Haze

I took these at the beginning of November when I was on my way home from the valley that lies about a mile (5,000 feet) below, under the haze in the first photo. I wish I would have taken some photos when I was down in the valley; it's amazing how different the clouds look when viewed from below versus being directly across from them.

Of course, when I was down in the valley the clouds didn't look as spectacular; because of the haze I couldn't see clearly.

I suspect we all have our own particular 'haze' that obscures our vision of some things and keeps us from seeing clearly. Obviously, some hazes are more damaging than others; the haze that misogynists, racists, and religious fanatics view the world through comes to mind.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all get rid of the haze?

Passages, Fear and Hope

My sister's husband passed on November 5th. They had been married for over 50 years. I've been staying with her since his passing. Today I had to return to my home. Well, actually she kicked me out saying "Honey, you need to get on home. Your husband's retired and a man with too much time on his hands...well there's no telling what he might get up to!" Still, leaving her today was one of the hardest things I've ever done. She's alone in a huge house in the middle of acres and acres of orange groves. I've done what I can to make her safe; had a state-of-the-art alarm system installed in the house and on the grounds, along with new security lights all over the place. She's in her very late seventies, but still REALLY feisty and can shoot a single leaf off a tree from one hundred feet away.

I want, of course, for her to be around for many, many years to come. I fear that this passage from her old life to a new one may be too hard for her to navigate. I hope that I'm wrong.

The Masters

I said "no" to more fish treats because I felt Opie Furgus, Chieftain of the Fuzzy Toes Clan, had eaten enough. This is the look that he gave me. Yikes!

Cats are the masters of the dirty look. Not even Sister Mary Meaner Than Mean (a fictitious name for a real nun at the Catholic grade school I attended) could top this look, bless her heart.