I would expect this from Rabbits!

"I would expect this from Rabbits!" or "Advanced Lessons in Math; Courtesy the Father of Five"

Rabbits are known for their knack to multiply.  You know, like how one rabbit, and another rabbit can quickly become three (or more)?  Somehow, something similar happened in our house last week that has me wondering if we may have rabbits running around our home.

Nope.... Blog title still staying "The Life of a Father of FIVE"  - So "that's" not it..

If you have followed Father of Five for the past couple of months, you would know that our "two cat household" quickly became a "one cat household" when the events surrounding Garfield the Cat's untimely passing took place. 

2 - 1 = 1

After the loss of Garfield, we were often asked if we were planning on getting another cat.  The day after Garfield was killed, we decided to  hold off on any decision for a while...  We wanted to let #2 of 5 "heal" a bit, and then see how he felt about a "replacement" cat.  From the first talk of a replacement cat (and prior to a decision being made), #2 of 5 made it perfectly clear that even if we did get another cat, he did not want to EVER name another cat Garfield.  He wanted to keep that name special in his mind for the Garfield that we just lost.  That seemed like a request we could honor.

So, the decision was made.  We would get another kitty.  Arrangements were made with the family that we had gotten Garfield and Mimi from and it just so happened that Garfield and Mimi's mother recently had another litter, and the kittens were "ready" for a new home.

The Mother of Five and the kids all visited the farm to take a peek at the kittens, and later that night I heard all about it.  There were several cats that looked just like Garfield, and one very adorable little white kitten.  The white kitten was "spoken for" - and that was alright, because #2 of 5 was more interested in another orange cat. 

The night before we were to pick up our new kitten, #3 of 5 was invited to spend the night on the farm.  (Their son and our son are in a group of close friends, and were having a "end of the school year" sleep-over).  When I dropped #3 of 5 off, and spoke to the mother there, she told me to be sure to tell the Mother of Five and #2 of 5 that the person who spoke for the little white kitten had changed her mind, and that (if we were interested) we could have the white kitten instead.

I passed this info off to the Mother of Five - and we talked to #2 of 5 about the white cat being available, but he was still wanting another orange cat. 

As we drove to pick up #3 of 5 and the new kitten from the farm, I turned to the Mother of Five and said... "One...  One cat".  She looked at me confused, and asked why I even said that.  "I'm just sayin'... That's all...  One cat..."   She replied with an acknowledgment that we were coming home with one... orange... cat...

I'm willing to bet that most of my readers are bright enough to see where this is going...

We met #3 of 5's friend's mother who took our whole clan out to the barn that the cats were in where we were met by a gaggle of kittens.  We started looking at the three orange kitties... One was a spot on exact match for Garfield.  Surprising (or, maybe not so surprising) this kitten was not the one that #2 of 5 was most interested in.  We tracked down to one that he WAS interested in... That cat is slightly more orange, with shorter fur than Garfield had.

This is about the time that #3 of 5 came around the corner with the white kitten.  She was curled up in his arms, and before one word was spoken by ANYONE, I knew that...

(2-1) + (1+1) = one more cat than I envisioned, or that we started out with...

Then came the puppy dog eyes, and "look at how adorable she is", and the "what's one more cat", and the...  Well, I could go on and on, but I am certain by now you get the picture...  So, (with my head bowed down in defeat) we left the farm with our own kid, the (planned) new kitten, and one additional "oops" or unplanned kitten...

Sigh....

The next  step was naming them.  Since Garfield was (theoretically) #2 of 5's cat, we let him name one.  He had a name already picked out, so that was done before it eve started. 

Then, we needed to come up with a name (other than "oops") for the unplanned white kitten....  It seemed everyone had their own idea on what to name the extra kitty...    After #2 of 5 chose a name for the orange kitten, we noticed that we had a "theme" going.  So trying to keep within the parameters of the "theme" we found choosing the name for the third kitty was a bit harder (wanting to keep the theme going).

 

 

In addition to Mimi...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We now have Moe...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Miley...

