Friday, July 22, 2022

Maurice Is Just Maurice And I Am Just Myself


I should not have said yesterday that Maurice is getting weirder and weirder. She really isn't. To be more precise
, I think that Mr. Moon and I are getting less patient with her and less tolerant of her sudden and unprovoked attacks which probably aren't even as frequent as they used to be. Of course now she also shows her displeasure (I guess) by occasionally pooping on a rug or peeing in the pantry which only adds to our frustration. I believe that behavior began when a big stray male cat started sneaking into our house, terrorizing both her and Jack. And peeing on things in a failed attempt to assert his territory in our house. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him in forever so maybe he's gone to live on a farm. 

I used to try and figure out why Maurice could be so sweet one second and so vicious the next and ended up believing what one cat behavior expert said which is that some cats just bite and scratch and that is all there is to it and the best thing to do is keep bandaids at the ready. 
While we were on our trip, I got a text from Mark who told me that Maurice had been petting herself with his hand and he was terrified. I do not think she scratched him. I guess she liked him. She certainly does not like children and all of my grandchildren are terrified of her. I have told you before that Maggie started calling her "Scratch" quite awhile back. August has told me more than once that I should get rid of her. Jack, on the other hand, is called "The Sweet Cat." 
I am sure that Maurice had a terrible childhood. When she showed up here, nine or ten years ago as a mature teenager and decided that she would deign to move in, she didn't seem exactly feral, but obviously had her quirks. I took her to a vet to see if she was chipped, she was not, so I got her spayed and she's been here ever since. 
We do love her, despite the many times she's made us bleed, and I have noticed that when I am sick or injured, she stays by my side. This has happened enough times that I am sure it is not coincidence. She is empathetic, in her way. I call her my "nurse cat". Before I went to the hospital the day my appendix began to attack me, I was laying on my bed trying fruitlessly to find a place of comfort and she was right there with me the whole time. When I broke my ribs she slept with me every night in Glen's recliner which was lovely except that every time I dared to move, I feared a quick flash of claws, a bite, a serious reminder that she was not to be disturbed in her vigilance. And that's what happened the other day to Mr. Moon. She likes to lie in his lap in the mornings when he gets up and has his coffee and reads the news online in his chair. This is their time. BUT, if he so much as adjusts the laptop, she becomes very bitchy. 
Sigh. 
Love hurts, I suppose. At least when that love is coming from Maurice, the Ginger Cat of Lloyd. 

I was terribly unmotivated today. I was sort of motivated to get out in the garden and do some more weeding and perhaps spread a little mulch about but after an hour in the sun I had to give it up. I loaded one bag of mulch into the garden cart, thought, "Nah, I cannot do this," and came inside. I didn't even have the strength to pick beans and, oh, honey, they need picking again. 


So do the field peas. 
Tomorrow. It'll all still be there tomorrow. Weeds, mulch, beans and field peas. Just waiting like Penelope with her loom which is a little how I feel as the man is back at the coast fishing. He was just back last night long enough to bring Owen home and get some dinner and some sleep and this morning he got up at 4 a.m. to head back down with a friend to go out on the Gulf again. He's just texted me that they are safely back on shore, covered 115 miles today and that he caught Mahi-Mahi which is rare. He is happy. He couldn't stop bragging on our Owen last night. He was so proud of how he fished, how polite he was, how good-natured. And I think that Owen had a mighty fine time and this thrills me. I told him yesterday that his grandfather has been looking forward to taking him fishing since the second he was born and it is true. 

The older I get, the more I wonder what in this world I have done to make any sort of difference and I can't think of much. The one thing that brings me some comfort is the thought that my grandchildren will grow up knowing that they were loved and cherished by me and by their grandfather, too. And if there is one thing I know, it is that no matter what happens to a person in life, the more love they have known in their childhood, the better. 
So. There is that. 

Here's a picture of a butterfly I took today. 


An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, although one of its swallowtails is missing. I had to take many shots before I got that one. Butterflies are just way too busy. No matter how sweetly you ask them, they will not pose. 

I'll end with this. For whatever reason, probably because St. Dolly Parton was mentioned, I clicked on a link today and I ended up with chills in my body and tears in my eyes. These ladies hit me in all the places that trigger my emotions. Watch it or don't. But like Simon Cowell kept saying in the video, "You have no idea how much I needed this today." Maybe you do too. 
Damn. Remember their name: Chapel Hart. They're going to be huge and well they should be. 


All righty then, happy Friday. Guess I'll go make my own martini and put the clean sheets on the bed. 

Love...Ms. Moon

31 comments:

  1. love Chapel Hart, thank you! And Maurice....yes......I think you are absolutely right. She has her moods..... for many reasons...... but she does show her love, in her own way. Swallowtail photo on flower just gorgeous! Sigh......solo martini........bottoms up!
    Susan M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose that there is no more "normal" for cats than there is for humans.
      I enjoyed my solo martinis!

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  2. OK. Love 'girl groups'. Grew up with The Supremes and they're still my
    girls 50 years later. Not much into country music...but LOVED Chapel Hart!
    Those girls are fantastic. What talent. I love their energy, positive vibes
    and talent. I wish them the best and will be looking for them to break out
    big soon!
    Maurice is a cat. Cats are cats! LOL! Kitties aren't always predictable in their behavior. Invest in some Band-Aids and call it a day. Maurice certainly sounds like she has her good points and is caring...in her way.
    I was looking for an update on poor Darla. I hope she's doing better. I bet Darla's been a good, old girl.
    Paranormal John

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    1. Aren't Chapel Hart just so fabulous? The way my being reacted to them surprised me but it was real.
      I have plenty of bandaids! Trust me!
      Update on Darla tonight.

