Endings

After a beautiful end of summer weekend, the rain returned last night and this morning, off and on.  I got in a quick walk first thing, and then hurried back home because Jill and the kids had arrived.

We gathered to say goodbye to Tiny, Isaac's cat Sandy's little 6th kitten, who struggled for four weeks to live, but finally gave up.  They found the tiny kitten in the middle of Isaac's bedroom floor when they arrived home from the island last night.  Sandy had moved the rest of her litter under Isaac's bed, as if to protect the rest from the ills of the world.

 Tiny now rests in the back of the rose bed, under the protection of the spirit of Leo, Jill's long ago pet.

 We were all kind of sad as we went our separate ways. Jill and the kids had a busy day planned of shopping and organizing, this being their last day of freedom before school starts tomorrow.  I made a date to meet them at 3:30 in the afternoon to treat them to frozen yogurt before they went off to soccer practice.

Then Tom and I spent the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon working at our neighbor's house again.  We've just about got all of the donation items delivered or ready to deliver.  Tom has the hazardous materials ( household and yard chemicals) ready to take to the appropriate place when they open on Thursday.   The main living portion of the house is done.  The basement, garage and attic await a dumpster or whatever provision someone besides us will be making to take care of what is left - trash.  We'll spend some more time there tomorrow, and then our work there will be coming to an end.  Being neighborly has it's limits.

The kids were fine and all was well when we met up with them this afternoon.  The kids had helped their mom with a huge grocery shopping trip and other errands.  

Tomorrow it's back to school.  Summer vacation has come to an end.

Even though I no longer have to go back to work and school, this time of year always makes me a little melancholy.  Endings are hard.

And yet there are many new beginnings too. And continued fun for us retired old folks.  And a soccer match to go to at the stadium on Wednesday, and again on Saturday!  And the Seahawk football season begins this weekend!  And soon kid's soccer matches.  And, and, and....

And sunshine again tomorrow!