A Dash of Words with Loleta Abi Romance Author

What Caring for Animals Has Taught Me

Traci Kenworth

Caring for animals has taught me a whole life of compassion. Some of them are such small defenseless beings. They don’t always understand the rules so to speak but they try to manage in our worlds and make us happy. Some people say that cats are cold and selfish and yes, they can be, but they can also be so sweet and caring.

When I’ve been at my weakest moments at times after this surgery or that, they snuggle close, trying to bring me comfort. They know I’m in pain. I see it in their anxious expressions. They worry about me just as though I were their real “Mama.” Oftentimes, they’ll remind me to rest to regain my strength.

Dogs, of course, are great too. I’ve had some warn me about neighbors that are questionable in their actions. Their natural instinct is to do this, and we love them for protecting us and our families. I get the debate about who’s the better pet, but I say why do we have to choose? Why can’t we appreciate both animals?

And then, there’s horses. I have a picture of my grandpa sitting me on horseback when I was a toddler. I have always admired the beauty and grace of the animals. I’ve ridden some gentle ones and some wild. It is heaven to be able to do so and something I miss immensely right now. I had intended to make horses my career, but it didn’t end up that way.

There’s been various other pets: birds, fish, but our four-legged crew hold the most memories over the years. Both bad and good. I had to put a dog down once that brutally attacked and killed one of our cats. I didn’t realize I still had unresolved feelings about that till my daughter reminded me that it’s okay to love that dog even though she did bad. In heaven, she’s a good dog and friends with the cat.

I had tried to put that horrible day to rest but yeah, it’s okay to love and let go a once beloved part of our family. It’s so sad sometimes that we have to freeze that moment, that act until we can deal with it later. She was a good pet otherwise although, she did constantly bite and show aggression toward my most favorite dog. I didn’t realize that it was her doing it until a friend of the family remarked how she was bullying the male. The attack on the cat came not too long after I learned this.

Pets come into our lives in various ways. Sometimes relatives or coworkers, sometimes just by happenstance. They bring a host of joy and laughter over the years and their antics. There is sadness but I wouldn’t have missed any of them in my life. They can also make us better human beings, more caring. Their confidence in us, their extreme faith is something to cherish and reward.

Please don’t be abusive toward your animals. If you can’t treat them with the love and caring they deserve, reach out to others who can. Their lives are too short for meanness and pettiness. God gave them to us for companionship and joy not to torture or demean. Even if you’re not a Christian, the amazing kindness they extend to us should be reciprocated. How can we call ourselves compassionate if we can’t do this?

Happenings: The countdown to Christmas has begun. All the rush to get certain toys and presents brings out the stress for parents, I know. I’m happy that those days are behind me. I still have people to buy for don’t get me wrong. I just, don’t have to bend myself sideways anymore to get “the perfect gift.” Nowadays, I just try to get things I know people will appreciate. I keep the pressure off as much as possible. Life is better that way. Enjoy your holidays! Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!

Some links around the web you might like:

1. Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/12/how-to-put-ground-under-their-feet/ A frequent piece of advice writers get is to put ground under the feet of their characters. Yet, advice on how to do that is limited or confusing. Often taking the advice literally, writers attempt to make certain the reader knows where the character is physically. However, the phrase means more than what city or building they are in. It also means where this character is in relation to the objects in the room and other characters in the scene. It reveals who this person is. Characters fit into a story, into a scene, like puzzle pieces. The right pieces make a complete picture. The wrong pieces can be confusing. Creating a character that involves your reader in the story takes many unique pieces or layers. This article offers some examples of the different things you can do to put ground beneath your characters’ feet. This is a good piece. I worry a lot that recent books don’t ground the reader in the world the writer is trying to bring us into.
2.  Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/12/tips-for-writing-magical-realism/ Some say that the genre began in 1920s Germany in painting such as Beach of Dangast with Flying Boat by artist Franz Radziwill. Others suggest that Magical Realism began far earlier. Author Gabriel García Márquez explained that Magical Realism arose from tales told to children by the Grandmothers as if the events really happened, because the Grandmothers believed they did. Márquez was raised by his maternal grandparents in Colombia. His grandmother’s belief in magic, superstition, and spirits carries on in his stories. Writing a successful Magical Realism story requires an understanding of the difference between Magical Realism and fantasy.
3. Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2022/12/23/%f0%9f%93%9aa-young-adult-suspense-thriller-rosies-bookreview-of-secrets-so-deep-by-ginny-myers-sain-stageandpage/ The setting is a summer theatre camp in Whisper Cove, Connecticut in Long Island Sound, a tidal estuary sheltered from the Atlantic. A group of teenagers has been selected to work with the famous playwright, Willa Culver. Avril’s place in the group is particularly meaningful to her because Whisper Cove is the place where her mother died. There are tales surrounding the Cove; legend says that the sea calls people to their deaths. Was Avril’s mother called by the sea? Each night an eerie fog rolls in from the coast along with ghostly whispers and strange sightings which begin to haunt Avril’s days. Avril is cast as the lead actress in the re-enactment of Culver’s famous play. Both the play and the place begin to trigger Avril’s memories as she tries to piece together what really happened all those years ago. Intriguing.
4. Syl’s 65 blog https://syl65.wordpress.com/2022/12/23/fridayinspiration-%f0%9f%8e%84its-a-wonderful-life-ending-scene/ Heartwarming movie.
5. Syl’s 65 blog https://syl65.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/12-25-2022-%f0%9f%8e%84%e2%9c%9d%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%8c%9f/
6. Annette Rochelle Roben https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/angel-messages-dec-25-2022/
7. Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-christmas-archives-short-story-the-first-christmas-in-the-new-land-by-sally-cronin/ On Christmas morning, the queen awoke and luxuriated in the warmth of her goose-feather mattress and cover. Beside her, she felt Prince Ronan begin to stir, and she reached out and touched his hand. He raised himself up on one elbow and smiled down into her beautiful face. ‘Are you sure that you have the strength for the long day ahead my love?’ He gently moved a stray lock of hair that covered her eyes.’ ‘I will be fine my darling, my appetite is much improved and in fact I think that I could even manage a quail’s egg omelette and some oat cakes this morning.’ Ronan leant over and rang the bell on his bedside table, and within seconds there was a discreet knock on the door, before one of the ladies of the chamber entered with a fresh pot of chamomile tea and ginger nuts. Simply lovely! I enjoy fairytales!
8. John W. Howell https://johnwhowell.com/2022/12/24/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-cozy/ The sound of coffee being produced by the AI that is the cursed machine brings a feeling of joy to the heart. It is coffee that seals the overall cozy feeling that life is worth living. Without coffee, a barren wasteland that is barely existence unfolds in front of even the most optimistic soul. Lucky for me, the machine decides to grant me one more day of bliss. Cup in hand and sip in mouth swallowed, a call goes out to Pepe Le Peu. “Oui Monsieur.” A spin in the direction of the answer reveals Pepe standing in the kitchen. The olfactory message sent to the brain is acknowledged with a nose hold. Explaining to Pepe that he needs to put on a parachute takes a level of time that could only be described as excruciating. The thick oily scent from his glands is almost too much for the gag response. Finally, a promise of a robe designed by Resa achieves the goal. Unbeknownst to Pepe, the robe doubles as a parachute. Once he is airborne after being shot from the Trebuchet, the robe will gently bring him to Earth. All is well as the rocket is nestled in the ballista, and Pepe is at ease in the Trebuchet. (sneaking Zanax into his coffee was my idea) He hands me an envelope just before I hit the launch button, which sends the rocket and Pepe screaming off into parts unknown but at least four streets away. The envelope has a message from Linda Hill. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “cozy.’” Use it any way you like. Have fun! (And Merry Christmas if I don’t come back before then!) John has such a cozy style of writing.
9. Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2022/12/25/not-christmas-day-funnies-carroll-county-veterinary-posts-funny-signs/
10. Connie J Jasperson https://conniejjasperson.com/2022/12/23/fineartfriday-frost-fair-on-the-river-thames-near-the-temple-stairs-by-thomas-wyke-revisited/
11. Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/%f0%9f%93%9amedieval-welsh-romance-rosies-bookreview-of-an-alliance-with-his-enemy-princess-by-lissamorganauth-millsandboon-harlequinbooks/ The story begins in 1091 with a battle; pockets of Welsh people still hold out against the Normans. Rolant Guyarde discovers a fallen Welsh foot-soldier holding his dead master’s horse; a fine horse and the spoils of battle allow Rolant to take the horse for himself. However, when he discovers that the youth is actually a woman dressed in men’s clothing, he decides to keep her secret and protect her from his men.
12. Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-christmas-archives-short-story-the-kindness-of-mice-by-sally-cronin/ After the piglet race, the leaves in the forest and the magic garden began to turn brown and cold winds whipped across the treetops with a whistling that alerted all who lived in this special place. Stores were being collected and added to special chambers in the bowels of the royal palace. Seeds, dried summer fruits, flagons of amber nectar and small hessian bags of the finest flour, milled along the river to the south of the forest. The Storyteller had recommended this particular mill because of fine qualities of Herbert who ran it with his son Calum. One night as he joined the queen and her husband for a light supper, he related the story of how mice, which are usually the much preyed upon pests in most mills, were actually protected and revered in this particular grain crushing establishment. It is common for mice to be caught up in the hand threshing at harvest time, and be swept into the back of horse drawn carts that transported the grain to the mill. Usually several cats, and rat-catching dogs, would patrol the building and its surroundings; grabbing any unsuspecting rodent silly enough to hitch a ride.
13. Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2022/12/24/christmas-eve-funnies/
14. Roberta Writes https://roberta-writes.com/2022/12/22/dark-origins-myths-and-legends-of-the-shona-people-shona-zimbabwe-stonesculpture/ The Shona people are part of the Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa. The primary home of the Shona is Zimbabwe, where they are the majority ethnic group, as well as Mozambique and South Africa. There are five major Shona language groupings/dialects as follows: Karanga, Zezuru, Korekore, Manyika, and Ndau.