 

The "multiplication" is usually accomplished by the.... um... shall we say "traditional method" with rabbits. 

Since these critters are NOT rabbits, I'm not even sure how this happened...

(rolling my eyes)

A Midsummer Night's Dream

This weekend #4 of 5 made her theatric debut in her roll as one of the "groundlings" in a Prairie Fire Children's Theater production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

 

Prairie Fire Children's Theater is a traveling theater company that sets up shop in local communities, and spends a week rehearing a preselected live performance with youth of the community, and then at the culmination of the week, the kids put on two performances (one in the afternoon, and one in the evening).  The shows are attended mostly by siblings, parents and grandparents, but it is open to the public. 

 

I have never seen, heard, or read Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream previously - so, despite my having to be up at 1am, I made the decision to delay my bedtime by three hours to attend the show.  (Having my daughter in the play "may have" had a little to do with that decision...) 

 

I worked late on Friday afternoon, and when I finally arrived home, I was met by the Mother of Five, #4 and #5 of 5 (#2 and #3 of 5 are away at Boy Scout Camp) in our entryway and was told we were going out for dinner before the show.  We went to Brewers Bar & Grill (one of only a couple of restaurant in our small town), and noticed at least one other family with performer(s) in the evening's show doing the same thing... (Dinner before the live performance).

 

It was a lot of fun watching the kids perform the show, which was directed by two members of PFCT (who also each played a part in the production as well).  For only having had four days to rehearse, I think everyone did an AMAZING job!  A couple of singing and dancing numbers were incorporated into the production as well - making the short rehearsal all that much more impressive! 

 

Great Job #4 of 5!

 

 

The Deed is Done.

Eleven months of dealing with #1 of 5, and his "transportationally challenged" lifestyle, and another 3-4 days dealing with buying a car, shopping for insurance (and the arguing and gnashing of teeth that went along with that), getting the title transferred, updating the tabs, and finally settling with and purchasing auto insurance - This afternoon, #1 of 5 got into HIS car, purchased with HIS money, titled in HIS name, with HIS insurance, and pulled away with a bigger smile on his face than I have seen in a long time...

He was genuinely proud of what he accomplished "on his own" (ahem... cough-cough).

I sincerly hope he has learned his lesson, has turned over the new leaf that he says he has, and will "do the right thing"...

So, if any of you that are reading this are police officers (I know some of you are....), and you recognize this car with this kid in it... Make sure he is behaving... I told him you were looking out for him!!

Good luck kiddo... I hope this works out for the best!

It's Been Eleven Months.

Just shy of one year ago, then prodigal and wayward son #1 of 5, hammered the final nail in the coffin of his driving for quite a while...

Read more about that HERE.

Since then he has been a member of the "pedestrian squad".

Eleven months later #1 of 5 finally cleaned up his act enough that he is ALLOWED to drive again, and just may have learned a lesson or two.

Officially, he has rejoined the world of driving after purchasing his second car this afternoon. My dad (#1 of 5's grandfather) noticed the car parked in the lot of his local grocery store. Knowing that #1 of 5 was needing a new mode of transportation, he called The Mother of Five, who in turn called #1 of 5 to let him know. #1 of 5 then called the guy selling the car, and set up an appointment for this morning.

I don't know if this little prayer will work or not, but it's sure worth a try. It sure can't hurt....

Dear Saint Christopher, Patron Saint of Transportation, please keep your eye out for #1 of 5, and help him make better decisions with this car than he did with his first one.

Details: 1998 Ford Contour, 4cyl, 5 speed, 177k miles. The car is in AMAZING shape for it's age and milage... If he can keep from trying to be the next Mario Andretti, or (heaven forbid) the next Nick Hogan - this car could last for a while..

So now you know what I did today... On the menu for tomorrow - Shopping for high risk auto insurance.

Another Elementary School Graduate

 

Yup.  Our little school (St. John the Baptist)is a K-6, and #3 of 5's last day of 6th grade is today, so in preparation for this event, last night was the school's Graduation Mass.  It's a way  the school celebrates the culmination of the 6+ years these group of kids who grew up together. 

