Ode to Oliver

remembering a special furry family member

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France

Ollie enjoying a cat nap.

The past several days have passed in a blur.

My emotions felt like I was riding one of those carnival rides - the specific one I am thinking of is called the Tilt-a-whirl.

Just for the record, I hate Tilt-a-whirls…

Back and forth, up and down…going around in circles…I think you get the picture.

Losing a furry family member can do that to your emotions.

---

I have described in past newsletters how much I have loved my pets over the years.

Each pet comes with its own personality and unique characteristics.

For me they have all been my companions, my therapists, my personal cheerleaders...I am sure many readers can relate.

My cat Ollie had his own unique personality, including ingesting inappropriate items such as socks. In February of 2025 he ended up having emergency surgery to remove one of those socks from his stomach and I felt very lucky that he was still here with me.

There is just something about sharing a space with another living creature that makes life a little less lonely…

“Cone head” Ollie recovering from emergency surgery in Feb. 2025

Oliver had a loving and quirky way about him. He enjoyed giving kisses and licking your fingers for as long you would let him.

He loved to snuggle in your lap and his body was like a little furnace giving off just the perfect amount of heat on a cold winter’s day…

He was also very curious. He learned to open sliding closet doors, bathroom drawers and kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, his curiosity came with a price.

He had a condition called pica, an eating disorder characterized by the persistent craving, chewing, and ingestion of non-food items, such as fabric, plastic, string, paper, or litter.

In Oliver’s case it was cloth or fabric items. It can be a dangerous, chronic condition often linked to stress, boredom, nutritional deficiencies, or underlying medical issues, frequently requiring veterinary intervention to prevent life-threatening gastrointestinal blockages.

One of my favorite sweaters after an Oliver encounter…

My apartment became a landscape desolate of soft fabrics and covered in child resistant latches. Shoes were put away so laces weren’t consumed. Coats were hung behind closed doors so they wouldn’t be gnawed on. I was always on “high alert”…anticipating what needed to be stored away from Oliver before I even used it…

But overall I didn’t mind because he was Oliver…and I loved him…

Despite my best efforts to keep him away from cloth, he would occasionally find something and eat it. Most of the time it would be thrown up and we would consider it a lucky break.

Last week, our luck ran out…

He found a small towel and ate most of it. When I discovered it under the bed, I knew there may be trouble and sure enough, there was.

This time the blockage was more extensive and went into the intestines themselves. I had to make an unexpected and deeply difficult decision.

There is a saying that goes, “know when to hold on and when to let go…”

Letting go was very hard but I did. Again…I am sure many readers can relate…

Oliver ended up being what I will call my “bridge” pet…He was there for me during some of the most difficult experiences of my life…and he was also there as a bridge to all of the good that has come since.

We were there for each other. And really, isn't that what makes all the love, and yes, even the heartbreak of loss, worth it?

I think so.

Thank you Oliver…for being the one and only you…

What do you think?

For information about why I started this newsletter, please go to the about section.

This week’s word is…

In honor of my dear friend and mentor, Sister Agnes, I am choosing to focus each week on one word.

This week’s word is Optimism.

“Optimism isn’t believing nothing bad will happen. It’s about believing in your ability to handle it when it does." — Mel Robbins

What can we do to spread more optimism in our world?

Tranquil Moments…

I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:

Photo by Jennifer Malphy.

This week’s Smile video…

Sadie, a massive dog who wasn't comfortable around men, was turned away by multiple shelters. Brian Myers gave her a chance. She saved his life. Steve Hartman shares their story in this week's "On the Road."

#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove

What I am reading…

This week I read Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas.

Here’s the Amazon description, “My name is Jose Antonio Vargas. I was born in the Philippines. When I was twelve, my mother sent me to the United States to live with her parents. While applying for a driver’s permit, I found out my papers were fake. More than two decades later, I am still here illegally, with no clear path to American citizenship. To some people, I am the “most famous illegal” in America. In my mind, I am only one of an estimated 11 million human beings whose uncertain fate is under threat in a country I call my home.

This is not a book about the politics of immigration. This book—at its core—is not about immigration at all. This book is about homelessness, not in a traditional sense, but about the unsettled, unmoored psychological state in which undocumented immigrants like me find ourselves. This book is about lying and being forced to lie to get by; about passing as an American and as a contributing citizen; about families, keeping them together, and having to make new ones when you can’t. This book is about what it means to not have a home.”

Podcast Picks…

Come hang with Amy Poehler. Each week on her podcast, she'll welcome celebrities and fun people to her studio. They'll share stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared enthusiasms, and most importantly, what's been making them laugh. This podcast is not about trying to make you better or giving advice. Amy just wants to have a good time.

Mind/Body connections…

Discover how 10-min of fitness & flexibility can help you reclaim your youthful strength and energy to get up and down from the floor… with confidence.

Comedy Lift…

I love to share funny cartoons or memes with friends and family. Who doesn’t need to smile? Here’s this week’s Comedy Lift…

Music Moments

Music inspires me in so many ways. I hope you will try out a free website called Radio Garden, which live streams thousands of radio stations from around the world - Enjoy!

Quote of the week

Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….

The Kindness Boomerang newsletter is a 2025 recipient of the Sunshine Blogger Award.