a fallen tree to make a canoe,” said Justin.

“Maybe he’s getting started on that fence he keeps talking about,” said Christine.

This went on until we laughed ourselves back to sleep.

I wonder if he could hear that?

Important Message

If you find yourself invited to a wedding anytime soon, you should know that you're not cool if you don't know how to "Dougie."

Oh, I'm down with the kids (name that movie). I can Macarena, Thriller or Boot Scootin' Boogie circles around anyone (ok, ok...no, I can't, but at least I know what those dances are and can fake my way through them). I even know how to do a spiced up version of running in place to dance along to Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO.

But...Dougie? I'd never even heard the song before Joe and Brianna's wedding.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!

I was out shakin' it on the dance floor, after someone finally coaxed me out there in the first place, and was busy dancing with my cousins and fellow bridesmaids when the Dougie song came on.

Suddenly, a circle formed. You know, the kind of circle that formed at high school dances when it was time for break dancing.

What? That never happened at your high school dances? Well it did at mine.

So, people formed a circle. People began swaying side to side. I continued bouncing back and forth on the balls of my feet...my standard dancing move. People began swaying more, all in sync to the rhythm of the music (dancing to the beat...it's a novel idea, right). Then, it happened: people started going crazy...I thought it was some sort of Bohemian, Rasta-love hippy dancing. People were rolling their arms into the air, they were spinning and doing moves as if they were greasing up their hair.

One of the bridesmaids...who must have seen my panicked look or noticed that I was the only one not swaying to the beat...came over and said, "put your arms out like this [steering wheel movement to the side] and then do it on the other side."

"Oh! Ok, yeah," I said.

The minute she turned back around to the circle, I steering wheel-shimmied myself right off the dance floor and over to the bar.

I still haven't heard the Dougie song on any station I listen to in the Bay Area.

Now, go get your notebook, put on your best dancing shoes, stand in front of the full-length mirror and then press play.

Note: this video is ok for all audiences...you can look up your own Dougie video, if you so choose.



You can thank me later :)

A Royal Affair

I forgot to mention this, you know, a month or more ago.

I got up early...super early...to watch the wedding. THE Royal Wedding. My friend Heather and came over for tea and scones -- proper English wedding fare, I'm sure -- and enjoyed the festivities. I brought out my cream and sugar set as well as some of the doilies and fun coffee/tea-time dishes Justin and I received as a wedding gifts.

I've always had a little crush on Prince William...ok, ok, it hasn't always been so little, especially when I was about 14. Every time I'd come home from somewhere and ask if anyone had called, my dad would always tease me by saying Prince William had called.

I'm glad I got up to watch -- and I'm also glad I had the company of friends who wanted to watch with me, whether it be on my couch or on their own -- we exchanged a few calls and texts with others watching elsewhere to comment on various happenings and the dress unveiling. The couple looked so happy, as most do on their wedding day, and who doesn't love the idea of a prince marrying his princess!

Plus, I love the moments I get to think about my trip to London with my friend Jen to visit her sister, Carla!

I was so happy to be in London, I couldn't keep my eyes open!

Jen and me after our tour of the Tower of London. Not a good day to wear fancy shoes. That's another story for another time.

 

Me in front of Buckingham Palace. That balcony right behind me is where the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge locked lips in front of a roaring crowd of wedding celebrators.

So, that was an earthquake

I just felt my first earthquake. I definitely felt a jolt while sitting in my chair and soon realized what had happened when my co-workers all quickly tried to decide what we should do if it continued to shake.

Thankfully it was just a jolt, not continuous shaking.

You can rest assured, though, that Team Thompson has a disaster kit and an emergency plan in place should something horrible happen. My friend Heather and I decided to get 'er done a few weeks ago and hit up Costco for some emergency supplies.

Too bad the kit is at my house...22 miles away from my current location. Smooth. We can only hope that both Justin and I are at home if that time comes.

This is me with my disaster kit. Classy, right?

According to the USGS, this earthquake was just a 3.8 magnitude, centered near Pacifica. I know this because a while back I decided I needed to terrify myself daily, so I download the Earthquakes app on my iPhone...it lists all earthquakes all over the world and will alert me to earthquakes over any certain magnitude around any certain radius I choose.

