Hello,

[solitary]

Dear Solitary,

It's a pleasure to meet you here. Living in an urban environment, many times I long for a life like yours. In the crowded modern-day cities life can be even more solitary than in the country. And I wish I could enjoy the real company of all those little and fascinating animal beings.

Thanks for being as you are and for joining us.

It wasn't always this way, my rather idyllic lifestyle. I worked in hospitals and for municipal government for decades, and spent very little time at home. After I retired my husband's mother became terminally ill, and I spent long stretches of time with her in San Antonio, which is a long way from my little farm, and most definitely urban. Two months after she died my husband found out that he was terminally ill with the same disease (colon cancer, sorry about this negative thing here). Then he died two years ago. So that was a lot of, I guess you could say, service for others that I tried to do honorably.

Anyway, this present circumstance is somewhat of a respite where the 'others' are my companion animals, who also require care. But I must say, the affection and kindness I have received in turn from humans and critters have greatly softened the memories of sadness and hardship, and helped me to realize many needful things. On this day of snow and cold and remembering, I am most grateful to you all, my fellow travelers, for your warmth and friendship. May you be blessed.