Something Old, Something True

If you notice on the right hand side of my blog, under the heading All Things Paris, there is a link to my favorite blogspot, the Paris Daily Photo. The title is self explanatory. A wonderful frenchman named Eric posts a new picture from the city of Paris each day with a little explanation about the subject matter. It is my little "Paris fix" each day, and I love to check in and see what he will show us next.
I post comments sometimes, and in doing so, I have noticed some of the other faithful readers (and bloggers) that comment. I will sometimes click over to their blogs and so on and so on. It has been a fun way to learn about places and people and new things.
I happened upon a blog this way called Things UK, written by a woman named Lynn. (she actually has a few blogs). But, one of her entries in particular touched me, and I emailed her and asked her if I could post it here, because I thought you would all enjoy this as much as I did.
Lately, I have watched so many of my friends struggle with broken hearts, the challenge of marriage--and making it work, and I have to tell you, there are days when I think-- Are there true love stories anymore? Not that any of my friends have failed, and that is the worst part. I see all these wonderful, amazing, unique individuals, and it all seems so hard.
Following is the post from Lynn's blog. The story tells itself. And it is nice to know that even though the stories are few and far between, that there are some love stories out there that have stood the test of time. It gives me hope, and to my friends out there struggling, all of whom I love, I hope you read this, and that it gives you hope, too, wherever your own path takes you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poetry after 65 years? Must be Good!





Recently my father sat down and wrote a poem to my mother about their lives. They lived in Whetstone and Finchley in north London. I'm so touched by it and hope you will enjoy it too. He's a romantic old thing.

-----------------------------------


I remember, yes, I remember
The summer of forty two
The sirens loud
The guns and bombs
In Britain's struggle
To win through

And at that time
A change of schools
Sent me to Holly Park
So strict, but fair
No place to suffer fools

Then in these momentous days
A happening so great
To shake my youthful ways

I remember, yes, I remember
The girl that I saw there
In class 1a, the same as I
I tried hard not to stare

Her hair so dark and neat
With eyes more brown than brown
I glimpsed her in her seat

And even then
My heartstring woke
And stirred within my mind

Her name was Joyce
And plain to see
She was the girl for me

We went through school
And not a class apart
Until our time was through

Fourteen, the year to leave
Our working life to start

I remember, yes, I remember
The winter of forty five
Her schooldays done
Six months in front of mine

This must be it!
She’s gone
And I’d not sense to ask
To meet again
And could it be soon?

New ways for us so young
Find jobs and learn a trade
A year slips by
Sad thoughts of dates not made

I remember, yes, I remember
The winter of forty six
While working in my office
A new girl is employed

I know this girl!
It’s Joyce’s friend
From Holly Park, our school!

I ask her how Joyce is
The answer “very well”
I say “and will you please
Ask if we can meet?”

The answer relayed back to me
It really is a yes!

The meet’s arranged
It’s in our lunch hour
We’ll meet on her way home

Ten minutes by bus
And I am there

I know where she will walk
My tie is straight
Excitement tense
But can I sensibly talk?

I see her then
It’s her, and no mistake
Her hair so dark
Eyes sparkling brown

The schoolgirl that I knew
No longer was in view
But here, grown up
And very lovely too

We talked and walked
To where she lived
Time short
Can’t be late
I had to catch my bus

Must go, but then,
I have just made the date!

I remember, yes, I remember
The evening of our first date
Cold January twenty nine
I’m early (can not be late)
I wait outside the Odeon
Who’s cold? Not me! I’m fine

The bus, a one-two-five
Comes rushing to a stop
I see her getting off and then
I greet her with a smile

Two 'two and nines'
The price I pay
The best seats in the house
And would she like some chocs?
The ones we both will always share
Our favourite ‘Dairy Box’

The film show over now
We stand for ‘God Save the King’
It’s time to take her home
We queue together at the stop
The wind blows freezing cold

I wrap my coat around us both
I say, to keep her warm
But truth to own
It brings us close
So I can look
Into her eyes so brown