The green pin notes the epicenter of today's earthquake.

I don't advise downloading this app. It's given me gray hair. It was a bad idea, especially since Jesus says, "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34). That's one command I certainly struggle daily to remember!

One last note. Today is the 105th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake that registered at 7.9 on the Richter scale, destroying much of the city of San Francisco and killing more than 3,000. Here's an article from the Mercury News reporting that a group gathered today in San Fran to commemorate the anniversary and to hold a moment of silence for those suffering from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Down with the leaf blowers!

I wouldn't ever go to this extreme, but I'd like to note that Team Thompson is not alone in their disdain for early-bird leaf blowers. Click photos to enlarge...

The Bucket List email

There is an email, a chain letter of sorts, going around in my family titled, "The Bucket List." It's a list of adventurous activities you are to place an X next to, acknowledging your participation in such activities.

As I went through the list, I found myself inserting comments and short stories about my experiences. I stopped half way, realizing that the email was to be kept to the point, and that if I had a hankering to elaborate, I should do so on a blog. Well, I have a blog because I get these so-called hankerings from time to time. So, here we go:

Have you ever:

(my commentary is after the --- )

This is for your Entire Life!!.......

x	Shot a gun -- several. BB guns, rifles, dart guns, pellet guns
	Gone on a blind date
X	Skipped school -- a few of us in high school skipped our 0-hr class to go get lattes instead. Rebels. College, however, is a different story. I was known to take the occasional "personal day."
	Watched someone die. --- Dying, yes. Die, no.
X	Been to Canada -- band trips, baby.
	Been to Alaska -- I hear you can see Russia from there
	Been to Cuba --- I hear there was a missile crisis. Opt out.
X	Been to Europe/Asia --- I've been to London and Ireland. I went with my friend Jen!
	Been to South America
	Been to Las Vegas --- surprisingly, no. My friend Jeff lives and teaches there now so I'm sure I'll go at some point, but I've never gone to party or walk the strip. I guess I'm not in the cool club.
	Been to Mexico --- no, but I want to. I think it'd be a fun girls' trip.
	Been to Florida --- I don't care for sharks and I feel the same about alligators.
X	Been on a plane --- a time or two
	Served on a Jury
X	Been lost --- ha!
x	Been on the opposite side of the country --- If you count the Atlanta airport and Ft. Benning in Georgia as the other side, then yes.
	Gone to Washington , DC --- however, I'm still proud to be an American.
X	Swam in the Ocean --- yes, I've even been snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. I couldn't breath most of the time because I was terrified. I wasn't one to go any deeper than the length of my snorkel. That's a funny sentence to read out of context, btw.
x	Swam in the Ocean with Dolphins --- There were dolphins outside of the supposed "secure" snorkeling area on the reef. So...by association, yes. There was also a dumb woman who ventured outside the roped off area to get closer to the dolphins. Thank goodness I was back on the boat, with a beer, so I was safe inside in case sharks attacked. In my head I was screaming, "WOMAN! WE ARE IN AUSTRALIA. YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO DIE OUT THERE," but I didn't...I just watched from the window, too scared to actually say anything, so I just drank my beer. I drank a lot of beer in Australia. There, I said it.
x	Cried yourself to sleep --- it wasn't pretty. It never is. I'm an ugly crier. (That's for you, Heather B.)
X	Played Cops and Robbers
X	Played Cowboys and Indians --- I think we played more of this than cops and robbers
?	Recently colored with crayons (within the last 2 years) The answer here is possibly. I've colored with glitter markers, but I can't say absolutely yes to crayons.
X	Sang Karaoke --- the folks I worked with at my old gig in Seattle were big time Karaoke fans. We hit the Little Red Hen and some creepy places in Chinatown more than I'd like to admit.
	Sang in a band --- I was asked to be in a band that never formed, but that doesn't count. However, I was in an acapella group in middle school and chamber choir in high school... not necessarily bands, but groups singing together.
