TGIF and Good News About Isabella

Usually, Fridays are my work-from-home days, but I switched my remote day to yesterday because my coworkers needed to be out this afternoon. So today, I’m at the museum instead. I don’t mind, though. It means I’ll have the museum to myself for most of the afternoon, and quite honestly, I like being the only one there. It’s quiet, peaceful, and a good opportunity to catch up on things without interruptions.

I also wanted to give everyone an update on Isabella. She seems to be doing great and, from all appearances, has forgiven me for yesterday’s trip to the veterinarian. She coughed a little this morning, but nothing like she had been, and she didn’t cough at all last night. I was so relieved to hear from the veterinarian that she is otherwise the picture of health. Thank goodness!

Hopefully, once she recovers from these asthma attacks, she’ll never have another one. But if she does, at least I know what to do, and we have a plan in place to help her. For now, I’m just grateful that she’s feeling better and that the visit brought such reassuring news.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Worried About My Girl

For the past couple of days, Isabella has been coughing. It’s not constant, but it seems to happen two or three times a day. This morning, I’m taking her to the veterinarian. I was very relieved that I was able to get an appointment so quickly.

I hope this turns out to be nothing serious, but I’ll be honest—I’m worried.

Isabella is 10 years old, and in all the years I’ve had her, she’s never really been sick. That’s one reason this has me so concerned. The good news—and I hope it’s a good sign—is that she’s still eating normally, drinking plenty of water, and using the litter box regularly. I’ve checked her ears, and they’re cool. Her nose is cool and wet. Other than the coughing, she doesn’t seem to have any obvious signs of illness.

Of course, cats are masters at hiding when something is wrong. It’s part of their nature to conceal vulnerability.

What worries me most is that I think the coughing is frightening her. She’s been coming to me more often and purring louder than usual. Most people associate purring with happiness and contentment, but cats also purr when they’re scared, stressed, or trying to comfort themselves.

This morning she was lying on my hip when she started coughing. The coughs seemed stronger than they had been before, and with each one, her claws dug a little deeper into my leg. It broke my heart because she seemed so scared and unsure of what was happening.

I’m grateful that I called the vet yesterday and that they can see her this morning. Hopefully, by this afternoon, I’ll have some answers and some peace of mind.

I’m worried about my girl, y’all. I’m scared that something might be wrong.

If you’re the praying type, please keep Isabella in your prayers today. If prayer isn’t your thing, please send some positive thoughts and good energy her way. She—and I—could use all the support we can get.

Thank you.

Isabella Update

First, thank you to everyone who kept Isabella in your thoughts and prayers this morning.

Other than screaming the entire way to the veterinarian’s office and the entire way home, Isabella did great at the clinic. The veterinarian examined her, took x-rays, and said everything looked good. They also checked her teeth and gave her a thorough examination. From all appearances, she is in excellent health.

The diagnosis is asthma. The vet is treating her with steroids and antibiotics, and they are optimistic that this treatment will resolve the problem. They also drew some blood for testing, but those results won’t be back until Monday. I decided to go ahead with the bloodwork so that we would have a good baseline for her health moving forward.

The most encouraging thing the veterinarian told me is that once she completes this treatment, she may never have another asthma episode. If it does become a recurring issue, there are inhalers available that can help manage it.

Needless to say, I am greatly relieved. After worrying myself sick for the past couple of days, it was wonderful to hear that my girl is otherwise healthy.

At the moment, however, Isabella is not nearly as happy with me as I am with the veterinarian. She is currently home, resting, and making it very clear that she has not forgiven me for today’s adventure.

Thank you again for all your kind thoughts, prayers, and positive energy. They mean a great deal to both of us.

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Facing the Day Centered and Ready

This morning, like yesterday, I took some time to slow down before starting the day. After breakfast and coffee, I spent about thirty minutes meditating. I know today is going to be stressful because of a meeting I have later this morning, but I wanted to begin the day centered and calm rather than anxious and rushed.