After mass (or sort of at the end of mass) the staff from the school put on a slide show (which are really not slide shows anymore...  They are laptops hooked to computer projectors) - but it was a slide show of photos from "Littlest Angels", "Wee Angels", and K-6 (Littlest and Wee Angels are the two years of pre-school). 

There were many "Awwwwww's" and giggles heard while the photos of the kids were at their youngest, and about half way through the show, I turned to the Mother of Five and commented how it appeared they were growing up in front of our eyes (via the slide show).

When it was over, there was a bit of a tear in her eyes, as she turned to me and said how fast they were all growing up (and NOT just in the slide show)...

Bitter sweet.

It's so fun to see how these kids have grown into who they are from where they came from.  Again... It's been (for the most part) the same group of fourteen kids together since they were three or four years old...  Today (the last day of school) will be the last time that this group (of 14) are together as the cohesive group that they are.  Next year the group of 14 will meld into the group of 125+ that make up the 7th grade of Jordan Middle School.

After mass, the school (aided by this year's 5th grade students and parents) hosted a farewell gathering in Lewis Hall (the Lunchroom) - where the walls, tables, windows - heck anything that they could - was decorated with artwork, poetry, stories, homework, photos, etc from throughout this groups years at St. John's...  It was a fun frolic through memory lane!

I have said it before, and I'll say it again... The staff at St. John's are among THE BEST!  They are the heart and soul of the school and all that make it such a wonderful place.  It all starts with the venue, but that in itself is not enough.  They are the fuel that keeps the fires burning! 

I have never met a more caring, nurturing, and involved group of teachers.  Teachers who truly CARE about our kids, their education, their welfare and well being, and their spiritual growth..

If you have stumbled across this post because you were doing an internet search of St. John the Baptist school, and want to know more - PLEASE use the contact me link on the sidebar.  I'd be more than happy to talk to you about any questions you may have...  But be prepared....  as of now, I have put two kids through St. John's (Littlest, Wee, K-6) and still have two more in...  and I have NOTHING but good things to say about this school...  (Well, the only think I would change is adding a 7th and 8th grade!)

#3 of 5, I am so proud of you!  It's on to Junior High School, and the much bigger world of Jordan Middle School for you...

And on that note.... Stay tuned for more on a very related subject.....

A Fire in the Neighborhood

To all my "Dial up" readers, please accept my apologies for how long this post will take to load.  It is a photo essay of the fire that destroyed a home in our neighborhood yesterday.

First and foremost - my condolences go out to the family that lost their home, and may or may not have lost their dog.  (The dog was pulled from the house by firefighters, and rescue attempts were made to revive the dog.  My understanding is that they got the dog breathing again, and rushed it off to an emergency veterinarian.)

- - - - - - -

I have been working two back to back extra long extended shifts, and was on a break when I called home to talk to the "Mother of Five".  While I was talking to her, I could suddenly hear the kids making a ruckus...  Then, there was a "pregnant pause"

(No, I am NOT going to be the Father of Six, so don't ask... It's just a saying (wink)).

As the "pregnant pause" tapered off, I heard my wife gasp, and in a escalated emotional voice she all but shouted into the phone that one of our neighbor's house was on fire.  I tried to get her to explain to me which house it was, but as the conversation continued, the more excited she became...  as she described the scene to me over the phone, a couple of phrases from my "---------- vocabulary" popped into my head...

"Fully Involved" and "Surround and Drown"

As a ----------, those two words mean one thing...  They mean, strap in because the ride is going to get a little more intense...  

Being true to my blogging nature - and since I was not there, I asked my wife to grab the camera, and get some pictures (assuming she would have done so from the deck of our house - where she was standing while we were on the phone).  The very first picture was taken from our deck.

She then crossed between the two houses and got in close for some really great action shots!  And she took many more than I thought she would have... Her photos turned out AMAZING, and I have heard many complements after posting them on facebook.  We even got one comment that said they were better than our local newspaper's coverage...  I'll let you be the judge...  (Although they did get a couple of interesting "side" or "action" shots!)

