"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Friday, February 19, 2016

Best And Worst Of Times


This has been quite a week.  Dark days and days of light.


First of all, my heart tests have turned out well.  I am so relieved.  Couple of issues to find out about, but no heart disease.  It has been such a relief and I don't have to go back to the cardiologist for six months.

I was gone to the city for more than a week.  I hire someone to feed the animals or my husband does it when I am gone.  I came home this Wednesday night and all was well.  Teddy, my little man, stays in the house 90% of the time and can in fact open the door to let himself in.  The sweetest and most loving cat ever.  When he was born at the barn, I found him hidden in the shop behind a large shelf. His mother had moved her litter in there when the door was left open.  I found them just in time.

As Teddy grew, about 6 inches long, he would run as fast as he could to the 4 wheeler when we'd ride up to the barn.  From the time he was born, he just stole our hearts and loved us in return.  It wasn't long before he lived with us up at the house.



Here is Teddy in the catbird seat.  Don't know how many birds visited this day.




I love this picture of Teddy as he was balled up in the asparagus patch, playing while I tried to clean it out. Such a playful and loving boy. 

Wednesday night he was in my lap, purring and in my face.  Glad that we were back home. Even bugged the weenies too. He slept in bed with me and the weenies all night.  I put him outside at 8:00 am and by 9:30 I saw him lying on the patio.  I won't go on, but rushed him to the vet and she did all she could to save Teddy.  His lungs were filled with fluid.  The Dr. said from her exam and X-ray 3 things could do that.  Electrocution, heart worms, which are rare in cats or a fungal infection.  She said it was grave.  She tried all day to save Teddy, but he died last night.  She offered to do an autopsy, but it wouldn't bring my Teddy back.  I loved him so.  It broke my heart. 

I sent my husband to pick him up this morning and we buried him. I am going to miss him terribly.

The best part of this week is that my son got an internship this morning at 6:30 am when the results were released.  We've all been on pins and needles waiting on this process. He got his number one pick.  I'll go into the internship selection process later.  It is all computerized now and is a horrible system.  Four hundred students nationwide did not get a match and will have to wait another year to re-apply. He had to fly and drive all over the country to interviews the first part of the month on a salary that is below poverty level. 

 He and his wife are over the moon though.  They will have to move and sell their house.  I won't get to see my Penny Lane nearly as often, but they are so happy and if he is happy, I am happy.  He will do the internship and his post doc at The University of Oklahoma.  He will be working with the counseling center and also with the athletics department, studying the athletes for head injuries and traumatic brain injury.  My boy is ecstatic. After such a long road and hard work, he can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Life at its best and worst.






20 comments:

Joanne Noragon said...

Yes, the best and the worst. As happy as I am for your son, the news about your heart is even better. We won't talk about Teddy.

donna baker said...

I've cried for two days now Joanne. I held him today and just wailed. It was such a shock, but that didn't help. He had a wonderful life. I hope I can get there in time where I can just remember that, and more than that, I hope I'll see him again one day.

Elephant's Child said...

Definitely the best of times AND the worst of times. Your good news is wonderful - and the bad heartbreaking. I am so sorry. And tears are pricking at my eyes too.

angryparsnip said...

Oh Donna, I am in tears also.
Even if it is expected it doesn't matter You are heartbroken. Watson was 17 deaf and had dementia but all of a sudden one day he just stopped. I still tear up.
Teddy was loved and safe, he had a wonderful life with you.

cheers, parsnip


La Table De Nana said...

You have soo much to be grateful for!An ecstatic son..and DIL..a good heart:)..PL:)

And so much more..

losing a pet is never ever easy.I started typing..more..

but really less is best..here.There are no words to say other than I am so sorry for you:(

He had the best life with you.

Mary said...

I'm greatly saddened at the news of your sweet Teddy - how lucky he was though to have you to care for him and love him so much over the years, and in a beautiful country home. Remember the good times later when your grief is not so fresh.
Congratulations to your son - life is definitely not easy for young people starting out these days.
As for your beating heart, great news Donna, I've been really concerned and now am smiling and so thankful things seem to be fine. Wonderful!

Hugs - Mary

donna baker said...

Thank you Child. He was just so loving and I can't imagine him not being here anymore.

donna baker said...

Yes, he did and was loved dearly.

donna baker said...

I understand Monique. Just such a loss. And all at the same time. Just life I guess. I'd like to get off the roller coaster for a while. I am so proud of my son. He has been the best son - never any trouble growing up and has worked so hard. He's been such a joy. I just wish they didn't have to move away. They only moved to Tulsa last May and will be moving by June 1.

donna baker said...

Thank you Mary. You just never know what life is going to throw at you, or when.

Terra said...

The light and the dark. You lost a special cat who really adored being with you, how sad. And yet now you celebrate with your son who got the internship he so wanted and more good news about your heart.

elaine said...

Life is full of ups and downs isn't. Glad to hear your test results are ok - you must be relieved - now you can stop worrying. So sad when we lose a beloved pet, they leave a big hole in our lives. Congrats.to your son - he must be over the moon.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Good and bad news in the same post Donna. So pleased that some of your health worries are behind you. Congratulations to your son too.

Animals have a shorter life span and I have to tell myself when I lose them that I chose to have them already knowing this. It is still hard though, although better if we know that they have had a happy life, as Teddy obviously has.

donna baker said...

Yes, life waxes and wanes. Just have to live moment to moment. Hope for more light than dark.

donna baker said...

Oh they are Elaine. Such a great opportunity for him after such a long hard road. We are so proud and happy for him, but I am sad to see them leave the city.

donna baker said...

Yes, Pat, I am so relieved about my heart. Still having lots of palpitations, but will look at medications with my internist in March to see if perhaps one is the cause of them. We are so happy and proud for our son. Teddy did have a wonderful life and was loved by all here at the farm. I just can't handle losing my precious boy in one day. Thought the shock of it might help but it didn't. Just time will help.

Bea said...

I sometimes forget kittens come out so darn small! Thank you for sharing about Teddy and I'm sorry for your loss. Life certainly is a combination of 'best and worst' a lot of the time. -glad you're well and that your son received the internship he wanted. x

donna baker said...

Thank you so Bea.

Frances said...

Dear Donna, It is very good to hear about the results of the heart testing, and fabulous to learn about your son's internship. The field of his studies and practice is a very important one, and I hope you will pass my congratulations on to him.

Of course, reading about dear Teddy's sudden passing away has made me cry, too. The loving bonding that we form with animals cannot adequately be described. Or at least I cannot properly describe it. I do hope that someday you will see Teddy again. Clearly you carry him in your heart and soul.

xo

donna baker said...

Thank you so much Frances - for everything. Teddy (he was like a teddy bear) was a very dear member of our family.