The meeting will require me to strongly advocate for my point of view. That is not something that comes naturally to me. I can be outspoken when I need to be, but it is rarely comfortable. Thankfully, I know that at least one of my colleagues feels the same way I do, so I won’t be alone in making the case. My colleague is generally more outspoken than I am, and that support is reassuring.

For now, though, I feel relaxed, focused, and ready to tackle the day. My in-office workweek is already half over, and I hope the next two days pass without too much stress. One thing at a time.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

P.S. The photo above also reminded me of something. A few years ago, there is no way I could have comfortably sat like that. Since losing weight and becoming more active, I can. It may seem like a small thing, but sometimes the little changes are the ones that remind us how far we’ve come.

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I Know Someone

I Know Someone 

By Mary Oliver

I know someone who kisses the way
a flower opens, but more rapidly.
Flowers are sweet. They have
short, beatific lives. They offer
much pleasure. There is
nothing in the world that can be said
against them.
Sad, isn’t it, that all they can kiss is the air.
Yes, yes! We are the lucky ones.

About the Poem

There is something wonderfully simple and joyful about this poem. In just a few lines, Mary Oliver takes an ordinary human act—a kiss—and compares it to a flower opening toward the world. The image is tender, sensual, and alive with warmth. Flowers, she reminds us, are beautiful and fleeting, offering pleasure simply by existing. Yet they can only “kiss the air.” Human beings, however, are given the extraordinary ability to truly touch one another with love and affection.

What makes the poem especially moving is its sense of gratitude. Rather than focusing on loss or longing, Oliver celebrates the gift of connection itself. “Yes, yes! We are the lucky ones,” feels almost like a whispered prayer of thanksgiving for intimacy, companionship, and love. It is a reminder not to take those moments for granted.

For LGBTQ+ readers, the poem can carry an even deeper resonance. Much of queer life has historically involved hiding affection, denying love, or being told that certain kinds of love were somehow lesser. Oliver’s poem quietly rejects that shame. Love is natural. Affection is beautiful. Human connection is a blessing. The poem delights in tenderness without apology.

There is also something deeply hopeful in Oliver’s words. Flowers bloom briefly, but while they are here, they are radiant. Human lives are also fleeting, yet we are capable of giving and receiving love in ways that transform us. That, Oliver suggests, is part of what makes life sacred.

About the Poet

Mary Oliver (1935–2019) was one of America’s most beloved poets, known for her deeply observant writing about nature, spirituality, love, and the human experience. Her poetry often explored the sacredness of ordinary moments, finding profound meaning in birdsong, forests, rivers, and quiet acts of affection.

Oliver won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and became widely admired for poetry that was accessible, emotionally honest, and spiritually reflective. Many readers found comfort in the gentleness and wisdom of her work.

In her later collections, particularly Felicity, Oliver wrote more openly about love and intimacy, drawing inspiration from her decades-long relationship with photographer Molly Malone Cook. These poems carry a warmth and tenderness that continue to resonate strongly with LGBTQ+ readers and anyone who has experienced deep affection and companionship.

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Pride Month Begins 🏳️‍🌈

Happy Pride Month!

Today marks the beginning of June, a month that means many different things to many different people. For LGBTQ+ people, Pride Month is a time to celebrate who we are, to remember those who came before us, and to recognize how far we have come. It is also a reminder that the journey toward equality, dignity, and acceptance is not yet complete.

For me, Pride Month has never been about believing I am better than anyone else. It is about rejecting the shame that so many of us were taught to carry. It is about recognizing that we all deserve to live authentically and that there is nothing shameful about being who we are.

Pride Month is often about letting go of fear—the fear of rejection, the fear of judgment, the fear of being told that we are somehow less than who we truly are.

Pride Month is also a time to remember those who fought for the freedoms many of us enjoy today. It is a time to honor those who lived openly when doing so carried tremendous risks, and those who never had the opportunity to live openly at all.

As June begins, I hope this month will be one of joy, reflection, community, and love. Whether you attend a Pride event, fly a rainbow flag, spend time with friends, or simply take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come on your own journey, I hope you find reasons to celebrate.

Happy Pride Month, everyone. 🏳️‍🌈

Love one another!

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