green, greener, greenest...

Vintage striped dress, Anthropologie wooden pennant necklace

I'm sorry I've been away for so long.  It only takes a couple of things to throw you off your rhythm (okay, true enough, I didn't have much before...my rhythm is already more like John Cage performing 4'33"...!) and then it's very difficult to get rolling again.  I mostly feel bad 'cause I talked about my sick cat, and then never came back to say things were getting better. I guess it's one of those terrible paradoxes of life that when you most need other people you are least able to communicate...

I was extraordinarily heartened by the kind and generous response to Ghibli's crowd-funding page.  I'm a bit of an introvert, not very present on Facebook, and really only sharing the most surface reflections here and yet friends from long ago and acquaintances from around the world helped out.  People are amazing and I think I should maybe I need to reach out more!  

I mean, it's still rough, and I'm still spending far too much money on weekly check-ups and little interventions that always set things back a bit, but hey, he's alive and purring! (and he has the cutest little tummy tuck!) I also found a friend with a car who has been extraordinarily generous with her time, driving me out to the vet office in a distant industrial park.  Thank goodness for grad students and their flexible schedules!  Without her, I would be back to spending $70 a visit just in transport, which is disgusting and infuriating!  I have a vet right next door but my boy needs these specialists who are just not accessible any other way than by car.  I've always been able to get anywhere with public transit. Just not here (or not without transferring 3 times over the course of an hour and then walking under a highway overpass for 10-15 minutes with a 20-pound sick cat...nope!) Anyway, they aren't so bad- I have found all of the vets to be really generous with their time and services, at times only charging for materials!  Future cats in this family will most definitely be registered for insurance however...

 

Anyway, things are beautifully lush and green outdoors, and glorious summer is here. If work is still stupid and stressful and home is still somewhat anxious and troubling, there is so much simple beauty outdoors.  It's amazing how a few minutes lying on the grass in sunshine contributes to a reset that lasts for hours. I wish you all beautiful days and reflective moments.  Thanks for your support!