Missing Maggie: The role pets play in our lives

June 24, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

A year ago today I said goodbye to my beloved cat, Magnolia. I miss Maggie’s companionship and her sweet, gentle spirit, and I think about her nearly every day. Spending 20 years with any living being is a very long time. So, yes, this is a post about my cat and a post about pets in general, and the ways they change our lives and us.

Maggie, at 20

I know all my readers aren’t cat lovers, or maybe even pet lovers–pet ownership is not for everyone. But for those of us who’ve let a pet into our home and heart, there is nothing in this world like the love we give to them and get back in return. And some of them, like my Maggie, make an imprint on our souls that remains with us for life. I’m not saying people in our lives don’t fill a deeper, more significant role because for most of us (though not all of us), they do. Yet there is something completely unique and irreplaceable about the bond between pets and the people who love them.

This is why animals are often used to heal and help, why people train dogs to guide those with sight or mobility challenges, or bring cats and dogs to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities for people to caress and hold. Studies have even proven our stress melts away and our heart rates slow (as do our pets!), when our pets are near.

I think pets bind families together too–their care, their antics are often a major topic of conversation. They give family members something to rally around. I’m sure I’ve spent more hours of my life talking about my cats than almost any other topic and I don’t feel the least bit embarrassed to say it out loud. I read the news, try to stay up-to-date on current events, take an interest in my husband and daughter’s daily doings, make time for friends and have many interests I’m passionate about, but those cats…they are a force in my life to be reckoned with!

Maggie (and Madison who passed away 5 years before her) was with me through several major surgeries, when I was housebound for a couple weeks. She was my companion through many years lived alone and a few break-ups that really threw me. She didn’t seem to mind when I soaked her fur with my tears. Maggie slept in my bed every night, and then the bed I shared with my husband. She joined us at the dinner table most evenings and her constant chirps, mewps and brrrps, back and forth with us, felt like a conversation. She was with me from the day I met my husband, through ten years of our relationship, our failed and then successful adoption, the death of my father, my sister and two of my closest friends. Honestly, she was my right-hand gal for most of the significant events in my life.

So when Magnolia died, I was bereft. Our house felt eerily empty and for days I was sure I would see her out of the corner of my eye, making her way across the kitchen or sitting out in the garden she loved so much. I made it almost a month without a cat in our house and then when I didn’t think I could stand it anymore, I went out and brought home two kittens. These two are nothing like Maggie. They are more crazy, destructive and much less tolerant than she was, even as a kitten. Sometimes that makes me miss her all the more. Mischievous behavior aside, I am happy to have them around, and they are only one-year-old, so if they make it to 20 like she did, I’ll probably have a different tale to tell.

If you have a senior pet at home, give them an extra hug and a treat for me today. Even when they miss the litter box, chew up your favorite shoes and wake you up in the middle of the night, our pets bring immense joy to our lives. And here’s to you Maggie Moose–I was 20 years lucky to have you by my side.

In memory–Maggie–forever in my heart

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

365 Project: A year in photographs

January 14, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Making New Year’s resolutions is typically not my thing. But for 2016 I made a year-long commitment to take (at least) one photograph each day–a ‘365 Project.’ Some photographers give themselves “rules” for their 365–only shots of family, new technique each week or some other focus for their project. As for me: No rules. Just shoot!

Crazy picture-taking-gal that I am, I’m also taking on a ’52 Project.’ One photograph each week for a full year. And for this project, I do have a focus. My subject for my 52 Project is our garden. It’s something I’ve thought about for a long time, taking a year to record how the garden blooms, grows and dies across the seasons.

Here are a few of my photos from the first two weeks:

A shout out to Mamas with Cameras, the amazing and inspiring women I’ve met through this group–and their encouragement to tackle this project!

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Just a reminder–Official announcement when I am up and running:

Pampers and Paklava will be moving to my NEW WEBSITE, www.pamperspaklava.com!

And if you want to read more about all things Pampers, follow me on Facebook, Twitter.

Halloween Kitty

October 30, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

What a sweet Halloween kitty. Or so I thought.

She roared.

She hissed.

She clawed.

And turned one real kitty into a scaredy cat.

Have a purrfectly thrilling Halloween!

Take the road less traveled, Beth

And if you want to read more about all things Pampers, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or RSS/email.

Love and loss: Maggie

June 26, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.

~Anatole France

I am unabashed when I say I loved, loved, loved Magnolia, my cat. She was with me for 20 years, and when I met Big Papa, with us, and then Little Bird too. We called her Maggie, Maggie Moose or simply Moose. She followed us —everywhere–the best companion one could hope for: our bathing assistant whenever one of us took a shower or bath, at the dinner table in her own seat, nestled between us every night (or an inch away from Big Papa’s nose), always nearby whether we were gardening, doing office work, or hanging out with friends and family.

