About $2100 and counting.
Yes, you read that correctly. Those of you with pets will probably have your own story about the “vet bill that grew and grew”. Those of you without pets are probably thinking we’re insane.
What motivates me is to think of the day I brought Zack home from the animal shelter, all of four months old. I promised myself I’d take care of him for as long as he still had the fight in him.
He is still fighting.
Two days ago, his fur was matted, greasy and he could barely sit up to greet me. Today, his fur is soft and fluffy, and he was standing up and eating when I first saw him.
I hope to have him home by Tuesday. Him and a big box of needles and insulin. God help me. I’m afraid of needles and now I have to jab my cat with them twice a day, every day, for as long as he lives. If you see me, and I have scratch marks all over my arms, don’t ask.
I may not get those new glasses I wanted, and I will have to cut way back on my spending for a while, but it will be worth it. I’m not ready for him to go, and he isn’t either.
What is One Life Worth?
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Our Vacation, Part One
‘Tis the morning after our vacation, and all is quiet in the house. The only sound I hear is the sound of giant trucks doing some sort of construction (shouldn’t there be a rule that they can’t do this before 8am???).
The nicest thing is that I feel. . .relaxed. This is an odd feeling for me, especially after vacation since I usually come back exhausted and a bit frazzled. What is my secret?
1. We drove, and didn’t try to fly anywhere.
2. We stayed in a condo, which meant I could cook dinner, make coffee whenever I wanted it and do laundry a couple of times during the week (I realize this doesn’t sound relaxing, per se, but going out to dinner with three kids under the age of 6 is NOT FUN; plus the laundry thing makes it easier now that we are home).
3. We stayed in Vermont—land of beautiful mountains, friendly people, clean air and great local beer. Here is where we stayed, specifically.
4. The girls could participate in ‘camp’ any day they chose. I realize this isn’t for everyone, but it was wonderful for us, especially Belly who would’ve ditched us to join camp for the rest of the summer, had we let her.
If there was a downside, it was that we spent a lot of money, probably as much as our honeymoon, although we now had three kids and my mom with us. There were ways we could’ve done it for less, but I didn’t figure this out until we were there. So, I learned that I should explore options besides those presented in the shiny color brochure.
I also learned a bunch of other things about my family—but, more on that later. Right now, I want to go outside and listen to the birds (still audible beneath the din of the trucks) and pretend that I’m looking out at huge green mountains.
