Traditions

  As Jordan and I made our morning rounds, taking the used kitty litter out to the garbage, picking up the newspaper from the cold driveway, and heading out the front gate to pick up the mail from the box along the road, we heard the voices of excited children calling to us: “Doc Chery! Doc Chery! Do you want a bird house Doc Chery?” 

   The tiny voices of the youngsters from across the street echoed through the neighborhood as they scampered toward me from their house. (Sounds echo more these pre-winter solstice days what with our huge old neighborhood lots and the trees all but denuded of their leaves.)

    “They made bird feeders and are wondering if you would like some.” Their mom translated.

   I nodded my head in appreciation as I made my way across the road to greet these enthusiastic designers who were now running full tilt from their front lawn across the side yard, their prized bird feeders gently swaying from their tiny hands. I looked down at the youngsters as they stood eagerly in front of me holding up their prizes.  

“Oh wow kids did you make these?” I smiled enthusiastically examining the bird feeders carefully. 

    They appeared to be twine wrapped around something round, then peanut butter covering the twine and bird seed rolled on to the peanut butter. 

   I immediately thought of a delayed project dear friend and teacher Susan J T had given me the idea for- the precious star bird feeders her husband Richard used to make. My goal has been to get some of my own made and hanging from our front porch in time for our solstice and remembrance of life celebration this coming Friday evening. It is to also commemorate the life of that precious human and artist Richard Cabe. We will be doing our personal solstice celebration rituals and include the star bird feeders and luminarias with special messages for Richard this year to coincide with the memorial celebration going on across the country in Salida, Colorado. How wonderful! I thought- we can add this to the celebration- these special bird feeders made by the young artists.  I knew Richard Cabe and Susan J T would appreciate that.

    “They’re a bit messy I am afraid” continued their mom from just off their front porch. 

    "Wow I think these are absolutely awesome guys!!” I replied, truly honestly, enthusiastically.

      As I looked into their excited faces they began their story of this winter holiday project and it was obvious their mom was continuing a family tradition.  “We sure did make them Doc Chery- we sure did! It’s for the birds’ winter treats!”  replied Haley with four year old enthusiasm bubbling over.

     “They can be your Christmas present from us!”  chimed in Dillon her five year old brother with a huge grin proud of this clever thought.

     “Well these are most excellent Christmas present kids. Miss Maria will be so thrilled to see them too! I thank you very much."

  

 "Does Danny thank us too?" Haley asked looking at the grinning Jordan aka Joey Daniel aka Danny (Jordan, my old Tennessee Blue Tick hound mix is a dog of many names); she now stood across the street still behind the gate smiling and wagging her tail enthusiastically at the kids.

    “Why I believe she is thanking you and the birds will be thanking you too Haley- I will hang them right there along the front porch by the other bird houses so you can watch them from your swings."

    I pointed to the overhang of our beautiful old fashioned, wonderful southern-style front porch, raised above the yards and comfortably settled with various chairs, rockers and a bench for seating and visiting.

  The overhang sprouted numerous bird houses and wind chimes in a homey country way that pleased the eye and warmed the heart. My front porch was one of the big selling points when I bought this house nearly a year ago.

  They nodded their agreement that this was indeed a good placement as their swing set is in the yard across the road from our front porch and since our home is on a bit of a rise from their yard, it provides a wonderful vantage point for watching the activities at the bird feeders and also of the critters at Doc Chery's house.

 "Baby Aggy can watch from her front window too Doc Chery!" Haley nodded wisely.

“Yes she can – indeed she can Haley!"  I laughed as they knew well Aggy’s favorite perch for watching the neighborhood going-ons, and barking her excited comments about, was from atop the parson's table in the big front window.

    “Don’t let Smokey Blue or White Kitty get the birds though Doc Chery,” the little girl worried. (Smokey Blue is my only kitty who still manages to on occasion sneak a walk-about outdoors and White Kitty is their big white kitty who worries me with his lackadaisical wanderings in the busy streets in the neighborhood.)

    ”Well if they did, then Doc Chery would just fix 'em up Haley- that’s 'cause she’s a critter Doc!” her big brother Dillon rationalized. 

    I looked into those little faces and reassured them as I thanked them once again for sharing their bird feeders with me. “I will make sure the kitties stay away from the birdies. Thank you kids and Merry Christmas!!” I walked carefully back across the road to where Jordan waited at the gate- likely hoping i was bringing back something edible.

   “Bye Doc Chery! Merry Christmas to you too!!” they cried in unison as they scampered off back to their mom and into the house to start yet another holiday tradition project.

“Look Jordan, these are seed treats for the birdies.”  I explained as she nosed them carefully as i locked the front gate. “Let's go hang them up.”

 Jordan ran up the porch steps and stood wagging and watching as I hung the bird treats along the overhang near the other bird houses- for Jordan is always enthusiastic about doing anything outside with mom.

