Pets

Long ago and far away I remember loving and petting animals. Cats and Dogs mostly. Odd thing is that I can't remember any of their names anymore, except for Free Free, or Fri Fri...not sure how my parents spelled it. He was named that because we got him as a gift, thus the name. That cat was such a sweet cat. We had him most of my life. I was about 5 or 6 when we got him. Mom and Dad were running the Grocery Store at that time. It was my first experience with nurturing. He became my charge, my child so to speak. We spent a lot of time together in the back room of the store. He and I would take care of each other back there. He would let me push on his little nose as an affectionate gesture. He would purr at the drop of a hat. He was very loving. When we moved to Iowa, he came along too. Sometimes I would even take him with me to see the little girl across the street from the store and to play with the little girl and her sister who lived there. I remember making her laugh a lot by singing the Purple People Eater song.

We had a little black dog with a white spot on his/her chest. This was the dog that I would give my abc gum to just to watch him/her chew it as long as possible. I think it was a he. I don't know why I have forgotten the dog's name. As much as I love animals, you would think that their names would stick. I got a lot of love from those dogs and cats. Once time I had a little puppy that I would even dress up in my doll's clothes. That was lots of fun for me, not so sure about the puppy, but he never complained. Animals will act different with children than with adults. They seem to know what to allow and become patient with the little ones. That Puppy was brown with little black tips on the tips of the fur. He had a white patch on his nose that almost looked like a mask. Strange but I don't remember much else about that puppy. I don't even remember what he looked like when he grew up. Maybe the memories will come back the more I write.

We used to have a concrete area near my favorite tree. I don't remember what it was, only that I would sit there sometimes. Perhaps a remnant of an old building? I think Dad called it a Cistern, but am not sure. I will have to ask Dad if I can think of it when I next talk to him. I am going to end this here for now. I am tired and the screen might begin to jump at any time now. For now, Good night and take care of you, you deserve it. Hugs

Stuff

I wrote this to a friend in an email several years ago now. I am putting it here before I begin to edit it. I am not sure why I did not, or if I put it somewhere else in my writings. If this is a repeat, I apologize.
Wait. Did I just apologize to myself? Rubbish! lol

Here it is:

Looking for History
Exploring the Past

Finding my Family
Solving the mystery

Strangers the last
Where did I come from?

Who could they be?
Why so important
is this to me?

Where did they travel
Freedom and Prosperity Seek

What made them wander
From lands far away

Seeking much better
Risks, they did meet

Wander lust stronger
than Homestead it seems

Crossing Mountains, ditches,
Hilltops and Streams

Land Rush in wagons
Walking and riding
Watching for dangers

Fears never subsiding
What did they leave
behind them

What chased them away?
Were they following Passion?

Why couldn't they stay?
"Onward Wagons"
Did this they hear?

What kind of Adventures
and Hardships did they bear?

Children dying, illness and woes
Strength never failing

They moved on for years.
From England to Massachusetts

They came by boat
Then on to Vermont

For a few years of History
and Hope

In Illinois's Beauty
they settled a while

Then on to Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Missouri
they moved with style

I may never find the
exact things I seek

The route is so muddled,
but a quest it is true.

Researching and Looking
Is time well spent I know

Struggling to find Family
sometimes goes slow.

Never sure what I am
finding will have meaning
to too few

I know in the study
Myself I will better
know.

It helps to see clearly
how things were way
back then

So my own Life has
more meaning
and the generations
can Sing!

My Children someday
will know the struggles
they face now

Are as different as Snow
As through their own Lives
they continually go.

We all can learn
something so great
Investigating the Past

Just so we aren't Stuck there

And move Forward
Not Back!