Friday, April 29

Odds and Ends

The weather forecast predicted tornadoes for our area again today (Thursday), and the skies looked as though it might come true, but despite wind and torrential rains, the violent storms veered to our right and went easterly. Thank Heaven for that (with apologies to those in the path of today's storms.) When I went to work this morning, I drove through one of the areas hardest hit on April 16th. It still looks like a war zone, although progress has been made. I cannot imagine what it looks like in Tuscaloosa right now, since I know that seeing it on television bears little resemblance to the devastation seen in real life. My prayers go out for them. 

The Earth is angry. Whatever it is that we are doing to upset her should be stopped, and quickly. Gaia is rebelling at our misdeeds and bad thoughts. As the old advertisement goes....."It's not nice to fool Mother Nature."

*******

Are you watching American Idol?  Who is your favorite?  They are all good this season, so it is hard for me to pick one winner. I got excited tonight when I saw (on Facebook) that the tour dates for the summer had been set - and discovered they are coming to Raleigh!! Now I just have to find out the cost of the tickets.....lol.  I guess Scotty fans will fill the arena, and I am one of them. He's not extremely well-rounded as a singer; it seems everything he sings takes on a country flair, but he's so good and so cute it doesn't matter. Country is my least favorite music, but I'll make an exception for Scotty and for Carrie Underwood.

***

 I worked for a new (to me) flower shop last week. I was there when I found out my cat had to be put down. Imagine getting that phone call in the midst of people you only met the day before; crying as if your heart would break, and trying to make decisions about burial/cremation/ashes saved or not. It was horrendous - although none of them could have been any nicer to me. I opted for letting the vet take care of the cremation and dispose of the ashes; our land is composed of clay and rock, and I can't even dig in it for flowers, let alone a grave. I didn't ask the vet what all of that would cost, but I should have.
when I went in on Monday to pay the bill, I got a big surprise. It was much higher than I thought it would be. So, on top of being so sad about losing my cat, I had to pay through the nose for the privilege. I will know what to do the next time an animal of mine gets ill. I'll do the burial myself, somehow. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel as though I've been taken advantage of - and I don't like it. Have you had bad experiences along these lines? What did you do?


13 comments:

Ginnie said...

I, too, gave a sigh of relief as the storms passed by yesterday ... but I hate that it hit other areas so hard.
I think the Vet's office should have told you of the cost and then let you decide. They definitely took advantage of you when you were in shock and just starting to grieve. Shame on them.

Olga said...

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your cat, especially under such circumstances.

Lynn said...

I'm so glad the people around you were nice to you in your grief. I have both my cats ashes in little tin cans. I intended to do something with Cleo's ashes after she died in 2003, but never did. Sophie died last year and now I just don't know where I'd want to spread their ashes. So I hang on to them. I put a note in the bag they are in that my family should put their ashes someplace pretty, that I just couldn't bear to do it.

Grannymar said...

I often wondered about the payback for the way we abused our world!

lucylocket said...

A few years ago I, too, had the heartbreak of losing my best little friend. The vet took care of all the "arrangements" for me.
After two weeks I was finally at the point when I didn't cry every time I thought about him. The grieving process began again when the crematorium sent me sympathy card--my heart broke once more.

I had to make the horrible decision again when my best buddy's mother was very ill, I requested that the vet ask the crematorium not send me a card. They did anyway and once again, I went through the same emotions.

Imaginography said...

I've seen footage of the storms and tornadoes on TV and am glad you haven't been personally affected. The scenes of devastation we are seeing are dreadful :(

I was also sorry to hear about your beloved cat. I know what you mean about the vets. When my dear Bob had to be put to sleep I knew he was ill for a week or so before and so I had prepared myself for the worse by researching a private cremation. It was expensive, but it was my choice. So sorry :(

LL Cool Joe said...

We buried both our cats on our land. It was a very hard thing to do, but I'm glad we did.

I wouldn't totally trust a vet to dispose of an animal in a very loving way. I'd be worried they'd end up being thrown in the trash or something. :/

Arkansas Patti said...

Aw, Judy, I am so sorry about your cat. It is just so darn hard to lose a pet.
Cremation is very expensive. I have always buried mine but then I haven't tried in Arkansas, the land of clay and rock.
Don't do Idol, probably the only one in America who doesn't.
I agree about Mother Nature. She really has her global panties in a bunch lately. The damage of these storms is hard to fathom.

Gilly said...

I am so sorry about your cat - it is heartbreaking to have to make such decisions.

Our vet is very reasonable, I must say, but the cost of medication still horrifies me. When I think I get all my meds free under the NHS I am so, so grateful.

And prayers for the tornado-struck areas. It must be horrifying to have that stuff blow over you.

Granny Annie said...

Our daughter in California has a pet cemetery on their property with little rock headstones and everything. It is amazing how crowded it is since it includes everything from pet bugs, frogs, fish and hamsters to cats and dogs.

Sparkling Red said...

I've never had to deal with the financial aspect of a kitty cat's passing. It was always my parents' cats, and then when I got my own, they went to live with "daddy" after that marriage split up. It must have been heartbreaking. I'm glad to hear that your new coworkers were sweet to you.

Pat said...

Pets - like children - make you a hostage to fortune.
Hope things get better soon.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I feel so for your loss Judy....It is so painful....These loved ones live in our hearts forever and those mwemories bring comfort, but the loss is felt forever. I have experienced many different things with Vets and then, taking care of it all myself---The Burial that is....5 Cats are buried here on my property---One in a Beautiful Coffin made by a good friend and the four others with their ashes plowed into the land.
The cost of of my last dear cat's final operation was startling and overwhelming...But, in all honesty, if she had lived I would have been thrilled to pay anything....
I'm surprised they didn't tell you what your options were and the possible costs of each....Not very fair, but maybe they felt it was inappropriate to talk about those things at that moment. It's a difficult call, however it comes down, and everything costs so much now---including the cremation of one's beloved pet. I'm just sorry you had to go through losing your dear Storm...! Sending (((((((HUGS)))))))