The Stuff in Safari Girl's Backpack

I wanted just once to be wasteful.

 

Waste meant affluence.

 

Throwing things away meant you

 

knew there'd always be more. 

 

 

 

 

 

But then my mother died

 

and on that clear summer's night,

 

in the warmth of the hospital room,

 

I was struck with the pain of learn ing that

 

sometimes there isn't any more. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes, what we care about most

 

gets all used up and goes away...never to return.

 

 

 

 

 

So... While we have it...

 

it's best we love it...

 

And care for it....

 

And fix it when it's broken.....

 

And heal it when it's sick.

 

 

 

This is true...

 

For marriage....

 

And old cars....

 

And children with bad report cards.....

 

Dogs and cats with bad hips....

 

And aging parents....

 

And grandparents.

 

 

 

 

 

We keep them because they are worth it,

 

because we are worth it.

 

Some things we keep.

 

Like a best friend that moved away

 

or a classmate we grew up with.

 

 

 

 

 

There are just some things that make life important,

 

like people we know who are special....

 

And so, we keep them close!

 

 

 

 

 

I received this from someone who thinks I am a 'keeper',

 

so I've sent it to the people I think of in the same way...

 

 

 

Now it's your turn to send this to those people

 

that are 'keepers' in your life.

 

Send it back to the person that sent it to you

 

if they too are a keeper.

 

 

 

 

 

Good friends are like stars . . . .

 

You don't always see them,

 

but you know they are always there

 

 

 

 

 

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If  you have a cat or a dog, you will love this one...read to end where it tells you how to give a dog a pill.......
                         

                        How to Give a Cat a Pill



                        1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby.  Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand.  As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth.  Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
                         
                        2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa.  Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

                        3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

                        4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand.  Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger.   Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
                         
                        5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

                        6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws.  Ignore low growls emitted by cat.   Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
                         
                        7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains.  Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

                        8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit.  Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
                         


                        9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

                        10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed.  Get another pill.  Open another beer.  Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing.    Force mouth open with dessert spoon.  Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

                        11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges.   Drink beer.  Fetch bottle of scotch.  Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect.   Toss back another shot.  Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
                         
                        12. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat.  Take last pill from foil wrap.

                        13. Tie the little bastard's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed.  Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak.  Be rough about it.  Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
                         
                        14. Consume remainder of scotch.  Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye.   Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

                        15. Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
                         


                        How To Give A Dog A Pill


                        1. Wrap it in bacon.

                        2. Toss it in the air.

 

 

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 Too cute not to share.