Back to Basics Please?

Over the last 10 years or so it is becoming clear to me that with the progression of technology, while in many ways a positive progression there are some basics that are being left behind.  For instance Manners I know back when I was a child about well nevermind how many years ago but not that long,  we were taught by our parents to "respect adults", hold doors for people, say please and thank you, say excuse me.  Certain things were just "COMMON SENSE".  When you walk into a small area like a subway train or a small aisle in a store take your backpack down and hold it in front of you, don't plow through and knock people out with your luggage!!

Another of the basics that has been lost Handwriting!  I realized this about 10 years ago, my son in the 3rd or 4th grade I believe at the time I was constantly asking what about handwriting when I was his age I had a handwriting book and we practiced everyday.  These days there is absolutely no importance placed on handwriting, I am told due to the use of computers and texting and such there is no longer a need.  The public school curriculum consists of preparing for state exams and oh yeah thats it.  Everything that my child has done this year in school is to prepare for state exams oh and maybe an occassional project.  

So When all is said and done our children are being trained to take a test, be rude obnoxious spoiled and selfish.  I think we need to rewind a bit in certain areas.  I would not be opposed to public school students being in uniform, there is a good place to start.  Bring back handwriting instruction and practice so our children can sign there names at this point unless your child is in a parochial school hand writing a note in script is like a foreign language to them.  Also Parents teach your children manners !!!! explain to them that to treat others as you want to be treated really is a very nice quality in a child in a person in general!!  We need to teach our children that sometimes it is more gratifying to help someone just because they need your help, and not because you have to.

Well I won't ramble anymore for today, but the simple things make such a difference I think we need to get back a little befor it is too late.

How many pets is too much?

How many pets do you think the average person has?  I wonder.  When people ask me how many I have I always feel like not telling the truth.  I am so tired of the reaction that I get from people who are quite obviously not animal people.  

You see I have four dogs, two cats, a lovebird and a gecko.  Its a lot I Know and it is at times overwhelming, but they all have very different personalities and very different qualities that makes each of them a special part of our lives.

In this article I will tell you about Cleo.  Cleo came to us from my youngest sons school.  When he started kindergarten a few of the kids along with myself noticed what we thought was a very young friendly cat in the schoolyard.  She seemed to be very friendly with children.  One day while dropping off my son in front of the school door I noticed this kitty sitting up on one side of the doorway on a short wall.  As my son walked by he patted her head and went on his way.  To my surprise after he had gone in the building, she got down off the wall and walked into the building herself.  I smiled and went on my way to work.

Later on that afternoon I remembered and called the school to ask if anyone had seen her in the building.  The Secretary that answered the phone knew immediately who I was referring to and transferred me to the school janitor.  When he picked up the phone I inquired about the kitty and he answered "yup she is here in my office".  "Does she belong to you?"  he asked.  I said no she is not mine but I had thought to myself just the day before that if my older son was not allergic I would love to have such a different looking cat.  You see I have always been a cat person, but when my older son was born he was diagnosed with asthma and allergies to cats and dogs so that was that.  I asked if she was ok and if he was planning to keep her.  He told me he would but he already had a cat and didn't think he would be able to keep another.

I quickly agreed to help find a home for her, and then he told me that she was pregnant and he would keep her until she gave birth.  I was shocked I thought she was just a kitten!  So again I agreed to help find a home for the kittens when they were born.  When the kittens were born I received a phone call from the janitor reminding me of my promise.  So I went about helping him find a home for one kitten, he found a home for another and was considering keeping one after all.  After some back and forth somehow I found myself agreeing to take the last kitten and her mom to my house to find a home.

This turned out to be a big adventure.  After some turmoil I was able to find a good home for the baby.  But mommy was a different story you see I had never had experience with a feral cat before.  She was completely unapproachable.  I was basically banned from my own bedroom for weeks.  I would make daily deliveries of food and water and litter box changes.  But any attempt to touch or even talk or look at her resulted in loud growls and hisses.  It took a very long time for her to trust me and allow me to even touch her.  I remember the first night she allowed me to sleep next to her on the bed, and as I stroked her head drowsily I actually had tears in my eyes and felt so happy that I hadn't given up on her.

Although she did not purr, she was letting me be her friend and I was so happy that she was with me.  It has now been about 4 years since then.  She is still considered a feral cat according to the doc at the humane society.  But she has made such progress.  I wouldn't change a thing about her.  She is purrfect just the way she is....