Tag: life

Evergreen Post: Thinking Out Loud

Published on by J. Kelland Perry30 Comments

This is a post of mine from a previous September. I hope you enjoy it!

What is the essence of a life?

A deep thought indeed, but putting aside the belief in the existence of a supreme being for a moment, what is the first notion that question conjures for you?

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Is it the wail of a newborn when she is pushed from the womb, wet and shivering, into a cold world of bright light and jarring noise?

Is it a living being’s will and drive to survive?

Is it the slow and arduous process of becoming what your potential keeps whispering you can be, or the serendipitous ease of slipping into a role you were born to fill?

Is it what we cling to as we grow old, try to recapture, strive to enjoy in every waking moment, as the end draws ever nearer?

Could it simply be the state of being, dreaming, pondering and loving?

Or hating and enduring what the universe has given you?

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Maybe, life is the constant of the everyday.

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It’s the laughter of a stranger on a crowded subway, the silly song that got stuck in your head and you sang in the shower this morning, a face that suddenly smiles in your direction, a warm hug, a lover’s kiss, or a soft place to fall after a long day.

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Perhaps it is the enduring memory of a giant harvest moon, the languid ripple of a pond you sat beside last summer, the smell of warm cinnamon in an apple pie, the taste of licorice, or the sweet sip of ice-cold raspberry Koolaid you loved as a child.

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Some of life is lived between the lines of our subconscious, in the many subtleties of our private, innermost selves.

Life is all of this and much more. It is joy and disappointment, connection and camaraderie, isolation and despair, exquisite pleasure, and acute suffering.

Life is the endurance of the human experience and the divining of purpose.

Life is the continuity of unconditional love.

What do you think  life is all about?
What is your answer to this enduring question?

Original post along with your lovely comments here.

Saving Her Place

Published on by J. Kelland Perry12 Comments

Happy August, everybody!

Vivian K. Perry here, covering for Jennifer while she takes a little more time away from her blogging routine. Both of my staff have been rather busy lately, what with personal and work trips, but Jennifer promises she will return to a more regular blogging schedule—and to drop in on your lovely blogs—very soon.

I was happy to travel with my peeps on our usual two-week stay in the capital city in July, but I stay home and hold the fort when they go on short road trips for work. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll hear more about all of that before you know it.

In the meantime, I will save her place in more ways than one. Enjoy the rest of summer, dear friends! 💕

Vivian’s View From Here: Can You See The Difference?

Published on by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

Happy Sunday, peeps and pets!

Vivian K. Perry here, sharing with all of you lovelies some new photos of moi. I posed for the first two back in 2012:

Look at me!

A force to be reckoned with at 5 years old

Zoom ahead ten years to the present:

In my fifteenth year, do you think . . .

. . . I’m still pretty?

I can’t see the difference. Can you see the difference?

Not much has changed for me in the past decade—aside from the devastation of losing my sweet sister Maisie two years ago.

As a mature feline (not gonna use the word old!), I still lead quite an active life. I go outdoors several times a day. I eat both wet and dry cat food, which Jennifer thinks helps keep my fur nice and soft. I’m an exceptionally clean creature and a fastidious groomer. And I get plenty of love and attention from both my staff.

The one thing that has changed a bit are the length and number of my naps.

Beauty sleep is a must!

Yes, there’s no denying I’m a cat “of a certain age.” But when you are healthy and enjoying your days in a relaxed, wholesome, loving environment, life is a joy. In some ways, I’m still growing: in my experience, my wisdom, an ever-growing collection of memories, and my “kitty” vocabulary!

Perhaps some of you (and that includes my human friends and followers) can relate.

Hey, pet peers,
any of you enter your senior years yet?
Are you enjoying your elder status?

“The great thing about getting older is that
you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”
~ Madeleine L”Engle

Photo Challenge: Wedding*

Published on by J. Kelland Perry25 Comments

Back in the day when my sister was planning her wedding, she asked my children to stand as flower girl and ring bearer. This photo has been on display here in my home ever since.

They are adults now, of course, and my daughter is married with a family of her own.

Of special note, the pandemic didn’t bring all bad news: my son is now engaged!

♥ Cherish Every Moment ♥

*Ragtag Daily Prompt: Wedding!

A Thankful Heart

Published on by J. Kelland Perry33 Comments

Hi, everyone! It’s a wild and windy Thanksgiving weekend with storm surges in my corner of the world, so I thought I’d share a few photos that show weather that is more, shall we say, temperate.

“The unthankful heart
discovers no mercies;
but the thankful heart
will find, in every hour,
some heavenly blessings.”
– Henry Ward Beecher

“I’m grateful for always
this moment, the now,
no matter what form it takes.”
– Eckhart Tolle

Autumn sky

Happy Sunday, all,
and Happy Thanksgiving
to my Canadian friends and followers!
♥♥♥

September Sky

Published on by J. Kelland Perry25 Comments

Indian summer winds blow through the hills,
As the autumn sun shines on your hair;
I will always remember the day that we met,
In that wonderful time of the year.