   We hung them up and then I looked across the street and waved at the little faces beaming from inside their kitchen window. They waved back still grinning and jumped down back into the kitchen to continue their holiday making with their mom.

Holiday traditions…that is truly what this season is all about. Kids and moms and sometimes dads making things like winter solstice bird feeders, holiday cookies, special decorations to hang on the tree or send off to grandmom. Holiday traditions celebrating the season's change, bringing some light and warmth to the increasing dark and cold as we end the year.

May your holiday season and solstice celebration be filled with new and old traditions, warmth, light, love, and the peace and joy that the winter season brings~

From our home to yours: Blessings, Light and Love,

Doc Chery and the critters

Doc Chery's Blog: Cleaning My Desk

Doc Chery's Blog: Cleaning My Desk

Cleaning My Desk

I never really understand how my desk gets so messy....
well OK maybe i do, especially when i am traveling a lot
but of late i have NOT been on the road and my desk still has gotten out of control messy....

But cleaning it off is a fascinating adventure of discovery

i begin by creating piles on my side work table
i have a pile for each magazine- so far we have
   Country Living
   Coastal Living
   Martha Stewart Living

hmmmm, guess i want to live.....

and there is
   Veterinary Practice news
   Lab Animal

and of course
   High Country Times

the other piles grow at varying rates:

a pile for coupons
 that was fun going through...discarding the expired ones that never made it into the file folder in the car is sad though :<

a pile for check stubs and deposit slips (always too few of those)

a pile for bills (always too many of those)

then there are the scraps of paper with notes and phone numbers...hmmmm what does that say? who the heck is that???

but a truly special find was a simple post-it note from a recent surprise stop over i made in Houston and spent a wonderful night visiting with my precious oldest daughter and two oldest grands on which my grandson had written "I love our family"

simple notes
bring happy memories
and smiles

May all your cleaning projects bring joy to you ~

Thanksgiving

I find myself in a blue funk this holiday weekend, Thanksgiving 2011, and am trying to learn from it.
So far I have learned it does not help to chide myself with you are so much more fortunate than others lectures. What has helped however is simply allowing it to be- to accept it and listen carefully to myself as i try to analyze the whys and wherefores of this funk.
I know one thing is a simple money issue- never seems to be enough.
And the business issue- doesn't seem to be moving fast enough with the new programs as i wanted/expected
And family-I miss my girls and my grands like crazy- was hoping to have my youngest grand at least for the holiday week.
Feeling myself slip into this blue funk I tried to alleviate some typical stressors like missing the games the big plays while cooking- I did that by cooking on Wednesday instead of Thursday
I shopped early and frugally- thinking I was alleviating another stressor- although at some point i realized i really enjoy that camaraderie of holiday meal shopping- it is i feel like going out to harvest- the old fashioned way where neighbors helped neighbors get in the crops- i love it- and that in fact helped me get out of the funk a bit.

I was excited Maria would have one whole day without work- only to have it interrupted by her having to be online to deal with morons on her sports board- i truly do not get it- adults, supposed adults- so wound up in college sports games that they live and breath gossip and game info and practice info and who does what when and how and their analysis and criticisms and absolutely vile personal attacks- i truly do not get it so stay far far away from them and these odd message boards they have for sports- I am however ticked off when they interfere with what i thought was a strictly family day- a day for sleeping in, watching games, enjoying our leftover turkey.

I am very fortunate and kept telling myself that I have no right to be in a blue funk- especially as i consider the sadness some of my friends are facing....

I have one friend who is sitting vigil as her precious life partner dies- that's something to be in a blue funk about

I have another friend who is mourning the loss of her precious beloved fur partner as she gets ready for serious personal surgery herself- that's something to be in a blue funk about

I have another friend who is going through a vicious divorce and wondering how much damage this will do to her child when all is said and done- thats something to be in a blue funk about

Dog forgive me for being in a blue funk- especially when I have so much to be  thankful for:

I am thankful my friends understand that some days even I get down

I am thankful for  my wonderful family and friends who understand i abhor the commercialization of the holidays- and refuse to partake

I am grateful that my knees are healing and i will once again be mobile- some do not have that chance

I am eternally thankful I own my own business and have only myself to account to- well and of course my board members who try to keep me on task

I am very thankful to be alive....18 years ago  that Thanksgiving was very nearly my last

I am thankful for readers who write me notes and encourage me to keep writing

I am thankful for my writing colleagues who never hesitate with a word of encouragement or to tell me something simply isnt working

I am thankful and it is OK to have an occasional blue funk time....after all it is all good fodder for writing

Blessings to All of you this Thanksgiving


Chery

Days Labor

This Saturday of Labor day I am mindful of many other Labor Day weekends, and find myself at a very peaceful place in my life. 