X	Paid for a meal with coins only --- If you count food from vending machines that have to act in place of a meal, then yes.
X	Made prank phone calls --- Heather P. and I got to be pretty awesome prank callers back in the day. Sorry, boys.
x	Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose --- it stings.
X	Caught a snowflake on your tongue
	Danced in the rain --- I do not care for the rain. I will not dance in it or for it.
X	Written a letter to Santa Claus --- he's never written back.
X	Been kissed under the mistletoe --- I like mistletoe.
	Watched the sunrise with someone --- Not intentionally, anyway. I've been places with other people when the sun rose, but I've never gone out of my way to take someone somewhere to watch it. I like the idea of it. We even talked about getting up to go watch one on our Honeymoon in Hawaii, but it didn't happen. I'm more of a sunset person.
X	Blown bubbles --- duh
x	Gone ice skating
X	Gone skiing --- don't want to ever again. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I don't give up often, but when I went skiing (more like human snowball rolling down a hill) I sat down half way down a hill and waited for someone to come get me. I was also more sore the next day than I've ever been in my life. Horrible. Sledding, however, is fun.
X	Camped out under the stars --- a few times as a kid in our treehouse or on the patio to watch a meteor shower. Justin and I do enjoy camping, though we don't get to it that often in California. And here is a reason why.
	Took a vacation alone --- I'd feel bad leaving JT behind
X	Seen something so beautiful that it took your breath away --- I find it's hard to breathe when I look in the mirror. JUST KIDDING. Totally kidding. I have seen some beautiful sunsets, though.
X	Are or have been married --- Team Thompson, baby!
	Have children --- someday
X	Have or had a pet --- Yes. Here is a list, in case you were wondering. Goldie (cat), Jessica (dog), Playful (cat), Wilber (fish), tadpoles (I caught them in a pond in Pomeroy...some grew to be small frogs, but it's hard to catch flies to feed to baby frogs so they didn't make it too long), Willy (killer dog), Kirby (dumb dog), mice (yes, I found and kept field mice in a box, but threw them outside after I discovered one had died and the others were eating it. Sick.), Flopsy & Mopsy (Matt's gerbils, Pete (devil cat. A cat that I will never actually claim to be a pet, though my parents fed it and it lived on our back porch for more than 5 years).
X	Been fishing --- for small fish in the pond in Pomeroy, as well as in the irrigation pond at the Olmstead's house.
X	Been boating
x	Been Water Skiing --- more like water crashing. I'm not good at it at all. I can hardly get up. It's pathetic.
X	Been Hiking --- lots of fun hiking areas around us in CA
X	Been camping in a trailer/RV --- And I'm thankful for the time I spent there.
X	Flown in a small 4-seater airplane --- It was piloted by none other than my cousin Andrew!
	Flown in a biplane --- well, maybe, if the plane flown by Andrew had 2 seats instead of 4.
	Flown in a plane doing acrobatics
	Flown in a glider --- no thank you
	Been flying in a helicopter --- would like to
	Been flying in a hot air balloon --- not sure I want to, but my in-laws have!
	Been bungee-jumping --- I just can't see how that's good for your skeleton
X	Gone to a drive-in movie --- we had a good time with the Coxes!
X	Done something that should have killed you --- Yes, I drive in 24+ miles of California traffic 5+ days a week.
X	Done something that you will regret (feel sad about) for the rest of your life. --- yes, and I try very hard to forget about such things. They make my tummy flip and my face turn red. I'm not going to write about them, either.
	Been to Africa --- I'd like to see Egypt sometime
x	Ever ride an elephant --- at the circus!
X	Ever eaten just cookies for dinner --- C is for Cookie, that's good enough for me. Oh. Ehem. What?
X	Ever been on T.V. --- in the background of news reports, but never in a show or something in which I've been an ac-tor (please say this aloud as if you are Jenna Maroney from 30 Rock)
X	Ever steal any traffic signs --- I've attempted to, but chickened out. They're screwed on pretty well, I might add.
X	Ever been in a car accident --- In a 4 car fender-bender in 2008 while driving south on I-5 in Seattle. I also backed into someone in the parking lot in high school. My cars, however, have been in more accidents by themselves.
	Bailed out of Helicopter/Plane --- I've always wanted to skydive, but it's expensive and I'm a bit of a tightwad.