Oh how her silly antics made us laugh, like the time she sat near the Christmas train set that wrapped around the tree, backing her booty up closer and closer until the train goosed her as it rolled along the track. She let out a loud Brrrrp, her legs running fast in place on the hardwood floor, just like you see in cartoons. before speeding off like a locomotive herself.

She was a talkative cat to say the least, serenading us with a chorus of brrps, and meowps, trills and chirps. If ever a cat were to start speaking words, I was sure she would be the one.

During difficult times, she was my comfort, staying by my side after several surgeries, there for me to hug close like a teddy bear when my sister, father and dear friends Dee and Marshall became ill and passed away, there through all our adoption woes. For 20 years my day began with seeing her face, and making her a bowl of food. My nights ended hearing a thunk-thunk as she jumped onto the bed and curled up next to my head, purring.

The bond between us was long and strong. So much history and and so many memories of spending my days with my green-eyed, tailless tabby girl.

If you’ve never felt a deep connection with an animal, then what I’m saying might sound frivolous. But if you stop to think about it, twenty years is a long time to spend with any living being. How lucky I am she was able to be a member of my family for so many years.

Saying goodbye was heartbreaking, but I was fortunate to spend her last day–just the two of us–in the garden we both love so much. We sat together in the sunshine, and then in a light summer rain, amidst the plants and flowers, feeling the soft breeze on our faces, listening to the sounds of chickadees chirping. I will miss her sweet, gentle soul.

There cannot be love without loss, just like there cannot be happiness without sadness, or light without dark.

~Markus Peterson

Magnolia: May 23, 1995-June 24, 2015

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Take the road less traveled, Beth

Six things I miss about HOME when I’m traveling

January 23, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

I love to travel. Even when I long for the comfort of home, I always feel a little sad when we’re about to board that plane and head back. Here are six things I miss when I’m away from home:

1. My cat*: I think about her all the time when I’m on the road. Traveling without her makes me feel like I’ve left a family member behind. Because I have.

2. My bed: Even though I’ve slept in some very interesting beds–a straw bed in an Austrian B&B, and a rock hard Tibetan bed come to mind–in several really cool places, there is nothing like your own bed, your own pillow and being asleep in your own familiar bedroom. And yes, there she is again, that cute cat.* I can’t think about my bed without thinking about my cat. She’s slept by my, and now our, side for nearly 20 years. My bed always feels a bit empty when I’m traveling and she’s not in it.

3. My shower: Occasionally I’ve enjoyed an incredible shower when traveling. I remember some of those to this day! Showering nude with Little Bird in the outdoor shower on Kauai, large dual shower heads at the Oregon B&B in a silo. However, more often than not, I’ve had showers I’d like to forget, where there was no hot water–or no water at all. I still remember some of those to this day too (like not being able to take a shower the morning we left Armenia for our 36 hour adventure bringing home Little Bird). Plus, at home we have an awesome old claw-foot tub…and the best shower assistant, aka Maggie, the cat,* a family could want. She is always on the rug whenever someone is taking a bath or a shower.

4. My garden: I’ve had the good fortune to visit some amazing gardens and sit in adorable pocket-sized city parks. But in my garden, no one tells me I can’t walk on the grass (even though we have none) — I’m talking about you parks in Paris. I don’t have to worry about being propositioned while sitting on a park bench (Athens) or seeing some guy, or two guys on the same day in two separate parks enjoying himself (Athens, again). If I need a little respite, I can sit and watch the plants grow, listen to the birds tweet (I love those birdies!), dig my fingers in the soil, or grab a bite of fresh-grown veggies if I’m hungry. Maggie* likes the garden too, lounging in the sunshine, savoring a bit of catnip.

5. Water straight from the tap and fresh vegetables: This only applies when traveling abroad in certain destinations. When we visited China and Tibet nearly a month, and on our longer trips to Armenia, I really missed drinking fresh water that didn’t come from a bottle. I missed ice cubes too. And brushing my teeth with water that flowed freely from the tap. We always try to be super careful and–knock on wood–so far have not gotten sick (at least from water or food).

Not being able to drink water straight from the tap also means not eating any fresh veggies that may have been washed with water. Not being able to eat fresh vegetables really bums me out because I love them and would like to try some of unique fresh veggies I’ve encountered in far-flung locations. But I’ve heard stories from fellow travelers who did indulge, and they weren’t pretty. I’m not sure how to tie this into my cat,* other than she also enjoys water straight from the tap. And asparagus.

6. Being in one spot: Exciting as travel is, and as much as I wish I could travel quite a bit more than I currently do, being on the road and living out of a suitcase can get old. There is nothing like the security of familiar surroundings, sights and smells.