And while at peace I am able to look back at other holiday weekends and take a lesson from my reflections....I remember the stress of trying to plan  get-togethers with family and friends, especially with one partner who preferred to live in an alcoholic stupor. I remember family time which was always the best (in spite of weird pathological partners). I remember the joy of  the birth of my first grandchild - Annie - almost 17 years ago in Augusta, GA and watching the fireworks from the hospital window with us telling her 'these are to celebrate YOU Annie' tender moment indeed ~

But as I reflect on Labor days past I again thnk about how this weekend will be one of the calmest quietest happiest Labor day weekends for me- well perhaps not too quiet from 6-9 pm EST as my beloved Vols play their opening game. I know I plan on being in my recliner in front of my large wonderful TV watching and cheering and singing Rocky Top while Toby Bear howls in chorus and Jordan brings a toy over in celebration of what she considers her song (we used to sing it to her when she was a puppy as "Rocky Jo").

But yes it will be a quiet peaceful contentment-filled happy weekend for me- One where i can play the usual weekend catch-up on tail ends of writing projects and prepare for my workweek and travels coming up. One where I can give the house a good weekend cleaning then enjoying it while watching football. It will be a weekend of  cooking but also ordering pizza  and enjoying working in the garden setting up the fall plants and new raised veggie garden. One where I can watch SEC football and feel that southern pride and sing college songs with great enthusiasm. It is one where I can feel part of a group yet blissfully at home with my partner Maria and all our fur kids.

  I was thinking about this peace i feel this morning and wanted to take a moment to look at it, think about it, in order to honor it and preserve this feeling. I believe this peaceful feeling is primarily because I am feeling so comfortable in my own skin these days. I am very happy  about where I am in my life's work, and looking forward to what the future holds. I  feel  at peace in a way I have never felt before in my 58 years  because I have found my rhythm, my true balance of all the things I love and made them into my work. That is I have found my "Right Livelihood".

I write
I teach
I speak
I consult
I heal
I listen
I hear
I see
I touch
I heal

I heal me and that enables me to help others heal themselves

I write, I read, I learn and I teach

I am at peace

I wish for all to reach inside of yourselves and find your right livelihood

That is your ultimate healing gift to yourself

Blessings Dear Friends and may you all have a Happy Labor Day Weekend~

Chery

Miss Aggy Sits Shiva

Miss Aggy is a sweet little dog with an interesting and sad history. Her name is really an acronym designed by my two oldest grands: Annie and Garrett. Her name stands for:

Annie and Garrett's Gentle Youngun'

Aggy's story begins, at least with us, on a desolate highway in middle TN. I was returning from doing some equine work on my horses while they were staying at a friend’s ranch. As we were driving home on this hot and blistering summer day I spotted a critter laying in the highway- I thought at first it was a dead deer in the road- but then it moved- I quickly glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw no cars or trucks behind us and slowly pulled over to the median. I told the grands to stay put- gram needed to stop and check it out as this is what I do (I am a veterinarian by training) I heard my grandson say "Gram its coming towards us around the back of the van" I thanked him and sure enough here was this limping little dog coming toward me. I made a quick assessment and decided to see if she would let me lift her into the van (all the while praying oh please don't let this be some wild critter who will attack the grands) This pup let me lift her in spite of all her wounds - including a huge gaping chest wound, and i laid her on the floor of the van- I incidentally keep the middle two seats tucked into the body of the car so i can more easily transport things like feed, supplies and critters- the back bench seat is up for back passengers (at the moment that was my grandson Garrett) or for my Carolina dog Chipper Cheyenne) The pup laid on a towel i put down for her and my grandson proceeded to comfort her- She was dehydrated, starving, full of ticks and with many wounds both brutal and frightening- What was especially unreal is Aggy was only somewhere around 3 months old.

As we got back on the road the kids started thinking of names- and they came up with Aggy.

Well it has been about a year since then and Miss Aggy has grown healthy and strong and very very happy- In fact we nicknamed her Wags because that little half tail (yes someone had chopped her tail) that little tail does not stop wagging!

Until the other day...Aggy was doing her usual romp through the yard barking at the squirrels she chased from branch to branch fence to fence- it was a game she loved and i think the squirrels enjoyed it too. I was busy working in my office listening to the barks- and then suddenly there was a different very distressed barking and howling coming from Aggy as well as Chipper Cheyenne our Carolina dog. I jumped up and ran to the front door and out to the front porch- where i saw the pup at the gate howling and barking- and Chipper running back at me with the bark that said "hurry! Do something!"