      Delete
  3. Love hurts oh yes it does - felines invented that and own it! The beans can feed the earth, not like y'all will go hungry not with our Mary in the kitchen!
    Love those girls and the fabulous attitude -thank you!!

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    1. the butterfly is a knock out on the knock out flower in the sunshine!!

      Delete
    2. Those women are a gift! I bet they've eaten some field peas in their lives. Isn't that a beautiful butterfly?

      Delete
  4. Well done on the butterfly picture. Moths are so much easier, because they sit still!
    And your legacy of loving your family is a proud one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Moths actually come to rest on things, butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds do not. I always admire a good hummingbird photo.
      It is easy to love my family.

      Delete
  5. That video was fun -- I'm not much for country music, but dang they can perform!

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    1. If country music is Dolly Parton, I love it. And these gals have got it going on for sure.

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  6. I love Chapel Hill. Those ladies have the voices and have the energy. I bet Dolly would love them too.

    Loving your children and your grandchildren is what the world needs, now more than ever.

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    1. I think that Dolly has already come out and said how much she loved the song. She's so precious.
      And Dolly loves all the children so much that she sends them books. What a treasure.

      Delete
  7. I pushed the shutter a couple hundred times. Well, maybe only a hundred for a good picture of a butterfly and two hundred for a better picture.
    I don't know what to think about Maurice. I've never had one quite so mean. However, "we" did have one, a cat that adopted Mom and always counted on Mom to stick up for her. I can't remember her name. We found her in the garden, howling one midnight, one her mama lost count of, I guess. She was the queen of mean; took more nicks than I can remember from the other cats' ears, bit through and through Xenia's tail, kept her treed once for 48 hours. I can't remember her name and it's too late to call my sister. She ate all the food, kept the others away. After mom passed, the cat developed diabetes. The vet had Jan steeled to inject insulin daily. I asked who she'd trained to do it when on vacation. I didn't like her well enough to do it and was damned if I'd spend an hour or more a day having her done by the vet. I was not sad to make that last trip to the vet for her. I hope she found Mom and the good life again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some animals are just hard, if not impossible, to love. And that's just the way it is. I feel sure that cats and dogs too, are very much affected by childhood loss and cruelty. And perhaps some are just born with nasty dispositions.

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  8. I’m glad I watched that video. Chapel Hart. I hope they get that record deal. What a performance! It’s not often that an original song grabs you like that on the first hearing. Go them! And how wonderful to think of Owen and his Boppy out on that boat fishing. You dear Mary have put so much love into the world and that is the greatest legacy there is.
    37paddington (Rosemarie)

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    1. I second everything Rosemary said!
      Desirée

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    2. Apologies - Rosemarie 🙏🏻

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    3. Oh, thank you all. I appreciate that so much. And I'm glad you liked the video!

      Delete
  9. Great music and that butterfly and bloom are beautiful. I am happy for Owen and Mr. Moon.

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    1. This is what Mr. Moon has always dreamed of. It makes him so happy.

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  10. Wow! That Chapel Hart - amazing! I have no idea what the Golden Buzzer is, but they deserved it. What a performance! Thank you for sharing; I too needed that tonight.

    And I agree with Pixie and 37Paddington - the love you pour into your family is The Most Important Thing In The World.

    Chris from Boise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had no idea what the golden buzzer was either. Still am not sure but it certainly looked like it was highly coveted!
      My love for my family was born right along with them. It was a package deal. I could not NOT love them.

      Delete
  11. The one thing you have done is to raise your children and grandchildren with love, kindness and respect. Things that are poorly lacking in so many these days. And they will do the same in their turn and it will flow through to future generations.

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  12. I refer to my son's cat as "Leni the Horrible Cat" because he's just like you describe (and he's ginger). It seems he would rather scratch than purr. If he's near my purse on the table I ask my son to get it for me!!!!! And of course they have a baby, but to be fair sometimes the babe backs him in to a corner, and while he has swatted him away on occasion he has never drawn his claws. He's not a cat I can take to, nor do I make much of an attempt to get to know him (one scratch too many). I guess some cats are just like that - almost feral and master of all they survey!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I wonder if that's a ginger trait- to be a bit wild. Maurice is the only one I've ever had.

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  13. My Emma would lay on her back exposing her belly just daring you to rub it, something you did not want to do as she would attack your hand with tooth and claw. Of course Owen is who he is surrounded by so much love. And that is your contribution to the world, the difference you have made. And yeah, I hope the ladies have great success.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cats! I think the crazy ones may outnumber the not-so-crazy ones.
      Well, I know that Owen is on the cusp of being a real teenager and I'm a bit worried on how that will go. Such a hard, hard time for kids. And thus- for their families. But hopefully, he'll just stay a sweetheart.

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  14. I had a cat similar to Maurice, named Armenia. Her way of showing affection was to be be ornery. It's just the way some cats are. Fortunately Armenia seldom drew blood, so maybe she wasn't QUITE as ornery as Maurice.

    I think you make a difference in the world every day. Your writing alone entertains lots of us!

    Terrific butterfly photo!

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    1. "Armenia"! I love it.
      It's very nice to hear you say that I am entertaining. I really appreciate that. AND your words on the photo. Thank you.

      Delete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.