I remember, yes, I remember
The Autumn of nineteen fifty
Three happy years we’ve spent
Together all the while
And now it’s National Service time
My call-up soon is sent

Two years to serve
It’s in the RAF
How long to be apart? -It’s not so bad
As I had thought

I often can get home
On many a Weekend Pass

Our letters to each other
Pass, daily in the post
Mine sometimes do contain
A short but loving rhyme
And hers to me the same
But sometimes also this
End with a lipstick kiss

My National Service days now done
I’m back in Civvie Street
So good to see her all the time
To make our plans complete

Ten years have now gone by
Since the summer of forty two
When first I saw her face
Then was it luck?
Or maybe fate?
That winter of forty six

I remember, yes, I remember
The summer of fifty three
The Queen and Coronation Day
But no, much more than that!
In June that year our wedding
At All Saint’s, Oakleigh Road

I turn and look to see her
Coming down the Aisle
She’s on her Father’s arm

Her dress pure white
And darker shows her hair
Her eyes of course are shining brown
But finely covered by her veil
Then smiles that both we share

She says “I will! So softly
Then, and in my turn
I say that “I will” too

A fine reception
Enjoyed by all
Was in the Springfield Hall
Then came the time
For Bride and Groom to leave
The music, food and wine

Her Mother came and held my hand
And said “look after her”
She knew, of course, I would
I said “You know I will”
The best way that I could

I remember, yes, I remember
The spring of fifty seven
In March that year
Was born, and to our joy,
A healthy baby Boy

Two years on
Then April fifty nine
To put us in a whirl
A lovely baby Girl

I remember, yes, I remember
All the years since then
A further forty eight have passed

So can it really be?
Sixty years and five
Since that summer of forty two
When first we met in school

Two images have stayed
Fixed always in my mind
Of Joyce at Holly Park School
Sitting at her desk

And see her then so clear
Stepping from the bus
And knowing that from there
It’ll be not You or Me
But Us

-Roland Ede 2007

Read more...

A Few Laughs

I just wanted to share a few things that I came across over the last few days that made me laugh. The first quote from Craig Ferguson killed me, but the videos after it had me crying I was laughing so hard. Hope you all enjoy as much as I did!

"Nicole Kidman is pregnant. Isn't that lovely? Congratulations to Nicole. And here's the great news--she still has that little bed that Tom used to sleep in."

-Craig Ferguson on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Read more...

My Plumber, the Internet

Ok, I am sure I am going to get some smart a** comments, but I love the internet sometimes. For all the trouble, identity theft warnings, and other bad things out there, the ability to find out about anything, anywhere, at anytime is just amazing.

I am up late tonight working, writing, and decided to put some dishes in the dishwasher and do some laundry before going to bed. I started in the sink, and ran the disposal, and the water backed up in one side of the sink and then the other, bringing up some pretty disgusting stuff with it. I tried running the disposal again, and it seemed like it was in reverse, just churning up this yucky mess.

I have lived in the land of rentals for a long time, and figured I would have to watch it slowly drain (if it did at all) and call the landlord tomorrow. But, the water wasn't moving, and Baxter looked interested. Not a good combination.

I had all but decided to go and buy some Liquid Plumber, which I also hate to use because of the cats, when I thought about going on the internet to see if I could get some help. Maybe all of you know exactly what to do when this happens, and maybe I should, but I didn't.

I googled "clogged sink and disposal". And lo and behold, step by step instructions to get my sink unclogged. I grabbed my plunger, covered the disposal side (which got tricky, as Baxter and Lilly both felt the need to "help" by this time)...and plunged away. Voila! Both sinks drained. I scared the beans out of both cats when I yelled "It worked!"

I am not at ALL mechanically inclined so I am very easily proud of myself for such things. But, God bless the internet at 1:00am here in Huntersville tonight.

-Kim >^..^<

Read more...

Just the best news...

