Three things I learned in the past week

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Morgan resting peacefully.

If something good happens it can all get wiped away in a nanosecond if someone you love has a health crisis. We sold our house and we had a few hours of rejoicing before our beloved cat Morgan broke her leg. *bangs head on table* I didn’t get the nice happy pills she did so I’m taking it harder. She is doing well. She’s not active which is good. She doesn’t bother the splint wrapping. No chewing or excessive licking to get it off. Because of that she is getting very long breaks without the cone of shame. That incident wiped out all the good I felt and I had to rebuild. You know when you wake up in the morning and for three seconds you feel great? Then you remember all that is going on and the pit in your stomach returns. Yeah, that’s it.

Moving is work. The packing isn’t the worst, it’s the decisions on what to keep or toss. I thought I had been cleaning out over the past five years. Whatever I did was not near enough. Clothing is easier because you love it or you don’t. It fits or it doesn’t. What is tough are those things that “might” work at the next house. My next house is a pine box so I can be more ruthless this round.

It’s easy to fall into a pity party. I can do a litany of bad things that have happened since September (which seemed to be our turning point of good luck to bad). I can’t forget we are healthy and covid-free (so far); we found a home we both love; and we sold our home in record time. I also can’t forget that Gracie’s bad tooth and Morgan’s broken leg were both fixable. So were the health issues the humans had. No deaths. Nothing terminal. Cause for celebration but it’s cautious celebration. I don’t want to wake up the genie that’s sleeping in the pot.

72 thoughts on “Three things I learned in the past week”

  1. This has been a heck of a year for you, even without COVID – I’m not sure I could go through all that. But you are smart to count your blessings and keep things in perspective to keep you grounded. Morgan deserves extra treats to get through her ordeal, unless she’ll put on too much weight as she’s inactive right now.

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  4. You’ve been through a lot. I hope you recognize that you really have. There has to be an emotional component to all your decisions and the move, although very welcome, is a LOT of work. I am so glad your house sold. That’s huge in Covid-times!!

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    • Home sales are hot in our area. I don’t get it. We’ve been looking for 5 years so we didn’t just decide to buy a new one. Having people come through took a lot of Clorox afterward and I’ll feel more confident two weeks out when the incubation period has passed. My husband is eligible for the vaccine but hasn’t been able to get through the appointment line all week. Crazy times for sure. Lots of stress but lots to be grateful for.

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  6. You are right, Kate, a part of me always mentally prepares myself for the other shoe to drop (I should find out where this saying came from). This is the first time I have heard about a cat breaking their leg. Ooh, “a pine box” strikes a nerve. I am always concerned my daughter will be stuck dealing with my “stuff.” I ‘get it’ on the cautious. One day at a time.

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    • House inspection done (today). Bank appraisal tomorrow. Check, check. Morgan goes in for her one week check up on her leg tomorrow morning. I keep checking things off. There has to be an end to it all. We have a moving date now so there is something to aim for.

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  10. “Decisions on what to keep or toss”: my mum’s genius idea was that it’s easier to just move everything, and then make that decision after the move. No, no and no! I cannot reiterate just what a terrible idea this is!

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  12. You have so much on your plate that I’m not at all surprised that you are feeling a bit overwhelmed. A home sale, a planned moved, and a hurt cat all happening at the same time is bad enough… but let’s throw in a pandemic and government insurrection! You know you’ll get through this and soon you’ll be focused on making your new house a home. Deep breaths.

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  15. One of the biggest reasons I am having such a hard time deciding to move is just what you described. Clothing…no problem. Well, except when I look at something and it brings memories. Whether or not I will ever wear it again doesn’t seem to matter! It’s the memories I need to move, not the items attached to them. Oh, and that is not limited to just clothing! And I guess until I can make peace with that, I am staying put!!!!!

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    • Your furniture is all family stuff too. I don’t get as attached to that as you do. I have a few small things of my mother but I gave all the furniture away as it didn’t work for me or I didn’t like the style. Marie Kondo says to take pictures for the memories and get rid of the actual article.

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  16. Last time I packed I cannot tell you how often I used the word “ruthless.” Even thought of making a t-shirt with the word emblazoned across the back.

    touch wood, knock three times, and spin around once or twice before you read this: good luck with the rest of the packing!

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  17. You’re doing great – you’re still relatively sane with all that’s going on? That’s worth BIG POINTS Kate!!! We had a flood in our basement last year and that got us to finally throw out those “six month boxes” we’ve had for 10 years. We hadn’t needed any of the “STUFF” in those boxes so out they all went. It’s a great idea to do that while packing though. Things you’re “hesitating” to keep go in that box and may never see the light of day again. Anyway, you’re getting down to the last of the formalities on the move – rounding the corner – you’ll be so glad when it’s done I know. Sending you all my spare energy (am saving some for my hip replacement surgery on Friday though!!!!!).

    Hugs, Pam

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      • Thanks Kate…..yep – tomorrow’s my day. I was afraid my surgery would be cancelled too but they have our little town hospital kitted out like a “medical bunker” with safety precautions all over the place so I feel SAFE. No visitors though – hubby has to stay home and wait to hear from ME. They are allowing cell phones for patients thankfully. Hope all continues to go well with you!!!!

