Gone Too Soon: RIP Charlie Kirk

 Hello Friends,

This one's for Charlie! 

It has been less than a week since the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk. Charlie was a Christian, a husband, a father, a patriot and a conservative. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Charlie championed free speech and open debate, regardless the topic or who wanted to have their voice heard. He listened and respectfully gave this thoughts, often in the form of a question. He was calm in the face of the hysterical. He countered illogical remarks with common sense and reason. He brought knowledge and wisdom to all who would listen. He unapologetically spoke about his faith, and family values. Many of his appearances were on college campuses, which sadly is where his life was taken.

He was also politically active in trying to reach America's youth. He campaigned for Donald Trump going back to 2016, and his organization, Turning Point USA is said to have been instrumental in the election of President Trump in 2024. 

The internet is awash in news clips, interviews, people opining on details and minutia, and articles, pictures and prayers offered in memorial. Also, many have been left wondering WHY? Why did this happen?

We are all sharing the same shock and grief. I had paused here at the computer for a moment Wednesday, saw this post and barely left until dinner needed to be prepared.

Charlie Kirk has been SHOT at an event at Utah Valley University.

His condition is unknown. Please stop what you're doing and PRAY for him

Oh No!! Immediately I switched to X to try and get more information. I prayed, as did millions of others around the country and perhaps around the world. Prayers continue for his family as they face the darkest time in their lives. This was indeed a dark day for our country as well. 

Why was Charlie assassinated? Everyone has an opinion, but if you want to know what I think, then reread the first two paragraphs. Charlie Kirk was murdered because of who he was as a human being. He was good, and evil can't stand good.

To the shooter, know that Charlie's work will continue. His army will multiply. To those who were celebrating this tragedy, you are disgusting human beings who lack compassion and human decency.

May God bless Charlie's family and God bless America!

What is a Nebelung?

I often told Rosie that they broke the mold when they made him, that he was one of a kind and there would never be another like him. Yes, I do talk to my cats, and we had some interesting conversations in spite of the fact that neither of us knew what the other was saying.

When asked what kind of cat he was, I had no answer.  For years I wondered what his parents might have looked like.  His coloring was that of a Russian Blue, but they were short haired, and his hair was anything but short, and I was among those who had never heard of a Nebelung.  

Quite often Rosie would lay in my lap while I was on the computer, so one night I was sitting there missing him and I Googled "long-haired gray cat with green eyes."  Imagine my surprise when I found this video.

Why hadn't I done this sooner? It's my Rosie right down to his glowing green eyes and silky silver-gray hair. I wish I known this back when we adopted Rosie rather than finding out after he was gone. I always knew he was special, and even though I only saw two other cats that looked like him, I never realized how rare he was in the cat world.  It would have been great to be able to say 'he's a Nebelung'.

He was born in 1997 and considering the breed has only been in existence since the mid 1980s and I only found two Nebelung breeders in the U.S. (neither in my area), he may not have been a purebred, but he definitely had the characteristics and personality of the breed. 

Here's a little history on the origin of the Nebelung.  Siegfried, born in 1984, was the first registered Nebelung.  His parents were a black domestic shorthair named Elsa and a black longhair that resembled an Angora.  Later, Brunhilde was born, and this was the foundation for the Nebelung breed.  The breed standard was written by owner, Cora Cobb, based on the standard for the Russian Blue, with the difference being the coat length.  The name Nebelung comes from the German word nebel, meaning fog or mist.  

Here are more pictures of my "creature of the mist":

This one shows off his magnificent mane.

Look at those eyes!

A little desk time with mama.

It just didn't get any better than this.

I miss you my friend.

Quote of the Week

You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.  
- Jonathan Safran Foer 

Rosie - November 3, 2013

I know this statement to be true.  Sometimes those we love most and who bring us the most happiness can also bring us the most sadness.  That they aren't always human doesn't matter, the love is still the same.  Isn't that worth it?
 
A lot has happened since my last post.  I put together this quote last Monday but couldn't bring myself to publish it. 

Rosie and me

Early on Sunday morning, November 3, I said a tearful good-bye to Rosie, my constant companion for the last 16 years.