In 1988, I was a very busy Mother of 4 young children and one soon to arrive. I was a stay at home Mom and enjoyed what I did. There were not many dull moments in the house and very few restful periods. Steve worked at a fire protection company as their bill collector, although I am sure it was a loftier title than what I just gave it.
The weather was nice in Houston for the most part. We enjoyed many warm, sunny days that we spent at the beach. We had our share of cold weather but nothing that lasted much beyond 48 hours. I can remember it snowing one morning and we all ran outside to write messages to family in New York on the window of the car. We then took pictures of it to send to our families in New York. Does anyone remember the days of developing film?
We also enjoyed several hurricanes that brought about its share of flooding. I think flooding was the most fun for the whole family. If it flooded bad enough that meant that Steve had a day off work and the kids had a day or so off of school. Steve and some neighboring guys would end up in a field playing football in the rain, mud and flooded fields. The kids would dance in the rain, splash in the puddles and tube down the ditches. We even had hurricane parties that were always memorable.
My children also loved to have pets. We had turtles in the bathtub. Steve rescued a cat named Sam, short for Samantha. She was in love with me. I think everytime I was pregnant, so was she. We had puppies and dogs. I tried my hand at breeding Cocker Spaniels. So with the brood of kids, I always had a brood of animals to contend with also.
Sam had a litter of 9 kittens in the Spring of 1988. Sam decided the safest place to give birth was in Steve's closet. Poor Steve - he had allergies to cats but he was a trouper and put up with them since they made his kids and wife happy.
It was a weekday, most likely a Wednesday because I remember that to be one of the busiest days of the week. Wednesday night, we had a quick supper and then we went to church for AWANA. The kids came home from school and I dealt with their little dilemmas that they had encountered. I had supper on. Shawn came running in from outside where he was telling me how the girls were chasing him. While being chased he had a tumble in a puddle. It had been a rainy week.
I knew that I was pressed for time, so I told Shawn to take his jeans off and I would dry them so he could wear them to AWANA that night. I threw his jeans in the dryer along with a damp pillow. I gathered the kids for supper and we ate. Steve came home and he grabbed a bite also. Beth and Kelly excused themselves from the table to get ready for AWANA. Krystal, my ever present "helper" was assisting in smearing what she refused to eat onto her tray and bib and face. Such a precious cherub.
Shawn appeared in his He-Man underware and asked about his jeans. I said that they should be dry and went to retrieve them. I opened up the dryer and reached around and felt this large fluffy item. I pushed it aside and finally latched on to his dry jeans. He hurried and dressed and we were on our way to church.
We came home from church and got the kids settled for bed. I finished up dishes while Steve picked out a movie for us to enjoy. I then remembered I had things in the dryer and also needed to do some laundry. I went out and reached my hand in the dryer and came upon that fluffy item again. I pulled it out and there was a set of eyes starring back at me. I had dried a kitten. I felt like a murderer! I WAS A MURDERER! I cried and Steve laughed. That poor kitten and what he went through. Bumping around in the dryer on the "HOT" setting. I had nightmares about what that poor thing went through.
The very next morning I told the kids why there was one less kitten and that he had been buried already. I took the kids to school because Shawn could not ride the bus due to some unruly behavior. The kids were sad about the kitten but I was sure by the end of the day they would have put the memory aside. NOT SO QUICK!! Life is always an adventure with me and my kids. I pulled back in the driveway with Krystal with me. I noticed something weird in the driveway.
I got Krystal out of the carseat and went around the van to inspect the cement. I had done it again. I WAS A MURDERER OF GIGANTIC PROPORTIONS, well at least of small fluffy proportions!! I had backed up over a kitten and smooshed it. More trauma! I rushed in to call Steve again with the news of yet another death. More laughing. So there you have it. Another tale in the life of this busy Mom/Murderess.
Always Smilin',
Dianne
Phil 4:13
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