Saturday May 9th~

Embrace the glorious mess that you are

 and remember, You are your best thing...

 Sniff and I made it safely to Branson.  Sniff was 

so good in the plane.  He hardly uttered a sound.  I was 

so surprised, but happy. When travelling with a pet one

 has to make the line to check in.  It took us two hours

 to just check in.  The airport was packed.  Hundreds 

and hundreds of people in tiny Punta Gorda Airport.

I was awake at 1:30 in the morning just to make 

sure Sniff did not suspect anything, that he ate and 

used the litter pan before we got into the Uber.  Sniff 

ate, and used the litter.  He's a really good boy. 

Once Arvid picked us up, he got very excited

 but was quiet throughout the remainder of 

the ride home.  As soon as we got home, Sniff

 wanted foodies.  He ate and within minutes he

 also used the litter pan again. Best lil boy.

Both Sniff and I were so tired. All we wanted to

 do was just have something to eat and collapse in

 bed. Arvid and I went out for lunch and once we got 

home all I wanted to do was absolutely nothing.

Within a few hours we look at each other and Arvid 

says to me,”I ran out of things to do.  What shall 

we do?”  Now I was even more tired. I said to him,

"how about we go out and meet up with Roger?”

  At that same moment Roget called Arvid to see

 if we were coming at the usual hangout.  Within 

minutes I got dressed again and off we went.  

I only stayed out an hour, came back home 

showered and laid down in bed.  Arvid stayed ou

t a little longer with Roger and some others. 

Sniff in the meantime made himself at home 

revisiting his favorite spots.  He sure remembers 

all his places. He enjoyed his first day stalking

 birds and just running up and down the steps. 

It was a perfect first day for Sniff and I 

back in Branson. The weather is just perfect. I

 can tell this will be a great summer in Branson. 

We already have plans to do a few things.  

The morning began beautifully with birds for Sniff 

and I.  We even saw our first cardinal.  Definitely

 as my mom said, "a good sign."  To all a happy day.

Life isn't as serious as

 the mind makes it out to be...

~Nadiya~

Friday May 8th~

As we count up the memories from 

one journey, we head off on another...

 Sniff and I are awake very early.  We have an 

early start and a lot to do.  Today we go to Branson.

  Arvid has already been there for a week, but due 

to several doctors appointments, we could not 

go with him.  Sniff always goes with me.

We woke up to a quiet and peaceful morning. 

 Peaceful until I try to get Sniff in his cat carrier. That

 in itself is a job.  Just have to give myself a lot of extra

 time for this.  Sniff is not easy to get in the carrier.

Travelling with Sniff is not as easy as it was.  He's now

 a little more difficult and if I am lucky he may not howl the

 entire trip.  That has become the norm. Only happens when

 we are in the plane, otherwise he is a well behaved kitty.

Sniff has been sniffing his carrier for days now.  

He knows something is going on, and he sure isn't 

 happy about it.  Soon time to battle with him.

To all a very good day.  Not exactly excited about

 the next few hours with Sniff in a plane, but looking 

forward to being home with Arvid.  We have missed him,

 at the same time I have really enjoyed my time alone.

Yesterday I was hoping to see Legacy before leaving.

  I went in the morning and afternoon.  She was not 

there, but in the afternoon I saw Newbie again.  They

 have food so they should be all right.  Yesterday I 

bought a lot of food both wet and dry for all the 

kitties and left it with Abe.  Abe also feeds them.

Being comfortable on your own is a superpower...

~Nadiya~

Thursday May 7th~

Go where you feel most alive.  Take 

only memories, leave only footprints...

 Sniff definitely knows that something is happening 

soon.  The suitcase has been out for a week now.  Just to

 get him used to it and to know that we are not leaving 

him alone.  Not sure he believes me. The other day I 

looked everywhere for him, could not find him.  I 

opened the suitcase to put something in it and 

there he was.  Napping so very peacefully in it.

My relaxed time is coming to an end for now.  Once 

we get to Branson I know Arvid has a lot going on and if 

all goes according to plans, we are going to be very busy 

in May.  I know he already made plans for us to meet 

with Russell and his girlfriend. I know Russell, but 

have not make Kate as yet. Looking forward to it.

Yesterday I spent the day with mom.  After my

 doctor's appointment mom came to our condo and 

from there we took off.  We started off with a

 little Cuban cafe con leche and goodies.

