Raggedy Ann and Sister Love

When we were kids my sister and I had Raggedy Ann dolls.  Not just the regular size dolls, but at that time almost life size dolls.  My grandmother had had a friend of hers make them for us.  They were really nice and the lady who made them had most certainly put a lot of time, energy and love into making those dolls.  Our Raggedy Anns went with us everywhere.  And I do mean everywhere.  During that time in our lives we did a lot of travelling (and by travelling, I mean we moved every two to three years due to my dad's job). It was a crowded backseat in that little Toyota Corolla.  My sister, Raggedy Ann, me, and Raggedy Ann were all happily squished into the car.  All that squishing, however, took a toll on my Raggedy Ann.  The stuffing in her poor little neck started getting a little worn and it became hard for her to hold her up properly.  I, of course, was devastated.  How could this happen to my precious Ann?  And, why my Ann and not my sister's?  So, in a moment of weakness and extreme anger (and now I couldn't even tell you what my sister had done to make me so angry) I quietly snuck into her room and put a stranglehold on her Raggedy Ann.  But, not only did I choke the poor doll, I shook her head around until her neck was just as floppy as my Ann's neck had become.  I snuck back out of the room knowing that no one would ever be the wiser.  I was wrong.  My sister figured out that I had done something to her doll and she told my parents.  I was punished.  She gloated. 

Today we joke about the whole thing.  Always.  I even gave her a plaque with a saying about sisters that has, wait for it...two Raggedy Ann dolls on it.  I don't think there's a time that we're together that THE story isn't brought up by at least one of us.  Which brings me to the actual story...

That plaque went into a box today.  Very neatly wrapped and carefully sandwiched between some family pictures.  My sister is moving.  She's not moving far, just about an hour and half away, but still she's moving.  I won't be able to make that eight minute trip to the other side of town to visit her.  I won't be able to stop by unexpectedly.  I won't be able to go to the store with her and people watch.  It's going to be different.  There's no way around it.

You see, sister love is a beautiful and strange thing.  There's this other person who you share just about everything with as you're growing up.  There's stories about boys and girls, and hair and clothes, and movie stars, and rock bands.  There are stories about the time when you snuck a boy in the window while you're parents were asleep in the other room and getting drunk on prom night. And then, there are the fights.  The ones where you strangle your sister's doll and you pull each others hair and slap each other in the face.  And you say all those horrible things that you wish you hadn't said, but they felt so right at the time.  When you finally grow up, you're there for each other when your worlds are falling apart and you give so much advice and you watch the other still do the complete opposite.  But, you're still sisters.  Always.  No matter where you live. Until the end.

Now if only I had hid the Raggedy Ann plaque instead of letting her pack it...

Cat Tales. Not Cat Tails.

 

This is Lily.  She's my feisty, lovable, absolutely adorable bobtail. I often look at her and wonder just exactly what is going through her mind.  And then I wonder if my house is haunted because I've seen this pose on more than one occasion.  What in heaven's name does she see that I can't?  Or maybe she's having her own private worship service?  I really don't know.  I do wish I could ask her, though, because if the house is haunted, I'm moving.

 

 

Cat porn is not a real thing.  (At least, I'm hoping it's not)  But, don't tell Lily.  I think this was supposed to be an audition.

 

 

This is a much more tasteful picture.  Normally, she runs whenever she sees that I'm trying to take a picture, but this time she actually sat still for a few seconds.  And, I do mean seconds.

 

 

Mischief, I tell you.  Nothing but mischief.

 

 

She'll attack anything and I have the scratches to prove it.  By the way, those scratches are on my ankles.  She likes to hold on while I'm trying to walk.

 

 

 

And this.  This is how it looks whenever I do anything on the computer.  You would think that I never pay any attention to her.  I literally have to reach over her to type.  She refuses to move.  Period.

 

 

She sleeps.

 

 

This has been my adventure in raising a bobtail thus far.  I've had other cats in my lifetime, but as cat owners know they all have distinct personalities.  So far, Lily has been the funniest.  She does things that none of my other cats have ever done.  She is unique in her own right, as we all are.  I've enjoyed the time she's been with me and I know we'll be having more adventures in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And For A While...

This morning I saw the sun rise,
Shining bright before my eyes.
And for a while I watched it far,
Rising like a morning star.
Deeply it rose into the sky,
As I wondered by and by:
If the sun didn't start the day,
Would the children come out to play?

Tonight I saw the moon come out,
With thousands of stars all about.
Then I saw a falling star,
And for a while I watched it far.
Quickly it fell from the sky,
As I thought with a sigh:
If the stars didn't shine so bright,
Would the moon still come out at night?