MEAN OLD MOMMAS

Cassie

I received an email yesterday morning from my cute little grandkitty, Cassandra Jean. She was noticeably upset with her mommy for not wanting her to play all night.

Dear Gramma-kitty, Can I come lives with you. Mommy is mean. She got mad last night because I was playing and yelled at me. She said I was acting like crazy cat. I was just playin’. Then, she started maowing at me. It’s really annoying! I don’t know why she would do that. It’s not cute when she does it like it is when I do it. Anyhow, now she says she’s tired and is my fault. Crazy lady. Loves you, Cassie

So I had to write her back ’cause I couldn’t drive up there right then.

Dear Cassie, I’m sorry that I couldn’t read your message this morning and come get you. I had to go see a mean ol’ lady with a needle who wouldn’t let me eat first or have a DDP. She kept taking this red stuff from my arm and hand. I didn’t like it a bit. And the orange stuff she made me drink was yukky sweet. At least I didn’t have to ride there in a cage like your Mommy makes you do, although it would have been nice to have someone carry me across the parking lot and into the building since my knees hurt so much. Your Mommy says you two have made up now and you’ve decided to go on living with her. BUT if she is mean with you again, I’ll be right up there and you can come home with me. We’d get along great ’cause I stay up all night and sleep in daytime, too. Gramma Kitty P.S. I think the Dollar Store sells tuna, too. That’s the only place I can shop now since my knees don’t work so well.

A GUEST POST FROM “THE KID”

The Kid and I went to the nursing home to visit Granny (my MIL, Kid’s grandmother) today on her 98th birthday. We enjoyed the visit immensely – Granny can be very entertaining.

Happy 98th b-day, Gran! As some of you may know, today was my Granny’s 98th birthday. Yes, that’s right. I did say 98. As Granny would say “Now, that’s old.” So, Mom and I ordered a nice cookie cake and headed out to the nursing home in Fayetteville for a little birthday celebration. Here I should add a few words about my Granny’s current condition. She is for the most part blind and going deaf. She has a hip that never healed from a break a few years back. She has dementia. On a good day, she just wants to sleep. On a bad day, she has no clue who you are and is convinced you have kidnapped her or something equally egregious. So, the cookie cake was a calculated move since we know she can no longer see to feed herself. It’s also something she loves, something that usually draws a positive response from her and makes her forget all about kidnappings and other nefarious things. At first, Granny was none too keen on the whole birthday idea. She just wanted to sleep, as is her right and privilege as a woman who is bordering on centenarian. All of that of course changed when the word “cookie” came into the conversation. Granny: Well, where is it? Me: It’s right here. Granny: Well, give it to me. Alrighty then. Fast forward through me feeding her numerous pieces of the cookie cake and her loving it and smacking her lips together every time she wanted more. Finally, my mother decided Granny had had enough sweets and needed to stop. Granny, of course, had other ideas. First, she tried the flattery approach… Granny: I’d really like some more of those molasses cookies. I love those. They’re so good. (Yes, it was really chocolate chip, but really when you’re 98 I guess you’re just glad to taste anything let alone identify it.) Me: Okay, let me get you some more. Granny: My mouth’s right here. Then, she tried the damsel in distress approach… Granny: Help me. Help! Me: What’s wrong, Granny? Granny: It’s my mouth. Me: What’s wrong with your mouth? Do you need a drink? Granny: No, I don’t need a drink. No. Me: What’s wrong with your mouth? Granny: It’s empty. Okay… (Imagine my mother and I belly laughing here because that’s exactly what happened.) Anyhow, a good time was had by all. Granny enjoyed her cookie, so I promised to bring her more next week for Easter. THE KID

E-MAIL FROM CASSIE

Remember my grandkitty, Cassie?

I received an email from The Kid last night:

Subject:  An Invite

I’m supposed to forward this on to you…

“Dear Grandma Kitty:
I think you’re nice. You smell good and I like the way you rub my belly. Please come over and play with me this weekend.
Love, Cassie”

And I replied:

Hey, Kid,

You’re a good kitty mommy to do as you’re told.

Love, Mom
– – – –

Dear Cassie,

I like you, too, and think you are the cutest kitty I’ve ever seen and the smartest.

I’ll put you on my schedule for some tummy rubbing this weekend.  Maybe we’ll even have time for some back scratching.

Love,
Grandma Kitty

The Kid wrote back:

Hey, Mom,

Cassie would write back, but she started going nuts when I told her you were coming over. Her latest trick is that she jumps in my lap or sits beside me in my computer chair when I’m online. Very cute. She’s also started chasing me around the apartment. I’ll see you Thursday I guess.

We’re a nutty family, can you tell?.  We do make out own fun sometimes.

I’ve wondered how my great-grandmother would feel about the cute little kitty who has her name.    This is Grandma Cassie:

This is Cassie’s beautiful daughter, Alice – my grandmother:

My Grandma Alice died the year before I was born so I never got to know her.  My Dad said I looked very much like her.  I considered that a great compliment!

HEY, I’M FINALLY “IN”

I went to visit The Kid yesterday and also my new grandkitty (well, new in our family anyway).  She’s been very shy so I’ve just been hanging out in the room, not trying to touch her or do anything that would scare her off.

Yesterday she and Gelly played, fussed and pestered each other for awhile.

The Kid and I were sitting on the couch talking, not paying attention to Cassie at all.  Before too long, Cassie jumped up on the couch between us.  She was climbing all over The Kid.  I didn’t try to pet her.

In a few minutes, she walked over to me and lay down beside me.  I rubbed her back a little and soon it was OK for me to scratch her belly and ears as well.

She enjoyed getting attention from both of us for awhile but then decided it was nap time.

Isn’t this the cutest kitty you’ve ever seen, taking a nap with
her little paw for her pillow?

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

My grandfather told my Dad that our family was Dutch and Irish. My great-grandma Sybil was the Irish link in our family. I’m still searching for the family history of her family.

In honor of my Irish ancestors – HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!