LINK TO NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

LINK TO NEWSPAPER ARTICLE PHOTOS

AMAZING job done by the Jordan Police and Jordan Fire Department.  Truly local heroes who put their lives on the line to both serve and protect our community.  My kudos go out to all of them.

  

      

    

Sk8er Boy

Yes, it's true... #2 of 5 is well on his way to becoming a full fledged teenager...

The first step in raising a teenager is admitting you HAVE a teenager..

Sk8er boy... 'er I mean #2 of 5 went out today and spent copious amounts of his own money to buy a Skateboard. Not just ANY skateboard mind you... This aint no run of the mill, Target, Wallmart, or Fleetfarm $25.00 skateboard either..

No, this teenaged sk8er boy took his hard earned, and even harder saved cash to a real Skateboard store today - thus moving from the dorky neighborhood kid with a generic skateboard, into the way kewl teenager, more affectionately know as "Sk8er Boy"...

Now that I have admitted I have a teenager, I have started the "12 step" program for parents of teenagers... I think the next step is something like admitting you are powerless against the grip of the skateboard"... or something like that...

FOF to the group - "Hello, my name is the Father of Five, and I own a teenager"

Group to FOF - "Hello Father of Five"

I'm sending you away..

It's been so long since I last posted on Dad's Outdoor Journal, that today, I am sending you over there for a post...

I'm Going to Give it a Try (link)

Have a great trip!

Milestones (Three Years)

I thought it was in May sometime.  So I checked.  I was wrong.
It was actually April 2nd.  The day after April Fools Day. 

What on earth are you talking about FOF?

I am talking about the third anniversary of "The Life of a Father of Five".  It was three years ago on April 2nd that this blog came to life, and what a strange journey it's been...
It started off with a purpose...

Tales from the life of a chronically tired Father of five who lives in a high stress household, works in a high stress environment (as a ---------- ----------), and copes with daily struggles of guilty feelings for not having the time he would like to spend with his family
I am keeping this blog as a collection of thoughts for my children (but others are welcome to enjoy too).... Someday I hope they have they chance to read this. My work and our hectic family lifestyle keeps me very busy. I hate to admit this but sometimes so busy that I don't spend as much time with my kids and family as I want to, or as I should.... Although I am not always with them - they are ALWAYS with me....

"The Life of a Father of Five" quickly grew into a little bit more. 
Right off the bat, I took a vacation from work to start building a deck.  Each day I documented the progress of my deck building on the blog, and a co-worker told me how much he enjoyed it.  He said he could not get enough.  Then, it spread around to a couple of other co-workers... 
From there, "The Life of a Father of Five" started branching out all over the place.  Not only here in Minnesota - All over the Twin Cities, Virginia, Rochester, and St. Cloud too.  Then across the nation!  Idaho, Texas, Georgia, Connecticut, California, Illinois, and Utah are among some of the locations I see almost every day in my stats.
Speaking of stats...  Yesterday I reached the 18,000'th  hit since I started keeping track (April 18th 2006).  This page has been viewed eighteen thousand times in just over three years!!  That is a staggering figure to me.
While researching some of the data needed two write this post, I discovered something odd.  I posted about my second anniversary on May 18th.

What's so odd about that?

Well, yesterday was May 18th...  And it was last night as I was falling asleep that it dawned on my that my "blogiversary" may be coming up quick, and that I should check into it in the morning.

(Cue the creepy Twilight Zone Music)

Exactly one year from the date that I remember that fact last year... 

Inaugural Post
One Year Anniversary
Two Year Anniversary

I enter my third year of blogging with the same joy and enthusiasm that I had started out with.  I do keep downloaded archives of the blog "just in case" - and so that even if Blogger isn't around anymore, when my children are old enough - they can enjoy who their father was...
To all of you - Thank You. 
I have had the opportunity to keep in touch with my friends, reconnect with some old friends, and make some really fantastic new friends too!  I hope that you have enjoyed the ride thus far.  As I move into my third year, and towards my fourth anniversary it is my hope that "The Life of a Father of Five" continues to entertain you, and helps foster both new and old friends alike. 

