Polimom Says

In 2000 — nearly a decade ago now — Polimom and Adorable Child returned to the Houston area.

We came with nothing.

A newly-single mom, I’d left my beloved tiny village in upstate New York;  there simply were no jobs in my field in the area.  So I headed south, where I hoped that my parents could help me get back on my feet as I relaunched my life — at nearly 40 years old.

Starting over from scratch was incredibly hard.   I had no money, no employment prospects… and in very short order, nowhere to live.

Those were dark days for me.  But within a couple of months, Adorable Child and I were up and running.  Just a little over a year after I arrived, I bought my first house, and shortly thereafter I took the big leap and began working for myself.

The success was stunning, and it was due — in no small part — to the individuals and companies who were willing to take chances on me.

I started that first job on the strength of my education, not my experience.  I rented a  townhouse before I’d shown up for my first day at work.  I bought a house within ten months of starting work, even though doing so took my last nickel.  I actually had to wait for the next paycheck to buy a refrigerator.

It’s been one success after another.   Yes, there have been iffy times, but every time a door closed, several windows opened, and on we went.

Such a story isn’t possible everywhere….   but it worked here.  Houston is a “Can Do” kinda place, where people are, as a rule, busy, ambitious, and high energy.   At each and every step of the way, my drive and motivation were met halfway — and sometimes more.

The Houston area has been very good to my family.  In fact, it’s been good to most of the people we know.  We all owe a great deal to this vibrant community, and now that it’s time for us to leave, we’d like to say Good-Bye in a meaningful way.

So… I think we’re going to throw a party.  A different kind of party.

Stay tuned.

Pounce seems to be resting quietly again.

Thank goodness.

I can’t bear the thought of him suffering.

It’s been a brutally fast decline.  Even though the vet told us that this type of cancer moves very quickly, I’m still shocked.

He’s only 11 years old.  I expected — looked forward to — many more years with him.

But in the last week, he’s started resting between bites of food, and more than once I’ve seen him lying down while drinking from his water bowl.  Rather than walking, he’s kind of staggered from place to place, as his strength has failed.

Right up until this morning, though, he seemed at least comfortable.  Yes, he’s been eating less and less (and losing weight dramatically), but he still loved to be petted and talked to, and his purr was strong and immediate.

Everything’s different this morning.

The vet opens at 7 am.

I don’t know if I can do this.

How will I get through it?

I know how.  I’ll call up the fabulous memories;  he’s given us so many over the years.

While they’re readying his merciful final sleep, I’ll pet him and visualize him in the arms of my toddler daughter.

He was just about the same size as she was, and when she put him into the toddler swing out back, he fit perfectly.  He’d just sit there in that swing, his face radiating tolerance (just barely) as she pushed him back and forth.

While I’m holding him, I’ll remind him about the bird he savaged right outside my office window one morning — while I was on a conference call.  He probably remembers that, since his feast was uninterrupted.  The best I could do was close the blinds so I couldn’t see.

Or I’ll apologize for the many feathered feasts I denied him — like the time the birds’ nest fell into the house from the chimney, releasing 5 or 6 potential meals into my bedroom.  (That was a crazy morning!!)

I’ll rub between his eyes and beside his face, just where he likes it, and I’ll remind myself that in these eleven years, he’s had a lot of near-misses.  Several times, the vets have barely saved him.

After each of these terrifying brushes with death — after he’d recovered and was back to being fat and sassy — I’d gratefully hold him and laugh about how he was now on his second life.  Or his third.  Or his fifth.

Not this time.  This was number nine.

As he slips away from his pain — and from us — I’ll tell him how much I love him.  I’ll thank him for being such a wonderful part of our family.  For tolerating the danged dog.  For always remembering to keep his claws in.  For keeping Adorable Child company in the night.

Nine lives aren’t nearly enough this morning.

Update, 8:35 am:

Pounce died here at home this morning.

It turns out that he was resting more than comfortably.   He was resting permanently, and most likely slipped away even as I wrote this.  I’m so glad I was there with him at the end, even though I didn’t realize that’s what it was.  I know it gave him some comfort.

We’ll miss him.  I already miss him.

Okay.  So it’s no secret that I’m a rabid New Orleans Saints fan.  Have been for decades;  even went through the “Ain’ts” stage, complete with bag on head.

This year, though, is altogether different.  They’re playing Sunday against Minnesota for a chance at all the marbles.  The winner goes to the Superbowl.

Yes, the Superbowl.  The Saints.  All in the same paragraph.

Excitement.

Don’t try to call my house on Sunday.  I’ll be busy screaming and jumping up and down.

Gotta be there.

Started, and ended, early.  Sure was pretty while it lasted, though.

My flowers, unfortunately, were NOT impressed.

On the upside, the kids got out early, when the snow was heaviest, and made snow angels.

Life is good!

Hahahaha!!!!   That’s the weather report for us today — in Katy, Texas, of all places!!!

And best of all, it started to snow on us already as I drove Adorable Child to school this morning!  Nothing funnier than seeing a bunch of usually self-conscious Texas teens out in front of a junior high school, trying to play in the almost-but-not-quite snow…

Here’s the weather report (link):

Cloudy with rain and snow showers this morning, becoming all snow for the afternoon. Cold. High 39F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 70%. Snowfall around one inch.

Bah!  That high of 39F happened already.  We’re on the way down now, and I want WAYYY more than one inch!

Happily (for my hopes), the Chronicle says the area is expecting anywhere from 2-4 inches today — and some areas might get as much as half a foot!

Houston is on track today to break a record with the earliest snowfall ever recorded in the city’s history.

Forecasters are still hedging their bets, but say the most likely scenario is 1 to 2 inches of widespread snowfall beginning this afternoon.

Some areas could get up to a half a foot.

Too fun!!

We have a bunch of excited girls coming over for an overnight after school.  I’ve already nixed the possibility of the movies tonight (it’s gonna freeze hard on those wet roads).

BUT — some great pictures later, hopefully.

Happy Friday!!  Get out and play!!

Just last night, I told Adorable Child that our lives would be approaching “normal” again when she saw me processing a big series of shots… and wouldn’t you know it, but this morning brought fog.

I had to – had to – go for it.

Okay… so it’s not a big series.  I probably only took 20 images (and only five or so are keepers).  But it felt really good nonetheless to be out there again.

No, I’m not quite back to normal.  But I’m getting there.

(All five shots are here.)