This was the first New Year’s Eve I remember in my life, where I didn’t count down like everyone else usually does. I’d planned on, after our dinner guests left, taking a friend and my family to a Buddhist meditation at midnight. Instead I was sitting with these folks in the Emergency Room, waiting to visit a friend who’d been trucked in after a collapse. My kids, husband, and my girl H. played some kind of Twister knock-off on a carpet a few feet away. Next time I looked at my watch it was thirty-four minutes past midnight.
The fireworks from the hospital’s hill were lovely. It was cold. Nels had about three girlfriends by the time we left the parking lot. A social child. Also, earlier, a grouchy child who’d disrupted our earlier dinner a bit.
My friend at the hospital seems out of the woods. I am very grateful. I gave him my number as he’s staying overnight, and told him to call if I could bring him anything at all.
***
We had a good day today; the kids and I accompanied another family to adopt a kitty for little E. It was pretty choice, getting to visit with and pet the kitties.
Phoenix was a very kind little girl at the shelter, taking stock of each kitty and remembering their names and tempraments. There was another Phoenix working there as a volunteer, a teen boy. He and my daughter got along great, although I think like many he didn’t, at first, think a younger child could conduct themselves with aplomb at a kitty shelter.
E. and her father discuss adoption plans.
Raider. A favorite of J.’s. He was a handsome kitty. But E. was intent on adopting a lady kitty.
Here’s a kitty I like to call Noel, MY NEW BOYFRIEND. HE LOVED ME SO MUCH AND IMMEDIATELY CLIMBED IN MY ARMS right after I snapped this. He is the handsomest thing I have ever seen. Not convinced? Would you like a closeup?
I am going to get a tattoo of Noel and his likeness. His green-blue eyes are the inspiration of many sonnets. I’m sure he will be adopted out in no time and it just kills me.
E. + Nels + Noel. You can click through for like eighteen adorable pictures of them all looking at a “flashing light” they saw outside.
Nels reacts to something Noel said, probably something very suave and witty.
Panther may have trouble getting adopted.
Happy New Year. Anyone reading here with any regularity knows how grateful I am for my life. How blessed. I don’t mean “blessed” because so much good shit has happened to me or because God is super into me, I mean “blessed” because I’m very glad for the gifts I have. It is the gladness, the awareness, the awakenedness, when I have it, that is the gift.
Here’s Ralph taking a picture of me tonight just before tacos, because I wanted a new photo for Twitter. Thank you, husband, for taking a picture and making it of my ENORMOUS FACE.
Happy new year, Kelly!
Happy New Year to you and yours! :3
you are super blessed – i am too
i spent new years w/ my youngest and we laughed and hollered and he stood out on our front porch screaming happy new year to all and then my daughter came home from her evening away and we all chatted about this and that and my heart was full to bursting as it often is these days.
i’ve got a new spot on the interwebs btw – and may or may not have embraced the name Kate – in no small part to inspiration from Phoenix 🙂
and one day i wish to have you sitting at my dining room table and i shall make you a cup of coffee and we shall talk and perhaps even laugh a little <3
Ahahaha… ‘Panther may have trouble getting adopted’. Thanks for the charming and hilarious post. Weee!
Just wanted to say that although you may not like the pic Ralph took of you, I think it looks great. The smile is real and I’m loving the short hair. It looks great on you.
Re: the cats – damn you’re right! Those eyes on Noel are gorgeous. I’ve never seen a cat with such beautiful eyes.
Noel! What a babe.
Enormous face, please! You look like a kid. Full of ease, balance, and grace.
@ deb / Kate
Yes! What a lovely New Year. And yes I want to sit at your dining room table and have coffee. This must be made to happen.
@Emily
I’m sure Panther was more charismatic IRL.
@Jen
Yes, the smile was real. Thank you for the compliment.
@Carrie
I am like a kid… more so than ever these days. Thanks for your comment!