After that we took a little trip to the mall.  There 

was really not much we wanted, but always good 

to walk around a bit.  Browsing is as much fun as

 anything else. I enjoyed the time with mom.

After the mall I took her out to lunch at my 

favorite Indian restaurant.  So happens she and dad 

also like it there.  The food never disappoints. Dad

 is still in New York and will return later today.

The funeral for my cousin was on Tuesday. 

 Like everything these day, it was streaming live. 

I have never seen so much grief in one room.

  I felt it, and just could not stop myself from being

 engulfed in the grief as well.  I cried for a cousin

 I never met. I cried for a family, my family broken

 from so much heartbreak in such a short time. 

 I cried for me because right now I am also 

unsure as to what is happening with my thyroid

 cancer situation.  I cried because a beautiful

 19 year old, full of life is no longer here.

Mothers and daughters together are

 a powerful force to be reckoned with...

~Nadiya~

Wednesday May 6th~

Sometimes good things fall apart

 so better things can fall together...

 Yesterday before going to the doctor I drove by Legacy.

  I was so happy.  I saw that she was eating.  Yes, Cindy

 from our building gives her food every morning, but it 

just made me happy to see her.  I took a few pictures of

 her and left.  On my way back from the doctor I once 

again stopped by Legacy.  Of course I knew she won't 

be there, but I cleaned up the area and left fresh water.

I saw my endocrinologist, but as of right now I do 

not know where I stand in regards to my Thyroid Cancer

 situation.  My doctor said, "your body is not responding

 to the treatment."  She has requested to see me again in 3

 months rather than 6.  Once again I will be going through

 labs and another neck ultrasound among other things. 

Depending on the results, I may or may not need

 to do a biopsy.  Time will tell.  I was feeling a little down 

yesterday because Cancer has taken the lives of so many

 in our family.  Also it has really wrecked havoc in the lives

 of many friends.  So yeah, for a change I was angry.

I came home and went to lunch with Gail.  She

 chose the place and once again she drove. We 

had more time to chat yesterday and it was very

 good.  We both got a lot off our shoulders.

I ended the day mentally exhausted, but in many 

ways it was a good day.  Friendship does not go away,

 and sometimes just hearing a friends voice makes 

everything seem better.  Yesterday after a very long

 "break" I spoke to my best friend again.  Things happen, 

but true friendship will always find its way back.

Another busy morning here.  Soon heading out 

again to another doctors appointment.  Hopefully 

this one will give me better news/outlook.

The most memorable people in life will be the people

 who loved you when you weren't very lovable...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday May 5th~

 Never feel guilty for doing what's best for you...

Since Arvid is not home, I sleep with the 

bedroom shades up.  This way I never miss the first 

light of sunrise.  With Arvid the shades cannot be 

opened until 8am or later depending on when he 

wakes up.  For now I am enjoying the view.

Sniff knows something is going on.  He sees me

 and he runs like hell.  It's not easy travelling with

 Sniff.  Especially getting him into the carrier.

Yesterday Gail asked me if I would like to go 

to the beach with her.  Of course I said yes. FMB 

never disappoints.  And the day was beautiful.

I also went to the movies.  Arvid does not like this

 kind of movies so I decided to see it on my own. Not 

a good idea if you’re about to fly soon. I mean the

 trauma of the plane crashing into shark infested

 waters.  The movie itself was okay.  Not great. 

I got home and rushed to feed Legacy. She was 

not there, but Newbie was there peeking at me.  He’s 

 so cute. A little Sniff.  Big eyes always looking.

More doctors appointments today, but it also gives

 me a chance to go to Whole Foods which is close

 by to my doctors' office. All good here.  Since

 Arvid has been in Branson, Sniff has slept the 

entire nights close to me.  Love him so much.

As the new day begins, I look forward to spending 

some of it once again with Gail.  She's a widow. 

 She's Sniff's pet sitter and she's great company.

Do the best you can until you know better. 

Then when you know better, do better...

~Nadiya~

Monday May 4th~

 It’s not about when you wake up. 
It’s about who you wake up to be...

Most of yesterday was stormy, dark and dreary. 

I did go to feed Legacy in the morning; she was not

 there, but Cindy was there because Legacy had food,

 and she had eaten some of it.  I cleaned up and left 

fresh water and hurried back home. It was not really

raining, but it drizzled all the time. When I went 

again in the afternoon and she was there. 

