WordSisters

Don’t Open The Brown Paper Bag Next To The Ice Cream

Elizabeth di Grazia

February 11, 2016
“You’ll take care of the body?” she asked gently.

“It’s going next to the ice cream in the freezer,” I told her.

She chuckled.

I had thought about putting our cat Angel in the shed until the ground thawed out. But that seemed insensitive and physically too far away until she was put to rest in our backyard. Of course, I could have had him cremated. But I didn’t want to. Yes, cost was part of it though I didn’t even look up how much it was. More than that, it seemed weird to have one animal cremated and not the rest.

Yes, we have a few animals buried in our yard. I should ask for a discount from MN Pets – our go-to place for euthanizing an animal in our home. They do such a good job at it. Angel will make it one dog, four cats. MN Pets sends us a Christmas card each year.

With Angel’s departure we are now at our city’s limit for how many animals residents can legally have — five total. We have two four-legged cats, one three-legged cat and two dogs.

Though I did tell Buddy, our dog, that if he wasn’t careful, I’d make it a twofer. The vet wasn’t sure what to make of my joking.

She didn’t know that we had been waiting for Angel to die for a long, long time. He was the energizer cat that went and went and went for 18 years. I’ve never had a pet that lived that long.

Angel was my buddy. He’d meet me at the door when I came home from work and come sit with me every morning. He was MY cat.

R.I.P. Angel

He was also the reason we had so many cat brushes around. That was our time together. I told Angel, that I would know it was his time when the day came that he didn’t want me to brush him. And, sadly, that day did come.

I made an appointment with MN Pets for a Monday so all of us could have the weekend with Angel. I quickly changed it to Saturday when it became clear that waiting for Monday wasn’t the loving thing to do.

Angel isn’t the first animal I’ve kept in the freezer until the ground thawed. And, he may not be the last. What else do you do in Minnesota when a pet dies in the winter? Thankfully, we have small dogs. A German Shepard or full grown lab would take up too much room.

Having the cat in the freezer is working out okay. It just freaks out Antonio and Crystel’s friends when they tell them not to open up the paper bag next to the ice cream.
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Humor, pets
4 responses to “Don’t Open The Brown Paper Bag Next To The Ice Cream”
1. Eliza Waters
  
  February 11, 2016
  
  Oh, dear, so sad to say goodbye. 😦 But he is still around at the same time, I guess. I can’t imagine how tough that must be for you. I think you are very brave.
  1. Elizabeth di Grazia
    
    February 14, 2016
    
    Thank you Eliza for always reading and posting. Happiness, joy, and sadness mixed together.
2. Carol
  
  February 11, 2016
  
  I am so sorry Angel is gone. Hugs, my friend.
  1. Elizabeth di Grazia
    
    February 14, 2016
    
    Thank you, Carol. Sadness and joy together.
L O V E was TATTOOED on his RIGHT KNUCKLES

Elizabeth di Grazia

February 4, 2016
H A T E on his left.

“Do you have any questions?” I asked him.

“Yeah,” he paused. “What’s this ‘no loose jewelry’?”

I shut the new employee production orientation guide.

The manufacturing company where I work as a Human Resources Manager is a packaging manufacturer. We make paper and plastic bags. On the plant floor, hairnets are mandatory. Another rule is no rings, loose jewelry, or loose clothing.

He added with dismay, “My dad made me take my nose piercings out and they have already closed.”

Large black circles were stretching his earlobes. He had post piercings under his lip.

“Usually, the Production Manager, decides what’s acceptable,” I said. When I saw the look on his face, I quickly added, “But, since that’s your dad, I’ll have the Quality Manager come down and look at you. She’ll tell us what’s okay.”

He sighed with relief.

“I’ve got long hair but I keep it under my stocking hat.”

“When you’re around the machines you need to keep it tucked in. Just like if you’re wearing a hoodie you can’t have the strings dangling. It’ll pull you into the machine,” I warned.

He shuddered. “I need to use my hands to do crafts.”

While we waited for the Quality Manager he told me that he would be turning 19 next month. This was his first manufacturing job. He wanted to make sure that he understood the rules because he wanted to do everything right.

“You need to be here on every scheduled work day,” I said. “No lates, no absences.” I repeated again for emphasis, “You have to be squeaky clean for your first 90 days. Is there anything you have scheduled?”

He thought for a moment, then said, “I’d like to have February 14^th off. I’m old fashioned like that.”

I shrugged. “Fair enough. I’ll make sure they have it down that you are approved for that day off.”

The Quality Manager came in the room. She looked him over.

“What other piercings do you have?” I asked. Then I shook my head quickly and put up my hands. “I don’t need to know about any of the piercing you have under your clothes, just what would be showing.”

“I have a piercing on my eyebrow that I’d like to keep on if I could,” he said. He pulled out an Altoids box and opened it. He reached for a straight pin.

The Quality Manager asked him to put it on. She studied him for a moment, then determined that it wouldn’t be in danger of falling into a machine and that his safety glasses covered the piercing.

She explained that it wasn’t just about the piercings falling into the machines but also the customers that came through the plant.

I spent 5 hours in orientation with this new employee. He changed me. If I would have passed him on the sidewalk – he adorned with his tattoos and piercings and dressed in all black – I would have been anxious.

But this young man was courteous, respectful, caring, and wanted to present his best self. Underneath all the ‘stuff’ he was gentle.

