Wind Not In The Willows

A few days ago we had a storm like no other recent one.  Or maybe it is just like some only I am in an apartment now where I hear the wind “roar” and “howl” as I have never heard them before.  I’ve heard the expressions before, about the wind howling around the corners, but like most people just figured it was close to poetic license, just a way of trying to express the feeling of that wind.  I won’t make that mistake again.  It really does howl and to me it sounded like it was trying to get in.

So, here’s how it began.  Our warm sunny day was suddenly changing to a cloudy day.  I could hear the rain begin, moving in from the Northwest and slamming against my window, but was totally unprepared for the next sound.  I live in the apartment that is in the northwest corner of the building and on the 16th floor, so the noise is much louder here when the weather changes.  I might add that the climate is also just plain frigid!  It could be age, but for some reason it all seems much colder now than it did a few years ago.  I glanced out my window and watched the puffy white clouds beginning to become angry grey clouds.  The raindrops were large, almost dime sized as they pounded on my window, and then I heard the whimper of the wind becoming more aggressive, like a lover who was denied entrance to the bower of his lady love.  First it sounded unbelievable that he was not invited in and he roared in protest.  When that didn’t open the door he began to howl his anger at the elements that kept him on the outside, hurling himself against the windows again and again in futile protest against the safety glass that kept him mainly on the outside.  I was beginning to consider him a very rude guest at the party when the roars and howls combined and he hurled himself at my windows in gusts that exceeded 55 mph, sounding for all it was worth like a pack of angry wild dogs, perhaps even wolves held at bay.  I can only surmise this however, having never actually heard wolves howling except in movies.

This seemed to go on forever, but the storm moved out late in the afternoon, long after dark and the ensuing silence was more deafening than the wind.  In the silence I could hear myself breathe, could hear the sighing whisper of a very tired breeze as it settled in for the night, and I decided to settle in also.

On a very sad note, I have written before about my neighbor, Jerry and his little dog, Angel.  A few weeks ago, and has it really been weeks?  It seems more like hours, I could hear Angel crying in their apartment.  I couldn’t get in to check on her but the reason for her mourning was discovered the next day when Jerry was found in his apartment, dead from the cancer that had been killing him for some time.  Angel is now living with Jerry’s daughter and I have heard that she is getting adjusted to the situation.  RIP Jerry.  I miss you.  And Angel, you are really an angel, watching over our friend during that long night. I miss you running in each time I open my door but now I am beginning to open it again after remaining here behind closed doors for a few long days and nights.

Visiting Angel

The three “angels” in my life — my still lamented Max, always ready to pose when the camera was turned his way, top right, Angel, camera shy and with me at the moment, bottom right, Tessa, my buddy from the 18th floor, celebrating her third birthday today.

I still miss Max, eight years later but almost like he passed this morning.  Angel and Tessa do their best to fill the empty place but they always have to go back home before the day is over.  And while I had a great montage of the three on the screen a few minutes ago, my computer burped and they disappeared, meaning I now have to go back and try to find them again. Wow, success!  Makes me wonder if I should just close this one out now and add a second post later.  Almost lost them again, so later—-

My Friend Angel

This is my neighbor, Angel, who dropped in for a visit this morning.  She’s a frequent visitor,actually; quick on her feet and lightening fast, through her door and mine before Jerry or I realize she is not in the right apartment.  He is still astonished that she feels at home here, I always have her favorite food and toys on hand along with some soft fleecy throws made for soft little girls like Angel.

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Angel has lived next door to me a little over a year now, and she’s pretty popular in the building, but I’m still the only one she will stay with.  Maybe because I keep her favorite food, maybe because I have the soft fleece, maybe she just likes me  I never question the reasons why a puppy loves a person.  I just love ’em back.  You get pure love from animals, unconditional,  none of the “I’ll love you if you will” kind of stuff people impose on each other.  Yep, I wanna be someone’s pampered pet.

Y’all have a good afternoon.

The Sun Was Bright On My Old Kentucky Home

And

But I didn’t take any photos today.  Instead I went shopping for some groceries.  It was a balmy 22 F outside and as long as there was no wind it felt good.  Of course there was no way to stay out of the wind and go shopping at the same time, soooo, we eventually braved the element and made a quick trek to the car.  Most of the ice had melted on the sidewalk, but there was one really hinky spot where we had to negotiate the ice, both the seen and the unseen black form.  M. was using a walker while I was forging ahead on foot and praying very hard that these boots really WERE made for walking, to coin a phrase from an old Nancy Sinatra song.  Nothing beats Mukluks for keeping feet warm while hanging on to the sidewalk in weather like this.  So, just to thank them properly, last night I dropped a cup of barbecue sauce on them.  (They also make good house slippers when it’s just too exhausting to pull them off.)  They are now adorning my shower curtain rod doing a rhythmic drip, drip, drip, drop drop drop drop.  I have a feeling they will continue the dripping for several more days therefore dripping several more days too.  My curtain rod just isn’t big enough for this!

It is even warmer today — 35 F. when I checked a couple of hours ago, with the sun even shinier than yesterday.  I am considering just going out for a drive today.  Ya just don’t miss out on a day like this in winter time.  The only thing that would improve the day would be finding a tree filled with black olives, a hammock under a perfect tree and the ability to wiggle my nose and make it all happen.  A clone of Mel Gibson and George Clooney put together would make it perfect!  Oh well, it just isn’t happening and wiggling my nose just makes me sneeze so back to reality, well, soon!

Had visitors last night — Jerry, my neighbor brought over some of the stuff he picked up for me at the store, bringing Angel with him.  Some day I hope to get a photo of Angel but she is a little bit shy right now.  It’s not taking her as long to get over it now but I’m not going to push or shovel her into a corner.  She eventually comes over and lets me know in her own doggie way that she is ready to be picked up for a brief moment and I can respect that.  Of course it probably helps that I keep bribes, um, snacks available for all of my furry visitors.  

Okay, I’m outta here.  Might be back inside in seconds, but it just looks too nice out there to stay cooped up inside,  Gave a good rest of the weekend!  A