It Does Not Take Much...

For those of you who do not know, I am a HUGE fan (both mentally and physically) of XM Radio's Ron & Fez Show! (And for those of you who do know, go ahead and roll your eyes, and sigh "Not another Ron & Fez post"...

I just discovered that the Ron & Fez Show's time slot was changed.

Instead of the "Ron & Fez - Noon to Three" that we have all come to love hearing, they will now be boasting "Ron & Fez - Eleven to Three" (eastern). What does that mean??

Ron and Fez will be live on air an extra hour each day starting today!!

I am not sure how they feel about it (I'll be listening to the replay later) but for "fan boys" like me - it's truly a gift!!

Thanks Ron & Fez - Thanks for providing the best 3 hours (and now 4 hours) of radio each and every day!!

An extra hour has made me a happy man!!

On a side note... Congradulatons to East Side Dave from the Ron and Fez show - on the birth of his child #2!

A Night Out

It was a Night Out for the grown ups!

For my birthday, my parents gave me a night out that included Dinner and a live show at the Theater, so last night, the four of us went out!

The city has a thriving artistic culture center, and it's attached to our "City Hall" (referred to as "The Civic Plaza"). Civic Plaza consists of the Police Department, City Hall (which consists of many departments), and the Bloomington Center for the Arts - all under one roof.

Dinner was my choice (well, between two different choices). The Olive Garden, or The Cheesecake Factory. Having never been there before, I selected The Cheesecake Factory. (Despite the Olive Garden's Zuppo Toscana being among my FAVORITE things to eat!)

Not being sure what to expect, I was delightfully surprised. I choose the Salisbury steak smothered in onions, mushrooms, and mushroom gravy - with garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans. Judging by the number of times the Mother of Five dipped her fork into my plate for a "taste", I was not the only one who thought it was delicious!

After dinner, we headed off the the Bloomington Center for the Arts, to see "Arsenic and Old Lace" (not sure how long this link will remain valid) being put on in the "Black Box Theater".

I have "heard of" Arsenic and Old Lace before, but I knew nothing of the story, nor have I seen the Cary Grant version of the movie either. I had only the most basic knowledge of the storyline.

The show was quite enjoyable, and the actors / actresses did an outstanding job. It was easy to get lost in the story, and feel like you were "right there" so much more so than seeing a movie.

Thanks Mom & Dad! Thanks for a great evening out! We both had a wonderful time! We will HAVE TO do that again sometime soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

I would like to take a moment out of my too-busy schedule to wish a few special folks a Happy Mothers Day.

 

TO MY WIFE - for without whom I would not be the person I am today (be that for better or for worse).  I can't thank you enough for sharing a wonderful life together with me, and together helping me raise some of the best kids in the world!   You make me so very happy, and I love you more and more every day we spend together!

 

TO MY MOM - for without whom I would not be here today, and for helping to shape me into the happy and successful husband / father / and man that I am today!

 

TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW - for without whom I would not have the wonderful wife I have, and for treating me like one of your own.

 

TO ALL MOTHERS OUT THERE - for going above and beyond - for the sacrifices you make - for the unacknowledged things you do for your children, husbands, and families... 

 

As a "Father of Five" - I'd like to wish you all the happiest of Mother's Days EVER!  Thanks for all you do!  Enjoy your day!

Is This REALLY Necessary?

Due to a work "assignment", I was unable to chaperone a field trip to the Minnesota Zoo with #5 of 5's  preschool class that I had previously signed up for.

This worked out ok in the end because I have been dealing with a persistent, and ever worsening cough for the past month.  I called the clinic, and set up an appointment.  Unfortunately they did not have a spot open until the next day.

By the time I got home, I was coughing enough that it was not only bothering everyone around me, but it was starting to bother ME.  The Mother of Five said our urgent care center opened at 1pm, so I headed out.

Our urgent care center and E.R. share a lobby / waiting / triage center.  You check in, wait, meet with a triage nurse who routes you through to urgent care or E.R. depending on the circumstances.

