‘Tis the Season

Ravenous creature pass the wishbone please

The holidays are upon us once again. It seems that we just celebrated Thanksgiving 2014 yesterday, and now it is going to be here in 12 days. Time really flies when life just happens. Before we know it Christmas will be here, then the New Year, and 2016.

Thanksgiving, a time to be thinking of reasons to be thankful. Then taking those thoughts and putting them into thoughtful actions to show your appreciation. Seems like a lot of work, so that does it; I’m going to settle for a turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and all the other fixings. Don’t forget the pumpkin pie.

After Thanksgiving comes Black Friday, which isn’t even a holiday. However, it has been transformed into this “holiday” event that is just ridiculous enough to mention. People treat this day like it is a day to go all out and blow money like it is going out of style. Forget what yesterday was all about...be thankful for what? Who cares. Let’s go spend lots of money. Act like ravenous animals at the stores and then pass out. This sounds like a great idea.

Then one month later is Christmas. The day kids dream of as soon as December begins. It is as if a timer goes off inside them and BAM it's an explosion of I want this and I want that. Christmas this and Christmas that. It isn’t even about the real meaning of Christmas anymore.

Christmas to me is about spending time with the ones you love. Being surrounded by people who you want to share a special day with. It isn’t about the gift’s like everyone thinks. I think it is about the games, jokes, laughter, and stories shared.

Lastly, we have the end of one year and the beginning of a new year. It is a transformation point. I don’t like where people have taken this day to though. Why does this day have to be celebrated with alcohol and outrageous partying at all hours of the night? I mean really, it is the new year for literally 365 days. I understand that it is cool to celebrate, but come on one drink and call it a night.

Maybe I’m just being a nit-picky old lady, but I stay up long enough to open the door, welcome in the new year and go to bed. That is it. I use to watch the ball drop on television, but even that became too much to watch.

People have become so out of touch with the simple side of things. Maybe after reading this you too will rethink your routine, or not. ‘Tis the Season.

Blog by Melissa Chandler

May Tom cat rest peacefully

Stray cat runs for safety only to lose life

It isn’t everyday that we see death. Today I woke with the best of intentions and headed out the door as I usually do. Within a few moments it was the end for one innocent stray cat I will refer to as “Tom”.

Stray cats will fight for many reasons and it is out of our hands. However, I cannot help but wish I would’ve ran over and done something to stop these two this morning. Something inside of me told me to stop what I was doing and examine the cat fight.

A few brief moments go by. As I am standing by my car about to get in a loud growl and hiss caught my attention. I looked up to see the two cats running towards the road. Traffic was coming and there was no way to stop the cats or the cars coming. I was helpless.

The antagonist cat backed off while “Tom” ran into the road and was hit by the vehicle that flung his body violently up into the air. Within seconds of this happen the vehicle drove off and didn’t even bother to check on “Tom’s” well-being or lack thereof.

Immediately I was filled with several emotions and began screaming frantically. I couldn’t contain myself. I didn’t know what to do. Being the owner of three precious cats myself I couldn’t imagine any of them being in such a terrible accident.

I fell to the ground and tears flooded my face.

My wife consoled me the best she could, however she didn’t realize what I had witnessed.

A woman had moved “Tom” from the middle of the road, so that no more cars would potentially hit him. She covered “Tom” up with her sweater. My wife brought out a garbage bag and then the woman took “Tom” to her father’s house to be buried. The three of us couldn’t just let him rot on the side of the road like that.

If more people would get their cats spayed and neutered then there wouldn’t be stray cats everywhere and cars wouldn’t be hitting them on the road. Secondly, the person driving that car how could you just kill an innocent animal and just drive off? They matter too. If that was a person you wouldn’t be allowed to just drive off. You would have to be held accountable for the crime.

This incident has really put stray animals into perspective for me.

Blog by Melissa Chandler