It’s Summertime!

Schools out and it’s time for play. Most of our kids are at camp or with grandparents. Yes, some mortal beings are still working, and grandparents come in handy at times.

It’s my case for sure this June. There were a series of events that crushed my enthusiasm.

They say bad things come in threes. I hope the saying is wrong in Italy. I don’t usually post about my private life, but I thought I would share my thoughts with you in any case.

On June 16th, my 16 yr old cat passed away. I wrapped him in white sheets and buried him. My grandchild keeps on asking, “How’s Giant, where is he now?”

I answer, “He’s resting in the woods; he is old and likes to stay in the shade.”

How can one explain death to a three yr old?

Then I spent June 17th at the ER with my granddaughter. She was diagnosed with acute labyrinthitis. At first, I thought it was shingles. I had had them a few months earlier on my right side, and it was painful, it lasted three weeks. She, on the other hand, has it in her eye. Doctors know it’s a virus, but it’s not shingles.

Here is when grandparents come to the rescue.

I bring my grandchild to kindergarten every morning after feeding him breakfast, go to work and pick him up in the afternoon and we play ‘til dinner time. I try to keep him busy so his mom can rest. It’s been a week now, and my granddaughter seems to be feeling better but still unable to take care of her child.

The thing is that my grandchild is suffering. He knows something is wrong and acts up a bit. It’s understandable. He’s worried about mommy. When I bring him downstairs after his bath, he asks her,

 “Are you feeling better, mommy?”

It’s heartbreaking to see him worry so much.

To top it off my dog Blacky, the one with epileptic seizures stayed up all night coughing. He sleeps with us. I wake up in the morning and find him sharing my pillow. I’m very attached to him also.

The vet had warned me that a dog that has had distemper, (all the ex-vets fault for a bad shot) would slowly degenerate and age prematurely. The last blood tests weren’t reassuring. His liver is not doing very well. Today he hasn’t eaten anything and keeps on vomiting bile.

Tomorrow I’ll bring my grandchild to kindergarten and visit the vet hoping Blacky makes it through the night.

I must thank my hubby for being so understanding and patient. He works long hours, and I’ve been neglecting him. Everything will get sorted out soon, I hope.

All this to say, I won’t be very active on social media this summer. Family comes first. In any case, most of you are going on vacation or looking after your children.

Have a fun summer with your family. Remember to hug and kiss them every time you have a chance. You never know what may happen tomorrow.

PS. My website is quirky. No media shows up. Give me some time to fix the glitches, and update it.

Author: eleanorannpeterson

As a child, I spent my summer holidays by the swamp catching tadpoles and other creepy critters or running after wild animals. I wanted to become a veterinarian when I grew up. But destiny turned my life around - I moved to Italy, where I obtained my BS in Environmental Sciences and Territorial Management. When not working in our family-run business, I write, read, play with clay, doodle, and go on scavenger hunts in the woods, followed by my six cats.

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