I told his dad the next day that sometimes it takes a few years for our outsides to match our insides. I know it did for me.
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employment, Personal Growth, Tattoo
3 responses to “L O V E was TATTOOED on his RIGHT KNUCKLES”
1. passthebubblewrap
  
  February 11, 2016
  
  I’m 42 years old, a primary school teacher and have lots of tattoos. The ones on my forearms are very obvious. Sometimes the art is to hide the real scars. Cheers, Jo. X
  1. Elizabeth di Grazia
    
    February 14, 2016
    
    Thank you, Jo. I hear you. Been there myself.
2. Eliza Waters
  
  February 4, 2016
  
  Great post, thanks, it speaks volumes.
Why I Don’t Hate Minnesota Winters

Ellen Shriner

January 27, 2016
There are lots of reasons to hate Minnesota winters: endless discussions of windchill (Really, people?!? I’m already wearing all the clothes I’ve got. There isn’t more I can do. Stop talking about it. Please!) Crusty black snow clumps on my tires. Slippery-road roulette. Trudging with shoulders hunched and body braced to withstand the wind, to name a few. But I don’t hate our winters. To me, they’re refreshing. Seriously.

Very few aspects of modern life make us aware of our animal nature. The change of seasons pulls us back, reminds us that we’re participating in a cycle that’s bigger and more enduring than the words and images scrolling across our screens or appearing under our clicking fingers.

I’m not some cheery winter sports enthusiast who can’t wait to ski, skate, ice fish, or snowmobile. I don’t do any of those things. I might snowshoe if the sun’s out, the wind’s down, and it isn’t too cold, but otherwise, forget it. I’ll spend as little time outside as possible.

What’s winter’s big attraction?

To me, it’s a time to slow down, renew, and turn back toward health. After the excess of the holidays—too much good food and drink, too many incomplete To Do lists, and general year-end bizzyness, it feels good to do very little. To pull on thick wool socks and silk long johns. Make chili. Binge on Netflix.

I feel virtuous exercising. Eating crisp salads and savory vegetable soups have their ascetic charms. I’m restoring my body’s balance.

Winter is also a time to turn inward and refocus. I’m an optimist and like the idea of starting fresh every year. What do I want to do and be? How can I shuck off the stupid stuff I do and spend more time doing what I care about?

Recentering leads to other improvements—reading the books I never get around to (burrowing under an afghan with hot tea . . . or a hot toddy to make a dent in The Brothers Karamazov). Making sense of my sweater shelves.

Winter is also home improvement season. Better to paint the living room in the dead of winter than to waste a sunny June weekend on that. This year, I’m researching landscaping options since our shabby deck may get turned into a patio come spring. Winter is also a good time to tackle big projects like making a quilt. Weeks go by as I complete the many steps.

I do like winter, but by mid-March, my strategies are wearing thin.

Although the sun rises at 6:30 a.m. (at least it does before Daylight Savings Time toys with the clocks), the alley’s nothing but rutted ice. Crusty gray snow piles line the sidewalks and roads. I’m sick of keeping track of gloves and clumping around in boots. Tired of brushing salt dust off my coat. Hot cocoa and crackling fires hold no allure. If I never see a shovel again, it will be too soon.

I’m. Just. Done. But winter isn’t.

Then it’s time to escape. I consider spending ridiculous sums I can’t afford to just see the sun and walk outside without my down coat. Escape to Puerto Vallarta for just $759? SURE!

When reason reasserts itself, I go to the Como Park Conservatory instead. Inside, the air is humid and HOT. Birds are chirping. It smells like dirt and growing. Like life. Tulips, hyacinths, Asiatic lilies, and azaleas are blooming in glorious profusion. The whole world isn’t dead.

There’s hope. By late March melting icicles begin their steady drip. Water rushes under skim ice on sidewalks, begging to be crunched. Winter will actually end. Maybe by April 1^st. April 15^th for sure.
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9 responses to “Why I Don’t Hate Minnesota Winters”
1. passthebubblewrap
  
  February 11, 2016
  
  Loved this post. As I live in Melbourne, Australia, I have only ever seen snow twice. Your words gave me a sense of comfort and peace. Jo. Xx
2. Lynne
  
  January 28, 2016
  
  Nice post–although this winter seems easier to take since there hasn’t been all that much windchill. Nevertheless, the Conservatory photo made me smile.
  1. Ellen Shriner
    
    January 29, 2016
    
    Thanks! This certainly has been a different winter–warmer and cloudier–but I’m OK with that.
3. Cathy Madison
  
  January 28, 2016
  
  What a sensuous — and sensible — analysis. I suspect you have lots of company.
  1. Ellen Shriner
    
    January 29, 2016
    
    Thanks! Most Minnesotans probably give winter a lot more thought than people who live in milder climates.
4. Pam
  
  January 28, 2016
  
  Great post! Didn’t make me all that homesick for Minnesota, as we’ve had so much snow and ice in northern AZ this winter. But I do like making soup, and I do like warm socks.
  1. Ellen Shriner
    
    January 29, 2016
    
    Thanks! It does seem like winter is going faster. Can’t believe it’s almost February!
5. Eliza Waters
  
  January 27, 2016
  
  Great piece, Ellen. My tolerance of winter has increased in recent years, I think due to the fact that time seems to go so much faster with each passing year. I know I’ll blink and it will be spring!
  1. Ellen Shriner
    
    January 29, 2016
    
    I know what you mean–feels like I’m living a lot of my life in fast forward!