It seems so important to have sources of joy in addition to (and separate from) our work, and sources of renewal when work seems grim and draining.
One consistent source for me is a wonderful family of special-needs cats and dogs who live in our home.
For those interested, here is an update on a few of these wonderful spirits, along with some links to a few photos. (Note: I could not have written this without special help on my computer.)
Calypso was born with eyes swollen several times normal size, inflamed and threatening to burst. They had to be surgically removed. Here he is resting his head on Dharma (a dog) while recovering from the surgery. He now races around the house joyfully, finding each of the cats and dogs, and nuzzling up to them to cuddle or play.
Gracie came from a California shelter literally hours before she was scheduled to be put down. Severe abuse had made her aggressive and she'd stayed the allotted number of days without anyone expressing an interest in adopting her. Over the years she's become friendly and affectionate. She even sings.
Phoenix was rescued from Ground Zero. She survived but has asthma, eye and ear damage, and other problems from the explosion and aftermath. She was terrified and, like Gracie, would attack anyone who came near. She will need medication for the rest of her life, but is no longer fearful (except of loud noises), and will bump against your leg when she wants to be petted.
A NJ shelter contacted us about Harmony, who turned out to have an extremely rare muscle disorder for which there is no known treatment. We're working with the neurology and cardiology departments at Tufts Vet School on an experimental treatment using procainamide. Here is Harmony in the lion's lap.
Annie was an old dog, blind and deaf, rescued near death (from abuse, including a broken jaw) by a MA animal-control administrator. Although Annie met *none* of the contractual criteria for "saving," the administrator didn't have the heart to put her down because of her spirit, and asked if we'd consider adopting her. Her medical problems are controlled by insulin and other drugs, and she is now full of life and play. Here is Annie with Emma & Sarah.
Westwind had 30% chance of making it to her 1st birthday because she was born with dysautonomia and megaesophagus, but she's now 18 months old. She has to eat & drink standing up and we carry her upright for 30 minutes after each meal. Here Westwind is cuddling with Faith, Jonah, & Winter.
Abby and Harry are siblings with the feline leukemia virus. Abby has lymphoma which chemotherapy has, for now, taken into remission. As this photograph shows, Abby and Harry are very playful.
[The following note was added a month after the words above were written: One of the photos linked above shows a Calypso, a kitten who had to have her eyes removed to save her life, recuperating after surgery by leaning up against Dharma, a dog. More recently, Annie, an old blind dog with a history of abuse, had to undergo surgery. This time Calypso provided the comfort: Here is Calypso cradling Annie after her surgery.]
Ken
"First they came for the communists but I was not a communist so
I kept quiet. Then they came for the socialists and the trade unionists
but I
was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I
was not a Jew, so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there
was no one left to speak out for me."
--Martin Niemoller, after being released from Dachau, 1945