Have a nickname?	Queen Latifah, Lady Aberlin, Sister Hazel (these three were assigned by my brothers...the first two are for reasons unbeknownst to me), Chris, Chrissy-K, K-Rabe (long story)
Body piercings?	currently: 2 Previously: 6 (2 in right ear, 3 in left ear, 1 in belly button)
Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle?	4
Favorite NUMBER?	5
Favorite movie?	Love Actually, Goonies
Favorite dessert?	ice cream
Where do you see yourself in 10 years	I've tried to stop planning ahead -- someone else is in control :) however, if it's an evening such as this, I'd like to be snuggled up with my hoosband and some kiddos, eating popcorn and watching a movie
Furthest place you will send this message?	Better yet, reply to this with a comment to let us know where you're reading from
Mother’s name	Ginger (Virginia)
Favorite Drink	coffee

Why Scrambled Eggs Remind Me of My Cat

I had a friend named Kristine when I was little. We met in Sunday School and quickly became friends because we shared a name and because were wearing the same sweater the day we met. It was red and black with several black bows attached to the front. It was pretty stylin’.

Kristine and I would go to one another’s houses almost every Sunday after church. At her house we’d play outside in the tree fort or their motor home, inside throwing things down the laundry shoot and we’d even go down the street at her neighbor’s house so we could jump on their trampoline.

Kristine’s family had a few farm cats around, and one Sunday, one of the momma kitties introduced us to her new litter. I fell deeply in love with the runt. I felt bad that he was small and I felt even worse when Kristine’s dad explained the likely fate of a runt. I scooped him up, called my parents and begged them to let me bring the little guy home.

I had to do a lot of begging, but I got to bring Runt home. We’d only ever had a pet dog that we called our own. Her name was Jessica. We had all sorts of stray cats and dogs wondering around, but Jessica was ours. She got run over by a cement truck right in front of my brothers and me one day while we were out with our mom who was turning on the irrigation pump. But that’s another story for another time.

Runt was a playful kitty and grew to be one of the larger cats I’ve ever seen. He enjoyed attacking his rainbow colored bear and joining me in a game of “chase your brothers around the house.” He was so playful that my second-grade self decided that his name should be Playful.

Yes. I named a cat a verb. I was in second grade, ok!

Playful, in true farm cat form, would sometimes take his playfulness a little too far. Without notice, he would attack, claws bared and sharp teeth glinting. We quickly learned that he didn’t enjoy being petted anywhere but his head. Once in a while, he’d let us stroke his back, but if you liked your hands, legs and even face scar free, it behooved you to stick to his head only.

Playful, being the lucky animal we called our real pet, was allowed to come in the house from time to time. Other animals had to tough it outside 24/7.

Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for…

Sometimes he even got bowls of leftover salmon. What a lucky kitty!

If we ran out of cat food, I’d scramble an egg in the micro for Playful. Good golly did he love scrambled eggs. I think he liked how it kept his coat shiny. He’d scarf them right up and then go back outside to hunt gophers, birds and the occasional, unfortunate, bunny.

Playful was in our lives until the fall I went to college. My mom called me at school to let me know that shortly after I left for WSU, Playful disappeared. They hadn’t found him anywhere, but she just wanted me to know. I was ok with that, he was old. However, I did like to pretend he was roaming the Palouse in search of me because he missed curling up, one foot over the other, next to me on my bed. And no one else at home was going to make him a scrambled egg.

I went home for Thanksgiving break my freshmen year. At some point during the week, my brothers were outside raking leaves, and I was inside helping mom in the kitchen. There was a tap on the window by the kitchen sink so I stood on my tiptoes to find the source. It was my bro Matt. He had a sly grin on his face and then he said, “Hey Chris, I found your cat!” As he said “I found your cat” he lifted up the pitchfork. Lying (not speared) across it, legs crossed, was the barely-there (and still furry, sorry) carcass of my cat.

Playful had passed in his sleep, right in the bushes lining our back yard. I can’t really remember my reaction to the cat on the pitchfork…I probably yelped, chuckled and felt a twinge of sadness, especially because my theory of Playful on the Palouse was busted...but I do remember grabbing a shovel and going out in the orchard with Matt to bury the ol’ Playful.

Playful on the Palouse…now there is an interesting movie name.