As you know OLAF was my new piggy.

We went through a few names before settling on OLAF.

He was a big boy and needed to lose weight which we did successfully over months.

At first OLAF and BETTY (the dog) got on fine.Betty was happy to have a new HOUSEMATE.

However, over time she got tired of his leave me alone “grunts”.They then starting biting each other.BETTY was stubborn as a mule.She wouldn’t budge from her sitting spot.After time OLAF learned he had to walk around, out of his way to get to where he wanted to be.This continued for months.

Here we have BETTY and THEODORABLE sitting on the old vintage chair that I loved as it made one sit up straight.As you can see someone had a good time ripping the fabric off!That came after the hole making in the gold cushion cover. Theodore is sitting on!

Olaf loved to pull it to the ground and rip it!

HE HAD A TASTE for OLD TEXTILES………

Which made me think he is not getting enough food!So, I up the kibble by 1/4 of a cup………..

As you can see he gets an assortment of vegetables, carrot, cucumber and or zucchini and a head of Romain lettuce along with 1/2 cup of piggy kibble with a dash of warm water…….

We would add fruit in as well to alternate.

His eyes were NEVER WIDE OPEN.

He did allow me to clean them.

Ears too.

And of course he had his mani/pedi every few months by that woman EMILY THE TRIMMER!

I ADORED HIM………..even if he destroyed three dog beds and we had to put up baby gates so NO ENTRY to BETTY’S BED which resided in our bedroom.He was an early riser as we are early risers and that meant weekends too.I could hear him coming from the living room clop clop on the tile floors.If no sound came from us he would move furniture around in the hallway!All doors in the house had to remain shut due to the fact he could go in and turn around and lock himself in. A tight spot for a piggy his size!!For example, the guest bathroom!It could have something to do with SAINT FRANCIS of ASSISI resides in there in the shower!

This was OLAF’s bedroom.He moved himself from behind the sofa to under this table and brought all his blankets!There were an assortment of blankets. Six I believe!From sheepskin to Johnny Was and TJ.MAXX.

As cute as this was we did have a fear of the STUFF STACKED ON TOP of the table would TOPPLE ONE DAY!

The fear left me, but NEVER THE ITALIAN once we took scissors to the purple TAFFETA TABLECLOTH and went to town.No more FLOUNCE on the FLOOR hanging out looking OHHHH SO ELEGANT!

SO his glide in and out was seamless and no fear of getting caught up in material that would then be pulled by a very STRONG BEASTIE BOY!

I ACTUALLY LOVED WATCHING HIM GO IN AND OUT!

SO without a doubt its a little too quiet around here……………..

So, on May Day 2024 OLAF left at 5 pm to travel due east to his RESCUE HOME with many other pigs.I cried for a good long while………..

He brought me so much JOY.

I battled with the ruined things……..verses HIM.

I would say to myself what or who gives you MORE JOY IN YOUR LIFE NOW?

The old stuff you have acquired or this PET PIG.

Well, the answer to that left MAY FIRST 2024……………….. I WILL MISS YOU!

Last SUNDAY I had my ITALIAN drive me to NOVATO to meet up with an old friend from elementary school days!Here we are after not seeing each other for over 50 years!

Now this is a FUN STORY!

Above is KITTY aka Katherine.

Who I had searched for when Facebook came out and the internet etc……….

NO LUCK.

Friday night my phone informed me I had a text message and I was slow to answer due to having dinner………..once up from the table I looked. It was from my girlfriend Celeste.

Another old, old friend who lived above me growing up.

We three all played together when we were very young.

Enter Celeste’s SON who works for a grocery store in Tiburon.His employer sent him to another store in Novato on Friday to work as they were short staffed; I assume.I really do not know why nor is that important to my story!He must have been assigned to the Bakery department where Kitty works as they got into a conversation and Kitty said she had grown up in the area and explained where exactly.Well, the son knew the area well as he too grew up there.So, my friend Kitty says do you know such and such FAMILY?

SON reply’s Celeste is my MOTHER!!!!

SO that text was from Celeste telling me she had FOUND KITTY!!!

Many texts back and fourth and I call the grocery store at 8pm that night to see if she is there.

CONTESSA……..bubbling over with JOY to a complete stranger.”Hello does a Kitty……….work there?

YES!

After I tried to explain the CONNECTION! She told me to call back the next morning!

Which I did at 8:25 am on SATURDAY.

This call I was MORE DIRECT!

CONTESSA;” HELLO BAKERY PLEASE!”

“One moment Please.” says clerk.

Another woman answered in the bakery department and without hesitation I ask for Kitty.

Hello………….says Kitty.THE EXACT SAME VOICE I REMEMBERED from elementary school days!

CONTESSA SAYS, I know your aren’t sitting down but this is a voice from your past!

“Who is it?”says Kitty!

AND I tell her my name……….there is a moment of silence.Then I go on to say I have been looking for you for YEARS!She responds by saying and I too have been looking for YOU!

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT WHAT A SMALL, SMALL WORLD!

I had THE ITALIAN drive me to NOVATO the next day to give her a hug and from there we have another date planned to get together and do A LOT MORE CATCHING UP!

OVER 50 YEARS of catch up CHATTER!

HAVE YOU EVER STUMBLED UPON AN OLD FRIEND who had popped into your head from time to time as the years went by?I can not even begin to tell you the THRILL IT HAS BROUGHT TO BOTH OF US.I have to say OUR MEMORIES are still there from the monkey bars and dodge ball to KITTY being THE PITCHER OF THE MIGHTY MUSHROOMS and Ballet classes and salamander catch and release!

AND we LOVED to watch DARK SHADOWS every day at 4 pm after school!

How ON EARTH DO WE REMEMBER THIS DETAIL?!!

Speaking of detail……….

Somehow, this item came up in our conversation.

Kitty remembered it being on the table at my Mother’s home.Recall SACCHARINE?They were tiny little white pills the ladies would use for coffee or tea!

I told her it is sitting beside MY SINK RIGHT NOW!

Well, I wrapped it up and gave it to her on HUG DAY!

One less item MY BOYS will HAVE TO TOSS!

NOT our BEST PHOTO but here I am with MY BRITISH STEP MOTHER who turned 90 in APRIL.

SHE IS STILL CLOTHES SHOPPING and just had her kitchen remodeled after years of talking about having it done!WE HAVE THE CAREGIVERS TO THANK FOR THAT!Seems one was cooking fried banana’s on the stove top and the hood caught fire which then caught more of the kitchen on FIRE!

A BLESSING as now she has a NEW KITCHEN!

KEEP WISHING FOR THINGS AS THEY MAY STILL COME TRUE!

XXX