Bear, 2004-2018

Bear, a Karelian Bear Dog, was born in Alaska and brought to Fort Stewart in Georgia at a few months old. He was given to his owner’s buddy when he shipped out to Afghanistan. He was put up for adoption again when the buddy had to ship out for a similar post. It was then my husband Mark rescued him and brought him home.

All his life, Bear loved to roam the woods surrounding his home. In his younger days, he would be gone for hours before making his way home. He loved playing the protector, chasing rabbits, squirrels, and birds from the yard, always making sure to slow down just enough if it looked like he was gaining on them. Occasionally, he could be found playing a game of ‘toss the turtle’ just to amuse himself. (Have no fear, Mark would go out to rescue the turtle.)

He also loved just sitting outside in the cool weather. When the summer weather came he was sometimes found running through culverts of water just to cool off.

As he matured, he chased fewer woodland animals, and he stopped dragging deer parts into the yard for dessert. (Kenneth was thrilled.) His main object of fun was the UPS man, who Bear knew was afraid of him. Bear would bare his teeth, snarl, and bark, but as with other animals, Bear really didn’t want to catch the UPS man. He just enjoyed chasing him off.

Bear was the self-appointed neighborhood inspector. Morning, noon, or night might find him off exploring and making friends. He approached few people, but made friends with all of their dogs. He was equally savvy about cars, staying far out of their way. He trained his parents to let him in or out of the house whenever he knocked at the door. No one trained Bear, he trained them.

Recently, Bear’s body started to betray him. His arthritis flared, and he lost his appetite. He grew weaker and had difficulty raising himself off the floor. Finally, he was unable to keep down water.

For his faithful, loving, playful service and protection of his family, he was helped to pass from this life at 2:55 p.m., 10 November 2018.

He wasn’t just a good boy, he was the best. He was loved most and he will be forever missed.

Preceding Bear was his grandmother Norma, siblings Ginger Rose Li, Genghis, Monty, and Mario. He leaves behind his devastated parents Mark and Kenneth, his older sister Ruby (who taught him bird tolerance), his little brother Buffy, and his good friend Evan.

Learning from a stroke...it's a no-brainer

“That’s your best friend and your worst enemy – your own brain.” (Fred Durst)

“All I kept saying to everybody was, “I want to go home.” And they sent me home!” (Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz)

Just over two weeks ago, Friday, March 5, I had a stroke.

What a Way to Make a Living

Unemployment went well.

Technically, I’ve been employed since mid-March. Yes, I’m employed on a technicality. Usually employment implies something approximating a regular paycheck. In the past three months, I’ve worked all of 75 billable hours.

What to do, what to do, what to do?

"He who would search for pearls must dive below." (John Dryden, All for Love)

I’ve been unemployed since the beginning of the year. One of the first questions I asked myself was am I ready to retire?

After looking at the finances with my husband Mark, we decided I’m not.

Sigh.

What the dickens...!

"No man knows till the time comes, what depths are within him." (Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend)

Lucille La Verne as The Vengeance from A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

Early in December, 2016, I was told that, due to budget cuts, my contracted work would not continue beyond the end of the year.

It seemed to become a scene out of A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….

Call me crazy, but don't call me

"We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company." (Lily Tomlin)

I remember when I was much younger, my siblings and I would all run to the phone as soon as it rang. Probably because even with the ringer at its lowest setting, it was still rather intrusive. If it happened during dinner, the phone would still be answered and whoever was calling would be asked to call back. We were nothing if not polite.

Flagging support

Nine people were gunned down in a South Carolina church, and the overwhelming response has been to ban a flag.

If that sounds too simplistic, it is. Since that immensely senseless tragedy, seven black churches have been burned to the ground. All have been declared arson. I’m surprised the NRA hasn’t suggested that bringing more matches to the church would have solved the problem.

But…this post is not about guns, though they are part of the problem. This post is wrapped up in the the flags.