I just got home from the vet with Lilly. We got GREAT news, FANTASTIC news. Lilly is going to be OK!!
When I got to the vet, while we were waiting, I had gotten so upset, by the time our vet walked in, I was in tears. He was so dear, and told me to hold on and see what the Xray told us. He said that while her kidney function and urine results were not good, the rest of her tests were so normal that there was a chance that something else was going on.
They did the Xrays, and we waited. He came in smiling and said that "this is not kidney failure". I honestly didn't hear much after that. Lilly's bad kidney is encased in a sack of fluid (it always has been) and that sack has gotten huge. I don't understand everything, but I think that kidney was actually working before, and now is not functioning well, causing both kidneys to be strained and give the bad blood results.
The long and short of it is that this can be resolved and Lilly can live a long and healthy life. We are going to have to get an ultrasound done to identify the exact issue and then maybe remove the kidney (or drain the sack). It is going to cost a little money, but nothing too crazy, and it will buy Lilly probably 8-10 more years, or in other words, a normal cat life.
This animal hospital here is so wonderful, Birkdale Animal Hospital. The vets are a husband and wife team. My pet sitter recommended them, and I just love them both.
So, again, thanks to everyone for your concern and thoughts. Lilly and I are sending you hugs!

-Kim >^..^<

Read more...

Waiting (and hoping) Game

I just wanted to post a note of thanks to everyone for the concern about Lilly. I guess it's no shock that all of my friends are animal lovers. But everyone checking in and asking about her progress has just meant the world to me.
Right now, I don't have much of an update, other than we are going in tomorrow or Thursday to get an X-Ray done to rule out anything else that could be causing this. The hope is that something else that is "fixable" could be causing her symptoms with her kidneys. But, this is highly unlikely. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't get all the tests I can done, though, just in case.
After this test, I will learn to administer the fluids at home--which will be a challenge with her. Lilly likes being the boss!
She has been acting like herself for the last few days, but she had gotten a fluid treatment at the vet last week, and those can make her feel well for a bit. I have noticed tonight that she is slowing down, and just seems to be moving more carefully. It just breaks my heart. Seven years has flown by with her, and I was expecting at least that much longer with her.
Thanks again, and hug all your fur babies for me!

-Kim >^..^<

Read more...

Dance + Fever

I woke up Saturday morning really sick and ended up at Urgent Care with a high fever--which got really high last night. The doctor said I have a sinus infection, but it feels like something much worse.
I have felt a little better tonight, but not really enough to get up much. So, I have been watching movies, and doing a little internet surfing. I watched 'Music and Lyrics' today, and when I recovered from the giggles from watching Hugh Grant dance, (a la Wham!)I found the website for the movie, and a little treat. Enjoy. I am still running a fever, so this may not be as funny to you as it is to me. It is cracking me up. Click on the "view dancers on full screen" for an even better laugh. (I won't name the friend dancing with me, as I haven't asked her permission to post this. ) ;0)

-Kim >^..^<

Read more...

Lilly

Well, I took Lilly in to the vet yesterday for some more bloodwork and a urinalysis. I actually was cautiously optimistic, because she had really pepped up in the last few days, being her usual fearless self, and even trying my nerves a little bit. For instance, when I put her into the carrier to take her to the vet, she growled at me and once inside, turned around, and through the front door of the carrier, looked squarely at me and gave a loud "spit".

She had still not forgiven me when I came to pick her up at the vet and they were giving her an IV of fluids. I walked back to talk to her, and she would not look at me. She would turn her head to the side, and I would move to that side, and she would turn away. This is all signature Lilly, and the vet techs thought it was so funny. She wanted to let me know that she did NOT want to go to the vet, and she knew who to blame.

But, the vet called me this morning, and the tests seem pretty clear. Lilly is in the early stages of kidney failure. We are going to have an x-ray done to rule out some other distant possibilities, but more than likely, we are dealing with kidney failure.

What this means is, I will be giving her fluids at home (like they did at the vet), to in a sense, act like her non-working kidney and flush out her system. She will also get some special food and medication. But, the reality is, this usually only helps for months with most cats. The outlook is not good. Lilly won't be with me much longer more than likely. The vet said that in some rare cases, cats have lived a few years like this. I will hope for the best.

I have had a really sad day. Thanks for all the sweet emails and concern. I will keep you posted.

Kim >^..^<

Read more...