Overheard today...

From L:
Dear Shove and Jesus,
Jesus make Shove's body feel better so he can be happy.

(She has been 'writing' letters to Shove and Jesus all day today. She found some of my stationary and put the 'letters' in the envelopes. She doesn't quite understand that Shove won't be coming home. It's breaking my heart.)

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Today did not start out well. Our Ugly Cat had to be put to sleep this morning. He had been going down hill quickly the past two or three weeks. He stopped eating well about a week or ten days ago; we tried changing him to soft food and that worked for a couple of days, but finally this morning we found him sprawled on the floor, unable to stand up. I think we knew it was approaching; he was an old kitty--we'd gotten him and his 'brother' from a shelter about 5 years ago and they were at least middle aged for kitties then. But to find him so wretched was difficult. It was particularly hard on P. Shove was really P's cat.(Shove is his real name, but we lovingly called him "the ugly cat." He looked like he'd been put together by committee.) P wouldn't even let me come to the vet with him.

It was the saddest thing I've ever seen to watch P carry his little body, wrapped in a sheet, to the hole he'd already prepared in the back yard, tears streaming. I'm choking up just writing about it. We'll go pick out something special to plant over him this weekend.

L couldn't quite understand when I told her that Shove wouldn't be here when she got home from school. I made sure to keep it simple, but she's still a little young to understand death. I think she's pretty sure that Jesus is coming to pick him up to have a play date.

Shove, you were a wonderful companion. You were as sweet as you were ugly. We will miss you very much.

Friday Five: Summer Camp

I haven't done a Friday Five in ages! But this one is full of great memories, so I just had to play along. Thanks to Mother Laura over at RevGalBlogPals for providing the inspiration:Mother Laura says:
"We're settling into our new new apartment, and after a lifetime at Montessori Katie is having a fantastic summer at YMCA day camp. Meanwhile, Nicholas is packing up for a week at Camp Julian, shared by the Episcopal dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego. His lists of supplies and rules--except for the ropes course available to the teenagers and the ban on IPODs and cell phones--bring back memories of my own happy times weeks at Y camp Ta Ta Pochon, funded by selling countless cases of butter toffee peanuts. So, in celebration of summer, please share your own memories and preferences about camp."

1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?
I went to sleep away camp. Here's the thing. My dad was an avid camper and even helped to create from the ground up the camp that now serves the presbytery we were living in at the time. I was immersed from the beginning.

2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?
Well, I like camping out, for sure. However, as I age, my back doesn't always agree. Sleeping on the ground can be a nightmare. But I still love sleeping under the stars, cooking over a campfire, etc. So, somewhere in between.

3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor, or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?
Of course. Two summers in college as a counselor. Going for a week as a bible study leader for current presbytery in August.

4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?
I'm gonna have to let that one stay undisclosed.

5. What is your favorite camp song or songs? Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.
"I wish I were a (name of camp) counselor. Oh that is what I'd really like to be. But if I weren't a (name of camp) counselor, a ___ is what I'd be." This involved much hilarity and creativity in coming up with new blank fillers and their respective costumes/actions/sound effects.