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Heart! ~ If you are not a subscriber and this has been passed on to you, join us by sending a blank e-mail to four_ears @ msn.com (remove spaces) with "subscribe" in the subject line. And get the love direct! Tour our web site: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001 ________________________________________________________ "Hold a true friend with both your hands." - Nigerian Proverb ________________________________________________________ Folks, give a big hug to a "Stories of Heart" newcomer: Marjeana Martin! For all you animal-lovers, this should be a special treat! Thank you, Marjeana, for a heart-tugging story. ________________________________________________________ OLIVER A tiny little twist of orange fur stared at me with big golden-green eyes. I was in the office alone at an animal rescue shelter. A cat family in a very cramped cage had just arrived at "The Treasure Ranch," a place where people drop off their unwanted pets. The owner tries her best to give these forgotton lives a home. My sister works there as a pet groomer, and I am her frequent ride. Many times I've stood in the cat pen, looked at animals I know will not find homes, and cried. You find a variety of different personalities. They're ones that come up to you and cry, hoping you can help, some that are angry, some shy that hide under the bushes, and some just lay indifferent along the sides and stare at you. I call it the pit. It's smelly (probably can't help but be) overcrowded, and sad. I know the owner does her best. Before the orange twist of fur was put in the pit, I took him home. I couldn't help it. I already have two cats, all I thought I could care for, but I did anyways. I agonized for days wondering if I should have. With food, immunizations, and kitty litter, I was wondering if I had taken on more than I could handle and if my new addition would compromise the quality of care my other cats could receive. The new kitty didn't have it easy. My female cat would walk up and smack him. Strangely enough, she didn't make him feel welcome, so mostly he hid for the first few days. It was my male cat that took him on as a companion. He washed him and tried to carry him around. Peculiar, I thought. Chester had never made friends, even with his siblings. Boots, my female, Chester's grandma, was the one I thought would be friendly. Every time I would pick him up I couldn't believe how tiny he was, just weaned. He always hissed until I got him into my arms, then he would forget his fright and relax. I named the twist Oliver. As the days passed he became more and more at home. Every morning I cleaned up his little messes of flowers pulled out of pots and tissues torn up. He has never made a bathroom mistake even though he could barely climb into the box. He really has been no trouble. I bought him an elaborate play toy. The kind that has carpet on it, different levels, and balls hanging everywhere. Boots doesn't smack him anymore, Chester has stopped trying to carry him around, and he is rotten. I often think about how he doesn't even know about the pit and how he narrowly escaped it. When I first got him and he would hiss, when I picked him up, I had a fleeting thought of how a night in the pit would make him happier to be here. Wonder if God thought that a stay down here would make us happier to be in heaven? Marjeana Martin BlueAngelBabie @ aol.com Copyright © 2002 by Marjeana Martin. All rights reserved. _________________________________________________________ QUOTES FROM LESSER KNOWN PEOPLE Seven-year-old Cody noticed my bra strap. "Mom, why do you wear that thing?" "My bra?" "Yeah." "Well, it keeps my back from hurting since they're heavy." "You mean...from eating all those pancakes?" _________________________________________________________ FROM OUR FRIENDLY E-MAIL CARRIER In regards to "Peach Potpourri" by Aubrey Morgan (http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/081302.htm) OH Jennifer! Aubrey Morgan's story about her mom really hit close to home. We've known this couple for twenty or so years. This past year they celebrated their 55th anniversary. You should see the way they dote on one another. Seems their whole focus is to make sure the other is totally happy. He was fifteen when they were married and she seventeen. I just have to write about it soon. - Thanks, Mark Crider _________________________________________________________ ON THE HOMEFRONT Today Cody and Ethan have begun the school year. Cody in second grade, Ethan in first grade. Ethan began the morning by wiggling his toes in my face while I put his socks on, the sillyhead. When Stephen picked up the boys, he had to wait extra long. Seems like Ethan thought he should have a bus ride home. They found him sitting on the bus, happy as can be. The sillyhead. This Saturday marks the second birthday for the baby of the family - Madison! Happy birthday, big girl! You know we all just adore you. _________________________________________________________ LOVE, JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY four_ears @ msn.com "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles my be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June 24, 1873 _________________________________________________________ This E-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but first ask the writer for permission before forwarding. Thank you for doing the decent thing! Ü ________________________________________________________ SUBMIT STORY, QUOTE, OR FAMILY LOVE MOMENT: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/submission.htm FEEDBACK: four_ears @ msn.com ________________________________________________________ |
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