        Hugs, Pam

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    • She gets her splint rebandaged on Friday. They will do this every week for 4 weeks. We’ll see what they say. The bandage is not really dirty even though she uses the litter box. I keep it super clean and she’s the only one who uses it. This is a hectic week. Next week will be better.

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  19. Good job, Morgan! Did the new cone arrive? Did it work?

    My closest friends and siblings have a phrase we use after we finish venting about whatever kid/ pet/ parent drama is sucking up all our time and energy: “At least no one is dead.” It’s a reminder of just how much worse it can always get.

    It’s not working so great since the pandemic/ coup attempt though.

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    • Morgan has been cone free for more than 24 hours without incident. The new one came but it was tight. She has an odd (but attractive) configuration. Her neck is big but her face is a little flat. Looks good but the softer cone didn’t fit. I tried trimming it but that was a disaster! As long as she doesn’t bother the bandage, I am keeping the cone off. She had trouble eating (flat face) and she couldn’t wash herself or put her face in her cat grass both of which she enjoys. After a particularly testy incident, event or medical procedure, my mom always said ‘a year from now we’ll laugh about this.’ She was always right. However, not sure I’ll ever laugh about what’s happening these days.

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  20. Sounds like Morgan is a good patient. Teddy is not. He chewed on and pulled out the needle and line in his leg for the anesthetic while waiting to have his teeth cleaned. Had to have have stitches in that leg and a new line in the other.
    Moving us a pain for sure. I have lived in my condo for 25 years. I think the only way I am leaving is on a stretcher to a nursing or funeral home.

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    • Oh my! We have always called Morgan our perfect cat. The cone is off completely unless I see signs of agitation or chewing. She is currently on gabapentin so I don’t know if that’s helping her stay docile or if it’s in her nature. We will run out next week so I’ll find out then.

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      • I’m taking gabapentin too – just like Morgan! It’s good stuff no wonder she’s being cooperative 😊. I remember how hard it was to make those take or pitch decisions when we moved. Don’t agonize too much. I had to be ruthless because it was 4 generations and 50+ years of “stuff” we were moving halfway across the country. I honestly haven’t missed much of anything I left behind. But when in doubt over the sentimental stuff I did lean towards keep it – you can’t replace those things….I lost an Aunt and an Uncle in December and you’re right, that does put everything else in perspective. Good luck with the rest of your move!

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  21. Pack some “six month” boxes, Kate. Ignore them for six months after you have moved. If you still don’t need to open them, you know they are not needed. And remember naps. Naps are good things. Take care of yourself.

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  23. Good news that Morgan is doing well and without cone. That has to be a big relief. Knowing the cone was driving her crazy would have driven me crazy. None of our cats had to wear a cone but one came very close. I took my deepest sigh of relief when the inspections were over and our buyers were locked into the sale. You are almost there, Kate. Now the movers during a pandemic… at least you aren’t moving in 95 degree heat with 90% humidity. Despite all the weirdness, the big moving parts are not getting clogged!

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    • All good. We will set a moving date today. I hope there is no snow! None of my cats wore a cone. One cat took out her own stitches after a spay. The vet wasn’t concerned. There was a wrap on it for a few days so it had time to heal before she took them out. Morgan doesn’t like the splint but hasn’t been neurotically trying to remove it.

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  24. Have no noticed since this pandemic started that everything just seems more challenging? I think we’ve all had our limit and every new issue just pushes us a little too far. Here’s hoping everything runs smoothly from here on out and definitely don’t make enough noise to wake that genie. 🙂 Our state appointment system has been down for a couple of days. Picture lots of unhappy folks especially those trying to get the second shot within the appropriate time frame.

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  25. big hugs to your morgan …. why such things always happen at the (un)right time? the keeping or tossing challenge is horrible… but I rather go to a hell week, than to follow my smart husband who said we can sort it later….that means still 3 big boxes what sleep since… well 1997

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  26. If you have ever gone through all a deceased persons possessions and had to make decisions on what goes where (and a will doesn’t tend to be all encompassing), then the question asked is “Would I want my (son/daughter/brother/sister/friend) to have to go through the same experience?” If that does not motivate a slow but thorough clear out, then perhaps hoarding is the issue?

    For things that “I might be use/wear one day” , I like the perspective “If you have not used it in two years, then you are not likely to be using it in the future so get rid of it!”

    Congrats on your new home. Hopefully settling in will be a breeze! 🙂

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  27. Hang in there. Transitions are so hard, and harder in these crazy days with politics and pandemic run amok, I hope things get better as you settle in the new house!

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    • Every week ticks off some boxes and the movement is forward even with setbacks. Tomorrow we have the first round of inspections and Friday Morgan goes in for a splint change. She hasn’t had the cone for the past 24 hours. She does not lick or chew so as long as I don’t see that, I’ll keep it off. She doesn’t like the texture of the wrapping. It’s very rough.

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  28. I know what you mean about not waking up the genie. My husband has just gone to our local football stadium to get his first covid jab. They are doing it by age here, over 80’s first. We are still in lockdown but there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. One of our cats had to wear the cone of shame after getting ear mites but got use to it quite quickly.

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