(Is this REALLY necessary point #1) - I went through the entire process, and the triage nurse checked me into the E.R.   I asked her why the ER and not the urgent care center.  It ends up that my wife was wrong.  Urgent care does not open until 6pm.

I asked the nurse if visiting the ER was "overkill" for what I was dealing with.  I told her I did not want to waste ER resources for something that really did not need to take up ER time...  She said not to worry about it at all - they could take care of everything while I was there.  I verified this no less that two other times before I was sitting in the ER exam room, and was assured each time that it was indeed ok.

(Is this REALLY necessary point #2) - I next met with an ER nurse who gave me a LOVLEY "open backed" gown...  Thankfully (for both me and for the ER staff) I was told I only needed to undress from the waist up before putting on this gown.

Then the ER doctor came in - poked, prodded, checked, and listened to all sorts of things "above the waist"...  This all seemed on the up-and-up.  When it was all said and done, he ordered a chest x-ray, and said someone would get me shortly.

(Is this REALLY necessary point #3 - and truly what inspired me to write) - A young petite little blond nurse came into my room, and told me that she was here to take me to X-ray.  I had been sitting in the chair and playing Solitaire on my palm pilot up until this point...  I stood up and walked toward her, when she said I needed to lay on the gurney...

Me - HUH??  I have not even touched it.  Why not keep it clean for the next person...

Nurse - Nope.. Hospital policy that I need to move you on the gurney.

Me - Your kidding me, right?  I mean I am a strong - able-bodied - fully mobile adult.  I have been able to walk down the hall all-by-my-self for sometime now..  Plus, as you can see, I could use the exercise anyway.

Nurse - Sorry Mr. Father-of-five.  We need to get you up on this gurney, and roll you down to X-ray.  It's policy, and we do this for everyone.

Me - What if I sign a waver?

Nurse - Just get on the gurney....

By this point I could see I was not going to leave the room under my own power, so I hopped up on the gurney, and let this young petite little blond nurse push me down to the X-Ray room.

I can only imagine how it must have looked.  A scene straight out of Sea World's back room laboratory.  A Marine Biologist college intern trying to push a small pale bloated Beluga Whale down the hall toward the "Deep Sea Vet's Lab" all by her self - struggling...

In the end, she did just fine.  Maybe she was right... She does this for everyone...

And while I am in the "tall and fat" "big and tall" category, there are certainly much more "bigger" and "taller" than me out there. 

- - - - - - - -

For all those wondering.... It was confirmed as I suspected - Bronchitis.

Healing... And Moving On

Well, two days after the fateful event that caused so much trauma for our family (please click link to read the heartbreaking story if you have not already herd it), we began the process of healing, and moving on.

After a morning of work, I was unable to chaperone a field trip to the Minnesota Zoo with our youngest's preschool class that I had previously signed up for. The Incident Commanders were all very understanding, and did everything they could (and then some) to get me there - but in the end, it was cutting it too close.

This worked out ok in the end because I ended up making a run to urgent care for a persistent, and worsening cough. More on that "experience" later...

After the ER visit, and picking up subsequent prescriptions, I made my way home to accomplish the one task I had set my sights on for the day. We needed to lay Garfield to his eternal resting spot. At the family dinner table, we discussed the various options...

We came up with three viable options. The concave portion of our kidney shaped flower garden, a back corner of the yard, or under our deck where the ideas that we came up with.

We also talked about how we would mark the location...

In the end, we chose the concave portion of our kidney shaped flower garden. Additionally, we decided to "upgrade" this area, and create a small "memorial" to our beloved Garfield. We are going to put a concrete birdbath, and an etched stone memorial there too.

Planning this with the family was really nice. I really think this helped move us towards "closure".

After dinner, I started the work of cutting up the lawn (so I could put the patch back when I was done), and digging the hole. When the whole was complete, we called the kids, our next door neighbor kids, and I was going to invite the "across the street neighbor girl" (who played with Garfield every day) but, she was sick, and could not come over.

All of them had made cards, or picked flowers (dandelions), and came up with some things to send Garfield off with.

