Fall is coming, Braithwaite, CCL’s cat, is excited.
Category Archives: Washington, D.C.
Franklin the Bear Visits Brookland
A bear heard my neighborhood, Brookland DC, is a great place to live, and Friday decided to come to see for himself. The Humane Rescue Alliance, however, convinced him he might find better real estate at the National Zoo and ultimately set him free in the Maryland woods.
Social Distancing With Grace
The Coronavirus or #COVID19 is highly contagious, spreading death, disease, and fear all over the world. For all of us in some way, it has caused outright panic with grocery stores running out of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and food stables. There have been widespread cancellations, economic setbacks, extensive handwashing, and handwringing. No movies, no concerts, and no parties.
Social distancing is the new normal. Right now, we are all in our corners, waiting to see how things “shake out.” Fear is trying to rule, but we are all looking for positive, peaceful ways to cope and to connect. Prayer, meditation, and the emergence of spring have helped.
I am following the example of Grace, the tabby cat, I inherited from CCL. She is content to do her morning meditation in my back yard. She also joins me when I am seated on the living room sofa – “her spot.”
My church holds daily prayer calls, many religious institutions and fitness centers have moved to online support, and Zoom “happy hours” are being held on a regular basis.
In my Brookland, Northeast Washington, DC neighborhood, we are, as in most of the nation and the world, practicing “social distancing,” but folks on my block join in a daily “Dance Party” party. One neighbor uses his Bluetooth speaker on his porch to blast music while and we all dance either on our porches or up and down the sidewalk of our street. Today he played several songs from “Frozen” for the children and some Disco jams for the adults.
There is also the wonderful DJ D-Nice, who holds a daily jam on Instagram (@dnice). The party has a strong celebrity presence, including Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Oprah, J-Lo, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Demi Lovato, actor Donny Wahlberg, and Chuck D.
Music is a universal healer.
Grace the cat gets her groove on with DJ D-Nice too!
My Way- The Key to A Successful Life
Cats Always Do It “Their Way”
One of my best friend’s father has a trademark song that he will sing on any occasion, “My Way.” It’s not that he is the best singer it is just that he has created a remarkable life and the song reflects his personal direction and discipline. My friend’s father had an amazing loving relationship with his late wife, raised four successful, beautiful daughters, is a “Kappa Alpha Psi Man,” and is a highly respected Washington, D.C. community leader. He is also a noted scientist and a veteran of the U.S. army. Just recently at age 85 he received a Ph.D. Truly he has done it “his way'” and the world is better for it.
.
Changing Course
Grace, the lovely big Tabby got a taste of the outdoors today. I let her come out as I watered mums and swept debris from the giant pine tree in my backyard. She explored and then obediently went inside without being coaxed. She seems to have struck a balance in her life as she changes course. Many of you know Grace can be very demanding and vocal about her concerns. I watch her adapt to a new routine quietly marking her territory deciding how she wants to experience her new surroundings. Fall is a time of change. Colder weather sets in, the leaves on the trees change colors and our work schedules take on some intensity. The last quarter of the year. It can for some of us be a time of upheaval, often things take a different turn and we have to change course and change our expectations.
Fall Flowers
Cats & All That ™ 