As the new week begins I have a few doctors 

appointments to take care of.  I so tired of going 

to doctors, but I know I am better off than 

so many.  For that I am grateful always.

I had a very good time with mom and dad. 

 As always mom made a lot of food and I have

 enough to last me days. My dad is going to 

New York for my cousins funeral and flying 

right back home.  Wish I could have gone.

Sniff without knowing is getting ready for 

Branson.  I’ve already gotten him a self heating

 bed. He has already tried it out here at home 

so I know he will use it in Branson as well. 

Here he is loving his new heating bed.

The week will be quiet without Arvid. I for one 

know he’s very busy in Branson. He just keeps 

running around everywhere.  Glad he’s getting

 some of it out of his system before I get there.

Today is mine. Tomorrow is none of my business. 

If I peer anxiously into the fog of the future, I 

will strain my eyes so that I will not see 

clearly what is required of me now...

~Nadiya~

Sunday May 3rd~

Just watching my cat can make me happy...

 Every morning Sniff has this little routine.  He waits

 for foodies on his mat.  Depending on the time I will give 

it to him.  Then he goes for his water.  He really loves his

water, and for that we are happy.  Afterwards, he grooms 

himself and then meows loudly for me to brush him. 

 Everyday the same thing.  How I love my Sniff.

Yesterday I did a few things I enjoyed. Even

 bought myself a couple of things from the mall.

 After walking the mall for quite some time I 

decided to just have lunch at home, and to take a

 little outing downtown in the late afternoon.  

As always downtown never disappoints.

Once again Legacy was not there in the afternoon. 

 We had some tornado like weather.  The wind was 

so crazy everything was just blowing away.  This 

lasted less than an hour, but the skies remained

 very dark and stormy for the rest of the evening.

This morning the skies are still dark, but

 there is no wind as of now.  May take a walk to

 Legacy in an hour or so and hopefully she and 

Newbie will be there waiting for foodies.

Arvid calls me often when he's away.  He outlines

 his day (very cute) and what he plans to do.  After 

he had lunch he called and told me that as soon as 

he walked into the restaurant, the owner asked,

 "where is your wife?"  When he called before

 bedtime, I was watching TV with Sniff.  

Sniff usually gets very upset when we talk to

 someone on speaker phone.  Especially on 

Facetime when we talk to the girls or to Arvid's

 brother.  If he hears another voice he/Sniff will

 not stop meowing.  When we talk to each other 

Sniff is all relaxed and continues his nap.  When

 Arvid called last night, he talked to Sniff and 

like all our pets, Sniff just kept looking for him.

Yesterday a cousin of mine in New York died.  

She just turned 19 years old. CANCER seems to 

be "taking" too many of my relatives. Just 2 months 

ago another cousin, same family died of CANCER

 also in New York.  How does one family deal 

with so much heartbreak?  She was just a baby.

Today I go to mom and dad's for dinner. 

 Looking forward very much to that.  Wishing 

everyone a happy day and may you always

 find it in your heart to be kind to others.

Goodbyes hurt the most when 

the story was not finished...

~Nadiya~

Saturday May 2nd~

One of the most important secrets of a peaceful

 life is to live according to your own plans...

 Yesterday we all had a very early start of our day. 

 I woke up at 4am, Arvid at 5am.  Arvid had an early 

flight to Branson.  We got to the airport and I freaked out

 when I saw the hundreds of people in line waiting to be

 checked in.  I have to do this next week with Sniff and I 

sure did not like what I saw.  I now may need to be there 

at least 3 hours before the flight.  I really hate flying.

Even Sniff had trouble keeping his eyes open 😦

On my way back from the airport I just had to pull into

 a parking lot to check out the flower moon.  It was beautiful. 

 I did take a few pictures, not the best, but still I tried. My view 

of the moon was obstructed by fences and buildings.

Yesterday I had a quiet day mostly.  I did run around a bit, of 

course since I was up and about early in the morning I went and

 fed Legacy and I walked around the pool area in our building.  I 

had forgotten how beautiful and calming my morning walks by 

the pool were.  Because of my knee can't do them right now.

I am looking forward to quiet and peaceful day.  I 

will do a few things I enjoy.  Maybe treat myself to a nice 

lunch.  For the next few days I have no schedule. I am 

already very relaxed.  All is good here at home with

 Sniff and I.  Arvid is also good in Branson.

To all a very good day.  Saturday is looking good right now. 

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole 

day is the rest we take between two deep breaths...

~Nadiya~