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Submitted
by
Marci
"Happy, Safe, and Healthy Holidays!"
A
Holiday Greeting to John And Kelly and All Of The Wonderful
Pals On "Write a Senior Citizen."
This
has been a busy, busy, ever-changing year. . .from day to
day. A lot has happened, but most of all my family and I thank
our Heavenly Father for all of His Blessings. A special thank
you to John and Kelly Thomas for providing this amazing web
site.
As
some of you may know, I moved to Orlando, Florida. I had always
dreamed of moving to a warmer, sunnier climate to avoid the
harsh northern winters that seemed to cause a constant sore
throat and sinus problems. Well, on December 28, 2001 we moved
to Orlando, and what an adventure.
First
of all, I had visited Orlando seven times on our whirlwind
tours of Disney World. Let me tell you that a visit does not
prepare one for life in the city of Orlando. I wanted to be
hot. . .but my goodness. . .NOT that hot! The weather was
absolutely too hot in July and August. I could barely breathe.
Then, there was the air pollution driving down OBT (Orange
Blossom Trail) with its stop and go. . . mainly STOP traffic
and the exhaust fumes from the cars. The problem of air pollution
from cars was repeated throughout the city.
Perhaps
the most troubling of all was that my car was broken into
twice in a period of less than a month, and my son's car was
broken into once. My cell phone was stolen and a red paisley
scarf that had been given to me as a gift. These were minor
losses. However, in our complex there were apartment break-ins
daily, and people tied up, mugged and robbed. Now, if I am
painting an awful picture of Orlando, just remember that this
was our experience.
Finally,
I never quite got used to the little lizards that would come
into the apartment at night. Goodness knows how they got in!
However, on the positive side, I am so happy to have had the
opportunity to live and work in Central Florida. I worked
for the Osceola school district, teaching 7th and 8th grade
reading at a middle school. The students were great. However,
it was really a challenge working from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.,
and driving in the dark of morning. This was no fun for these
old eyes. However, on the brighter side, most people were
very friendly and eager to give directions or offer advice
of one kind or another. It's just that the criminal element
is enough to cause one to flee as quickly as possible. I had
wanted so much to visit with my high school buddy, Nan, in
her condominium by the ocean, but never made it to Cape Canaveral.
That I regret.
While
in Orlando, I met a lady who introduced me to feral cats.
I had never heard anything about them. I learned that there
are thousands of feral cats all over the world. I helped feed
a colony of 20 cats and their kittens in a wooded area called
Rosemont. (One day I will write a story about this experience.)
As
many of you know, I am an avid birder . . . I love all songbirds
and many others. I always "hated" cats, and used
to chase them with a broom whenever they would try to get
at my birds in the back yard. Well, now I love cats and kittens
of all kinds. I have two, neutered male cats that I have had
since they were about five weeks old . . . I helped to rescue
them after their mother was killed by a car. My sweet, mischievous,
but playful cats are Timmy (black and white), and Mel, (all
black).
Mel was such a runt with a coat that looked like a shaggy
rag, and Timmy was the timid one. Well, they have both changed
considerably. Mel has a beautiful, shiny, very luxurious coat,
and Timmy is also handsome. My daughter, Angela, says that
Mel is too fat (very social, but will bite if frightened),
and Timmy is just too, too nosey . . . into everything. Both
have come a long way after such a rough start. The mother
cat was killed early one Friday, and that evening I found
the cats across from the parking lot and in the woods. The
mother cat, Tuffy, had the kittens in a den that was totally
inaccessible to us down a steep incline in the thick of the
woods. Nevertheless, my friend and I put food in the woods
for them for three weeks before we were able to safely trap
all five kittens. (Have you heard that there is a "liger"
roaming free somewhere in Clayton County, Georgia?) "
Oh, yes". . . I am back in Georgia, and "Yes"
I live in Clayton County, not far from the sightings of this
wildcat that has yet to be positively identified.
Oops
. . . I was talking about Florida. Well, just couldn't take
it any longer in Orlando . . . especially after making a couple
of visits with my daughter, Angela, in her beautiful home
in Ellenwood, Georgia, and the Orlando police told me that
I needed to move after my car was broken into as well as Michael's,
and the break-ins in the apartment complex continued.
So,
while in Orlando, happily I helped to rescue seven feral kittens,
and fed a homeless cat at my complex that I named Buster.
It seemed that Buster's owner died some years back, and the
two cats (Buster, and his larger relative) remained on the
property. It was very difficult leaving Buster in Orlando.
Happily, I rescued one kitten on my own. I called her "Lovely."
She was a beautiful black and white kitten about three or
four weeks old. After cleaning her pus-filled eyes, and quieting
her, I took her to a veterinarian in the neighborhood who
volunteered to care for her. Once in the vet's office, Lovely
started screaming at me again. She was a very frightened kitten
whose cat mom had obviously abandoned her, but she had a strong
will to live. Lovely was adopted the following month.
Michael
and I are both so happy to be back in Georgia. The rolling
hills, and beautiful foliage, pine and deciduous trees are
wonders to our eyes. The songbirds welcomed us with beautiful
songs. We love the neighborhoods that we drive through with
all types of houses . . . modest homes and mansions, and not
so many barren areas, with the neighborhoods hidden from view
as we found in Orlando. It is cold now, but I am adjusting,
and it feels kinda good at times. Brrrrrr-rrrr.
My
rescuing of animals continues. I rescued a six-year old Sheltie
about a month ago that was running around our complex in the
cold rain and barking at everyone. It was a daunting task
. . . but God was with me, and I managed to get the beautiful
dog. Windsor now lives with my daughter, Angela. She says
that he is just perfect. We all love him very much. Windsor
had several medical problems, and has been abused (a bullet
is near his heart, and a b-b is near his hind hip). Those
dastardly deeds aren't giving him any outward problems, but
we have had him treated successfully for other doggie
problems.
Bless you all . . . Do have a safe and wondrous Holiday Season.
Marci
Writings by Marci:
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