Sunday, January 31, 2010

A New Year a Month In Already...

The holidays were ok. Thanks for all the good wishes. Mom was a little depressed this year. Times are tough (as it is for many) and she was missing her family that have passed. Kitties and peoples.
Turned out fairly cold too. We don't have heat and mom didn't have a real winter coat (in south Texas a winter coat is a sweatshirt and a knit cap) and we were truely touched when a Catster pal sent her a coat! How do you thank someone for such a sweet gesture?
Sometimes it's hard to accept help.
We'd all rather be the one writing the checks and helping and not the one in need.

We were told that we do have family. Maybe not blood family (like THAT ever assured concern and love) but family none the less.

They say that cyber friendships are outpacing "real" ones (and it makes me think of The Matrix when they say that) but, honestly, friends are wherever you find them.
How many of us have blood family and real life "friends" who don't give a rat's hiney when the chips are down?

Yup, things are still tough and I don't see any indication in my reality of the recession/depression ending. The upswing (that they tell us is happening) hasn't trickled down to us yet. Analysts say it may take years (we tend to believe the guys who say that) for the average Joe to feel it. They also say that for those who have lost thier jobs and had to take a much lesser job in return may be especially hard hit. Very hard to crawl back up.
But we are very lucky as we do have a roof over our heads. Kitties are eating discount brand food but we're eating. Moms eating hotdogs and beans. But she's eating. Don't qualify for public assistance but that's ok. Had a few dollars left and gave it to the Red Cross fund for Haiti at the supermarket checkout. God knows they need help. Gotta paw it forward.

That's probably one of the very most important lessons we learned from our online friends: We are all brothers on this planet and those that need help are to be helped by those who can. Some can give thousands. Some a dollar. Some their time. Purrrsonally, my family is taking on water. But we're bailing too. We're still afloat. I hope our few dollars will help someone. I know if everyone sent what they can, it sure would.
Thousands.
A dollar.
A coat.
Volunteering at an animal shelter.
Sending water to Haiti.
Visiting a nursing home.
Adopting a child.
Financing a playground.
Building a school.
Raking your elderly neighbor's leaves.
It all matters. So paw it forward.
Even if you just have a bag of potatoes...divvy up those taters, my friends =)


~Christopher

12 comments:

The Creek Cats said...

Hi furiends! We've really missed you guys. Sorry to hear things are down at the moment. We will send pawsitive vibes your way. We hope things get better furry soon! Very good post of pawing it forward!!
(((hugs)))

Laila and Angel Minchie said...

Hi Christopher! We are so happy that you posted! We have missed you. We are hoping the economy gets better soon too as our mom has been out of a job for 6 months now. But we have a roof over our heads, great cyber friends and food in our tummies. We paw it forward too when we can.

(((HUGS)))

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

We do miss you! WE have worried about you and Mom. We are so sorry that teh hard times are still hanging on for you. Mom has friends that have been out of work for a year now and family that are facing hard times too! We help where we can.

Christopher said...

Thanks for the meows! It's good to be back.
We're hanging in there like everyone else and riding the storm out hopefully to calm waters soon.

Great to hear from you all. Our friends =)

momsbusy said...

it is good to read from your post that your family is hanging in there. our dad was out of work for 18 months. he finally got a job but the job stress is really tough on him (and our family). at least he has a job. we is putting you on our purrayer list and sending positive purrs your way for a better new year (and a better boat too!).

kazoku neko

Daisy said...

Hi Christopher! I am so glad to hear from you. Times are very hard, and we are lucky that my Mommeh just started a new job. She is very anxious and nervous trying to learn everything, but grateful that she found a job. You are such a sweet kitty! We do not have any family in Florida, and we consider our bloggie friends to be our extended family.

Kritter Kondo said...

Paw it forward is such a great way to move forward.... we are sending good thoughts and know you will be able to ride this wave. Hang on, buckle in and keep your chin up.

xoxoxo

Christopher said...

The moral support here is great. I'm also purrring for all of you affected by the economy (and illness).

Gonna get better!

Anonymous said...

Is your sister Bug still with you Christopher? I hope so because that's one of the ways your meowmy pays it forward - taking care of those abandoned and forlorned kittens... So many need miracles these days - our family has been affected during all of this too! Prayers to everyone that things improve. Love Goldie and my many kitty cats...

Ariel said...

Sorry to hear things have been bad.I send hugs and purrs :)

Jans Funny Farm said...

It is hard when you are in a position you have to accept help. We bloggers are fortunate. We can help each other with a word, a dollar, a surprise ..... We have been blessed many times by our blogging "family." We hope things are going better for you now. We care.

Charlemagne and Tamar said...

Hi Christopher! We're glad that you're back. Sorry to hear that the holidays weren't great, but sometimes that's the way it is.

What a nice post about helping others. It's one of the things that we love about the kitty blogosphere - folks help each other.

Sending purrs to you, Bug and your Mom for a better spring,

Charlemagne and Tamar