- I got a small baggie of Cat food for him (man, that cat could E. A. T. - It was only fitting to send him off with a little of what he liked best!).

- #2 of 5 decided to send him off with a laser pointer. (Garfield LOVED the laser pointer. We could get him to jump over 6 feet to try and "catch" it....)

- #4 of 5 use a piece to her gerbil cage (Garfield was so "interested" in the gerbils... He would stand guard, and sleep near their cage - just hoping for one of them to get loose.)

- Everyone else made cards (including the little girl across the street who could not be there).

We placed our things with Garfield, sealed up the box, and #2 of 5 lowered him into the little "grave".

More dandelions on top, and #2 of 5 asked to fill the hole back in.

Unfortunately #1 of 5 could not be with us, but he called us, and specifically asked that we say a prayer for him since he could not be there.

By the time we were finished, the kids were all doing MUCH better. The "immediacy" of the situation has passed, and as the old saying goes... "Time heals all wounds". Overall, everyone will be ok. #2 of 5 is even talking about wanting another cat. (But he does not ever want to name another cat Garfield - so he can always remember "his" Garfield the way he was...) No decisions have been made in this direction as of yet.

As promised this post includes the photo of Garfield on the Mother of Five's cel phone (the one that #2 of 5 does not want changed for a while...)

One last photo. This is the last photo we took of Garfield. It was dated 4-20-09. #4 of 5 was cleaning out her gerbil cage, and Garfield (who loved to squeeze his HUGE frame into the smallest possible boxes to curl up in) decided to do so in the gerbil's cage.

Garfield the Cat

 First day at our house - Aug 20, 2006 (photos).

Last day at our house - May 04, 2009

-------------------------------------------------

Rest peacefully Garfield... And thanks for the good years.

Garfield the Cat.

I will refrain from sharing the feelings I am having for the person who drove their minivan up our street in a reckless manner tonight.

I will also admit to the difficulty I am having with refraining from acting out the disgust and RAGE I feel towards that person for also hitting, and killing Garfield our family cat tonight. The part that puts me over the edge is that it was done while #4 of 5 (our eight year old daughter - the cat lover) was watching out the window.

I will say prayers of thanks to God tonight, that this person also did not have the manners, etiquette, or good taste to even stop. Things would not have gone well for them tonight, and as a result, would not have gone well for me.

I will also admit the heartbreak I am feeling right now for the kids. Like I said, #4 of 5 actually saw the accident. We were all sitting in the living room, but she saw it through the window. I was "lucky" enough to get to see the raw reaction on her face.

As I turned to see what she was looking at, I saw Garfield struggling to make his way up into our yard. Like the true #$%^ that I can be at times, got upset because of the inevitable vet bill, and vocalized it as I raced my way out the door.

Garfield was still struggling when I reached him. Not really for long though... One breath, maybe two. #2 of 5 was right behind me. Being in uncharted waters, I told him he should probably go back inside (so as not to witness the cat struggling for his last breaths). In hindsight, I was thinking that maybe it would not have been a bad idea to have let him stay, and be with his cat as it died.

Moments after Garfield breathed his last, I turned around and #2 of 5 was standing 10 yards behind me... Asking if Garfield was ok. I told him that Garfield had died, and invited him to sit with me.

Garfield was "technically" #2 of 5's cat, but we never really kept track of "who's cat is who's". Garfield was our family cat, and was loved by our family, our next door neighbor's family, and the family across the street - who's house he was running from when he was hit. But at the end of the day, #2 of 5 had a very special relationship with Garfield, and was very in-tune with him.

#2 of 5 sat next to me on the front lawn. I held him in my arms. I held him tight as he broke down and wept. He asked if he could pet Garfield. I told him of course he could, and that Garfield would like that very much. It had only been seconds (maybe twenty) since Garfield had passed away.

#2 of 5 is 14 years old now. Mom was still in the house with the other children, and for a few minutes it was just him and I outside with Garfield. He was holding me tight, weeping.

Thinking about this now (about an hour later), I am thankful for those few minutes before everyone else came out of the house.