There is no place like home. With a cat.*

*And this is not a post about my cat. Well, maybe just a bit.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Maggie, the cat, celebrates her 19th

May 23, 2014 by Beth Shepherd

There is no such thing as an ordinary cat.

~Collette

Yes, this is a post about my cat. But hey, it’s her 19th birthday which, from what I’ve read, is the equivalent of 93 human years. Any living soul, man or beast, who can claim that much life on earth, deserves special recognition in my book. Last year we held a ‘Maggie can vote’ party to celebrate her 18th. This year I’m celebrating that she’s still with us. Just this past week, four of my friends lost their beloved cats, so I know every day I have with her is a gift.

Maggie (Magnolia) came into my life as a kitten. She was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. I think she may have been weaned too early, because she took to “nursing” on my arm, which she continued to do for many years. To her, I have always been Mama Cat. She was the second cat in my household. Madison was first, both of them Manx cats and both named after Seattle neighborhoods.

Every pet, just like every human, has their own unique qualities and quirks. And Maggie has hers.

She is a very chatty cat. I’ve often thought that if ever there were to be a cat to start speaking, it would be Maggie. She has an immense repertoire of meows, mrps, brrps, and all manner of cat communication. If I say a sentence or two, she replies, then I follow with a few more words and back and forth we go.

For a cat (as stereotypes go), she is intensely “dog-like,” meaning she is not aloof as one might expect, but instead a companion at-the-ready, wherever we might be: in the shower or bath, at the table, in the office or outside in the garden. We have dubbed her our “Shower Assistant,” and there is always one chair–with her name on it–at the dinner table.

Then there are her little “routines.” Bedtime, in particular, has a specific order. Jump into bed, stomp around on Big Papa, settle down. When both “Big Kittens” are in bed, and the lights turned off, this is the time to jump down and get a final snack. Then, return and hunker down wedged solidly in between Mama Cat and Papa Cat. If, during the course of the night, there are opportunities to turn sideways and claim more territory, by all means, go for it.

Maggie always promises she’ll do more office work, but when it comes right down to it, she’s more on task for her many union-mandated breaks. And, should there be any question regarding the pecking order in our household, the photo above clearly shows who wears the pants in our family. Cat on the office chair. Husband on the floor. Makes perfect sense.

One of the most unexpected joys our sweet geriatric kitty has brought to the family, is her acceptance of Little Bird. I wondered how she would handle it when, at 17, her life as the sole child was completely upended when we brought a crying baby into our home. Maggie has been nothing if not patient.

“My ride the cat, Mama.”

“Walkin’ together,” (said with Maggie not even a whisker’s length away).

Maggie or ‘Maggie Moose,’ as Little Bird fondly calls her, has been an awesome ‘big sister,’ so sweet and tolerant. And Little Bird is utterly delighted by her mere presence. We’re so fortunate that our daughter’s first experience of life in a family with a pet has been so positive. It makes me love our old kitten all the more.

Happy Birthday Maggie Moose!

You’ve been by my side–literally–for 19 years. You bring so much joy, laughter and warmth to our hearts and into our lives.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

Glamour-puss

December 6, 2013 by Beth Shepherd

The night before Thanksgiving, Maggie–my 18-1/2 year old cat–and I got gussied up for our glamour shots at All the Best Pets. They host this annual holiday photo shoot as a benefit for Old Dog Haven. I’ve wanted to do a photo shoot with her for several years, but hesitated because–you know what they say about herding cats.

And, true to her feline nature, my glamour-puss did spent much of the photo shoot walking off the set. But ultimately, we got a few shots, and I’m glad we did. I sure love my old gal–a cherished companion for so many years.

Thank you to Folrev Photography for donating your services to this cause!

Take the road less traveled,

Beth

Maggie-the-cat

September 20, 2012 by Beth Shepherd

Maggie-the-cat is possibly the sweetest 17-year-old cat I know. Of course she’s our 17-year-old cat so we’re pretty biased. Here’s why I love her so much:

She always finds the best seat in the house

…or outside the house

She has a sophisticated palate

She’s a birdwatcher

She really knows how to relax

And she’s an exceptional snuggler

Plus, she is VERY tolerant and patient with an eager toddler

Want to see more PURRfection? Check out Delicious Baby Photo Friday!

Story hour at the Shepherds

September 13, 2012 by Beth Shepherd

Story hour at the Shepherd household. Okay, so maybe it was story ten minutes. Yes, at least four or five books were covered. Well, maybe not covered as in “cover-to-cover.” And, ahem, there were one or two distractions. Hmm, maybe there were really a dozen or so distractions. Please note: story hour was kitten approved.