So, will you dance with me tonight, my love,
Beneath the September sky?
Will you sing with me tonight, my love,
And we’ll waltz for the rest of our lives.

~ excerpt from the song September Sky
by Louise Morrissey

I will never forget the night we met in September of 1994, when “I fell head over heels in LIKE,” and how my whole life changed. Thank you for being you.

Further Reading: The Day We Met

RDP Friday: Autumn

Viv in the Moment: Look Who Has a Birthday!

Published on by J. Kelland Perry32 Comments

Hello, my peeps and pets!

Vivian K. Perry here, happy to report that I’m turning fourteen today!

Where have the years gone? Time seems to be flying by ever since we moved out of the city, back when I was only three. And I’m hoping for many more years yet on this side of the sod. My staff is doing everything they can to keep me happy and healthy, I can certainly vouch for that.

Taking a break from playing fetch with my favourite ball

Anyway, I’m off to celebrate my special day by going outside to explore Perry’s Point for the millionth time.

Thanks for visiting and have a purr-fect week!
Head bumps and sandpaper kisses,
♥ Vivian ♥

A Cat Pic, Southpaws, and an Abundance of Jennifers

Published on by J. Kelland Perry27 Comments
Vivian in her “Summer Happy Place”

Happy Sunday, all!

The above photo was taken by my son’s significant other, Jennifer (yes, another Jennifer, but I’ll return to that topic in a bit).

Vivian was enjoying a catnap in our back garden that day. Some days during summer, she crawls into the wild rosebushes in our garden for naps that can last for hours! She hasn’t got the life, I know. Thinking of the photographer reminded me of something I wanted to share.

Photo by Pexels.com

First, about the southpaws: I am a lefthanded person. I was one of those little girls whose grandmother tried to switch her over to righthandedness, whether I was holding a spoon, fork, crayon or pencil. But I was having none of that. No siree bob. Mom finally convinced my Nanny Lambert that it was useless for her to keep trying.

I was the only lefty in my immediate family. My parents, sister, and brother were all righthanded. But then something interesting happened.

I had: 1 GIRL and 1 BOY

My brother had: 1 BOY

My sister had: 1 BOY and 1 GIRL

Three of those boys, our only sons, were born lefthanded! What are the odds on that?

Now, back to the “Jennifers.”

There are three other Jennifers in my extended family. No, none of them were named after me (shucks).

These other Jennifers are the wives/significant others of mine and my siblings’ three sons! All three couples have been together for years. ❤

Funny how life in all its randomness created such a happenstance. Do you have any strange coincidences in your family? Many southpaws? While thinking on that, have another, more closeup look at our Vivian. Thanks again for the great capture, Jenny!

Once Upon a Time*

Published on by J. Kelland Perry27 Comments

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Last week while I was sifting through old papers, I found this piece of writing from decades ago. Thankfully, we have all made peace since then . . .

Once upon a time, there was a girl from St. John’s.
At the age of fourteen,
she moved around the bay with her family.
She hated her curly hair,
adored her Persian cat,
and loved to get lost inside stories and songs.

When she grew older,
she fell in love and got married.
She was happy.
She had a beautiful little daughter.
Not long after,
she gave birth to a handsome son.
She liked to tease him and call him
her little “curly boy”
because he so much reminded her of herself.

A few times,
when she and the husband had terrible fights,
she had to take her girl and boy
to her parents’ house.
But the husband would always tell her
how sorry he was,
and she would go back because she loved him,
and wanted to believe him.

Eventually, she stopped believing.
She moved back to St. John’s
and started a new job and a new life.
She still had her beautiful daughter,
but she lost her curly-boy
to his dad.

She found someone
who reminded her of her love
for stories and songs.
She loves her cats,
still hates her curly hair, and
misses her son
with an ache that never goes away
and leaves her pillow wet with tears
every night.
Still, she knows
she is doing the only thing she can.

She hopes someday he will understand
how, once upon a time,
there was a girl from St. John’s
who couldn’t fight anymore,
and only wished for
a happily ever after.

~ Jennifer Kelland, 1995

picnic table in a winter garden

*Evergreen post from 2014

Sunday Snap: Giving Thanks

Published on by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

I know 2020 has been a year like no other, but still . . .

I’m thankful for my health.
I’m grateful for my home and who I share it with.
I’m thankful for a world of diverse cultures, colours, and wonders.
I’m grateful for the people who fill my life—and have filled my life—with love, sunshine, and warmth.

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson

“The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” – Mary Davis

♥ ♥ ♥

 Happy Thanksgiving,
Canada.