I looked to the street and saw what was distressing them- a squirrel had been hit and killed by a car/truck i don’t know what- i went down to the gate where Aggy stood whining and staring at the squirrel- i held her close and talked gently to her telling her it’s ok Aggs its OK, she whimpered some more but leaned into me- never taking her eyes off of the squirrels dead body- i heard a truck coming down the road and it was a city worker tree trimming truck- they actually are great friends with Miss Aggy who watched as they removed some trees after one of our storms- the fellow - one i didn’t know- stopped short of the squirrels body and got out, picked him up and flung him up into the truck of tree debris- Aggy watched carefully and finally looked at me- I told her that was OK Mr. squirrel was going to go to the compost pile by our community gardens and that was a good place for him to go. Aggy stared after the truck which was now departing down the road.

I tried distracting Aggy by taking her for a walk around the yard. I pointed out a different kind of bee than our usual one- actually what i said to her was "well Aggy I am not sure who this little guy is but I bet our Susan J Tweit would know! Aggy wagged her little tail a bit at that- she is used to me talking about our story network friends the Susans A and T- I talked to Aggy about pollinators as we watched the industrious bee do its thing- Then we walked around and watched some birds running back and forth to their nest in the bushes and talked about the babies and how maybe it would be a good idea not to eat anymore birds ... Aggy then came inside with me where she laid down under my desk and simply looked sad....later that afternoon she was back out in the yard when my partner Maria came to me and said I think your dog is Jewish (She was smiling as we often talk about my heritage and life choices as a Jewish Irish Buddhist). I said oh? She said yep Aggy is out at the fence sitting Shiva- and sure enough there was little Aggy sitting and staring at the spot in the road where the little squirrel met his demise.

Aggy spends less time at the gate these days and is back to playing with the squirrels. she is also distracted nicely by her dog friend Ace - an 18 month old border collie- who comes over to play once in awhile while his mom goes to work at the local shelter- but every once i awhile I catch Aggy's sad look- and i will continue to hear that pitiful wail- Miss Aggy of the gentle heart-

So this story of Aggy sitting Shiva will be part of a children's book on the gentle little dog who is my precious Miss Aggy- thanks to a wonderful suggestions by one of the "Susans" - Susan J. Tweit- it is good to take sad events and make them teaching moments- i am after all a teacher and a writer- but most of all i am deeply touched by this little dog who has seen so much, and experienced such brutality in her first months. And the gentle soul that she is touches me but also teaches me daily.

Chery

Healing Waters

I stood for a long decadent time under the gentle spray of the shower this morning just closing my eyes and feeling the warmth, the healing power, of water. I admit I did think of how wasteful I was being especially when there are so many without clean safe water to drink right now, let alone the luxury of standing under a warm decadent shower head.

I then thought about the healing nature of water. My chiropractor said it best: "whatever ails you throw water at it". If my joints ache i know i am not drinking enough water. If the edema sets in, especially after a long drive, i know i simply need to go sit in a pool, lake or tub and let nature do its thing to readjust those electrolytes moving and those tissue fluid compartments in balance once again .... all the while drinking plenty of water of course.

I know in my animal patients the most important thing is to keep them hydrated- nothing will make a critter go down as fast as dehydration.

And then I thought too of the many other uses of water:

Cooling of nuclear reactors- on all of our minds these days

Hydration of growing crops- especially as e plant our gardens with the arrival of spring

The simple act of purification- for example by its distribution through soil and sediment layers for "decontamination"

The all important mix in so many chemical and biochemical reactions

Water is life- simple statement and yet deeply meaningful

I love water- water to me is my favored drink- my drink of choice especially at meals. I love to swim in water, lay in water, play in water...love surfing, swimming, boating- anything water related. I love simply being around water- walking along the river, the lake, the streams, the ocean....side note no one could believe i would ever leave my pacific coast as i am such a water baby- so needed my ocean- amazing though how the waters of eastern TN heal me too- and the Smokies especially center and heal me....)

I spent most of my adult years in the water poor western states...surrounded by ocean and lakes yet always under water conservation. I was used to of course the outward water conservation ideas but it took my youngest grand to teach me even more about conservation and respect for our planet and her resources. and thanks to my youngest granddaughter Cassie it became more so even in the simplest personal tasks- i remember this tiny California native standing on a little stool to brush her teeth before bed when she was visiting with mom and dad and her reminding dad to put some water in her little Dixie cup so she could use that for dipping her toothbrush and rinsing her mouth- her eyes got huge when i let the water run at the other sink- i learned quickly though and thanked her for teaching me that-

So much so that when i moved to the Smokey Mountains of eastern TN i was surprised to learn there were no restrictions on water use. What you can flush at will? Water lawns whenever? No one looks twice if you wash your car in your driveway?? Hmmmm truly a very different world than what i was used to .....

yet water conservation is still a part of my life...so this morning as i stood under the wonderfully healing and refreshing waters of my shower i did feel guilt...and was thankful that i was able to take those selfish extra few minutes to reflect and meditate while under the healing stream of water.

Chery