Annabelle sashayed out of the bathroom wearing her Red Cross nurse’s cap.  She carried a bottle of aspirin and Thatch followed her wearing a stethoscope and carrying a small plate holding a struggling cockroach. Mr. Moore! she sang out.  Nurse Nellie Forbush here to care for you! Annabelle, I’ve told you I am not sick. … Continue reading 64. I’VE STILL GOT MY HEALTH →

Surgery? Annabelle looked surprise.  You are having surgery?  Annabelle, would you take off that face mask?  I can’t understand a thing you say. She removed her surgical mask.  I do not want to get sick.  I have my career to think of. Trust me, Missy, you are not going to catch the coronavirus. Will you … Continue reading 63. TAKE A LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART? →

All right, Annabelle said to me, I am ready to pay calls. I was sitting at the computer table, clutching my coffee mug and thinking about my day.  It’s hard to get moving on a Saturday morning when you’d like to sleep in but three cats want breakfast at 6:30.  It was nearly 8:00 and … Continue reading 62. DEATH AND TAXES →

I’m back, babies! I shouted as I walked in the door. Annabelle ran to greet me.  Thatch, lying on top of the chest of drawers, sat up, and I could see Stella stretched out on my bed.  I could also see, from the trail of paper leading to the bathroom, that Stella had destroyed another … Continue reading 61. A DREAM MAY NOT BE A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES →

By my current estimation Stella only has about three lives left.   This morning as I prepared the kitty cleanup, which is my term for cleaning the litter and washing their breakfast dishes, I heard a thud, followed by my iTunes shutting down at about the 10th-20th bar of a Bach Advent cantata I had just started.  … Continue reading 60. I LOVE A COP →

You look puzzled, Annabelle said to me when I walked into the apartment and set my keys down.  She left her Backstage all over my computer table and jumped into my lap. I was just thinking about something.  You know Ann on the top floor?  We visited her the other day and you got to … Continue reading 59. HOLMES & WHATSIT →

I came in from the market, set the groceries on the stove and began to unpack the few things I purchased.  As soon as I opened the refrigerator door, Stella and Annabelle ran into the kitchen to help me. Don’t get in the sink! I snapped at Stella, who ignored me and leaped from the … Continue reading 58. IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME →

I fed the cats at 6:30 and returned to bed.  Because of the constant leg pains, I hadn’t been sleeping well, and neither the muscle relaxer nor the strong pain relief was doing much to help.  I’ve got to ask the doctor for different meds, I thought as I hobbled away from three happy cats … Continue reading 57. WORLD AIDS DAY: Dec. 1, 2019 →

You are very rude to laugh at my discomfort, Annabelle told me. It’s your own fault, Missy!  I’ve told you too many times to stay out of the kitchen sink. I’m not speaking to you.  Annabelle turned and left the kitchen.  I turned back to washing the cats’ dinner dishes. I had tried for the … Continue reading 56. THE POOKA AND THE POLKA →

No! No!! No!!! Annabelle yelled.  I cannot stand this!  Impeach him and make it stop. Annabelle, I said quite rationally, President Trump is not the cause of Daylight Savings Time.  I’ve told you that for the past two years. I know he’s behind it!  It’s a GOP plot out to get me.  They’re trying to … Continue reading 55. ANNABELLE’S CONSPIRACY THEORY →