In all reality, this will likely be one of the last times this will happen. He is growing up so fast, and to have him need me, one more time, to help through this was something I think I needed as much as he did (for different reasons).

I removed his collar and name tag, hading them to #2 of 5. I told him that these were his to have, and that Garfield would want him to take care of them.

After a few minutes of holding my boy in my arms, as he pet the cat he loved so very much, the rest of the family came out. Next to break down was #4 of 5 (8 years old). She too is VERY attached to the cats, and as the one who witnessed the accident, was noticeably upset. She curled up in her mother's arms and wept.

We sat together as a family, on the front lawn, surrounding Garfield. It was a very emotional time.

As it started getting dark, I left to get a box to put Garfield in for the night. One by one, everyone left to help, except #2 of 5. He stayed with his cat.

Watching him sit there in the middle of the yard, alone, crying, and petting his cat was a painful thing to see, and will be with me for a LONG time to come.

After finding a box, and a little blanket to wrap him in, we all went back to #2 of 5 and his cat. I had him help me place Garfield gently in the box, and I sent the kids inside.

It was past the kids bed time, and they were all in various states of emotional turmoil. There was a lot of crying, and sadness in our house tonight.

We reminded the kids that if Garfield could talk to us right now, he would not want us to be sad. He would want us to think happy thoughts of him, remembering all the funny things he did, and would want us all to say a special prayer for him.

#4 of 5 mentioned (before going to bed) that "at least Mimi (Garfield's litter-mate and our other cat) can at least eat now. (Garfield was an eating machine...). At least that put a little bit of a smile on her face before bed.

As I sat with #2 of 5 in his room before bed, he said that this was the WORST day of his life. He has strep throat, missed school (and will have a ton of homework tomorrow) and now it was the day his cat died. What can you say?

Just before going to bed #2 of 5 said that at least he does not have to have a 5:30 am alarm clock anymore (Garfield would jump on our beds until he got one of us up. This almost always happened around 5:30 am). This statement put a little smile on his face, and so I told him the story of what his sister said about Mimi being able to eat. That also put a smile on his face.

I asked him to (over the next few days) write down several thoughts and memories he has of Garfield. Things he does not want to forget. I reminded him that our memories of those that have passed are what allow them to live on.

#2 of 5 had a hard time getting to sleep tonight. He could not sleep, and came out to sit with us for a while. He is just now heading off to bed (10:40 pm).

For those of you that have been around here long enough... you may remember a post titled "The Third Option". This post was also about Garfield.

The photos that make up this post are of one of the first photos we have of Garfield (when he came home for the first time) with #2 of 5, and one of the last photos I took of Garfield.

I am also going to update this post (or create another) with a photo #2 of 5 took of Garfield on my wife's cellular phone. (I still have to figure out a way to get it off the phone.)

While crying himself to sleep tonight, #2 of 5 told his mom that it was "odd". When we asked him what was "odd" - he said that for some reason - this afternoon - he changed the screen saver on her cellular phone to a photo he took of Garfield earlier this year. Between his tears, he asked if she would leave it as the screen saver for a while.

My wife was crying when she told me this story.

Garfield, you will be missed. Your two years with us went WAY to fast. You were by far, the most entertaining cat I have ever had the pleasure to know. Thank you for all the fun times, and the laughs you provided our family over the past couple of years.

You go with all the love of your human family.

Now that the kids are asleep, and my wife is too, it is my turn to go cry myself to sleep...

FOF Observation #13

The "FOF Observations" are a series of "Perpetual Posts" where I will share with you, my readers, short little "one line" observations that I have made (or will be making) on being the father of a large family. You will be able to access each of the posts in a cohesive list by clicking on the "FOF Observations" link in the "Perpetual Posts" group on the sidebar.
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Something occurred to me this evening.

Having had a particularly busy "no-school" day that included not only our kids, but also their friends (and one friend as a sleep-over), it finally sunk in...

The crumbs left behind on our kitchen floor (often) have the potential to contain both the caloric, and nutritional value to support a small third world nation...

(Ruler added for reference....)