Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Favor For Dorothy?



A few of my long-term readers may recall some stories I did concerning Dorothy, a self-professed "crazy cat lady". Aside from being any cat's best friend, she is also my cousin (second cousin, twice removed, as I recall, though neither one of us is quite sure what we were removed from and why.)

(She made that joke the first time I met her, when I was a kid. I always loved it.)

If you never saw the stories, or would like to see them again, here are some links (as opposed to lynx, which would be another type of cat altogether.)

Dorothy

Dorothy & The Cats - An Update

Another Visit With Dorothy

No sense putting off the bad news.

Dorothy is on her last legs.

I can say that here, without fear of her reading it and flipping out, for two reasons. First, she uses a computer about as often as I use an abacus, which is to say never. Second, she knows her situation.

She's had various forms of cancer, of various things, for quite a while now, years. I mentioned that in the first story about her, written some three years ago, and it hasn't cleared up since then. So, now she is even thinner than she was then, and she is in an actual hospital bed. She has expressed the thought that she will not leave that bed. As I understand it, it was said without acrimony, without a flood of tears. It was a statement of fact, from a lady of intelligence.

(Yes, I said "As I understand it". I haven't been able to visit her. I've been hideously ill with a flu of some sort. Still am, at least to the extent that my visiting a hospital would result in me being responsible for offing scads of patients by the mere act of my coughing on them. So, all I know about Dorothy at the moment is via hearsay from My Uncle Jimmy, who has been to visit.)

Anyway, getting to the point here - and about time - Uncle Jimmy says Dorothy's face lit up when he and John, his partner, showed up. They were the first visitors she had had in the week or so she had been there.

(I'll get there as soon as this flu clears totally, but that may not be for several more days given the way I feel.)

She has now been there two weeks or more, and all she's likely gotten in that time is a card I sent her. Not much, by any means, and especially for such a nice woman.

So, I'm here to ask you to please send something to Dorothy. Anything. A little card, a note, just some things to let her know that she's still alive.

You don't have to act like you know her (unless you feel you do, from the stories) and you don't have to say that you're sure she'll be up and running around soon (because she knows that bullshit.) Just the act of getting the mail (or whatever) will be something nice to help her through. A Bible verse wouldn't be out of place, as she has been a daily communicant in the Catholic church. Cats are near to her heart, of course.

Anyway, if you feel like it, it would be a nice thing.

Here's the place to send stuff:

Dorothy Luffe, Room 103
c/o Milford Care & Rehabilitation
10 Veterans Memorial Drive
Milford, MA 01757-2900


If you do, Thanks! Time is of the essence, as you might imagine.

I owe you one.

Soon.


29 comments:

silly rabbit said...

I love cats too. Sadly I can't have them where I am now. But anyone who loves cats... and my own kids used to tell me that I will end up as a crazy old cat lady... must be a great kind of gal. Sound like she has a great sense of humor too. I have a box of greeting cards and I'm sure that I can find something in there to send her. I'll also pray for her to find some peace as well.

Suldog said...

Thanks, SR!

Jackie said...

Done.
Going to the post office now.
I am praying for her, Jim.

(not necessarily your) Uncle Skip said...

...and you wonder why folks gave you awards.

It's going out in today's mail... not an award, a card, to Dorothy.

CiCi said...

A note card is in the mail as I write this comment.

Suldog said...

Suldog - I realize I won't be able to stop by here and say an individual "Thank you!" to each of you (too much work to catch up on after - during - the flu thing) but please know that I appreciate every one of you, a lot.

Maggie May said...

Please don't give Dorothy the flu before I have a chance to send her card.
I think that is a lovely gesture.
God Bless you.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Chris said...

We're all over it.

Anonymous said...

I'm in!

Lisa Johnson said...

Feel better Suldog! I just took out the stationery and am looking for stamps!

Christina RN LMT said...

Done. I hope she can read my crappy handwriting!

Christina RN LMT said...

Done. I hope she can read my crappy handwriting!

Anonymous said...

You try hard to hide it, but inside you're pure sugar, and we're all onto you. I'll have a card in the mail tomorrow. Get well!

Jeni said...

Jim - I remember quite well the stories you posted here about Dorothy and I think this idea, this gesture of yours to help cheer her up is a magnificent thing. I'm not promising anything at the moment -just that I will try to remember to get a card for her -and that being said (remember my ability to remember all kinds of things I need to do or should do, etc, is at times very limited) I hope I will remember to do that tomorrow -or rather today I should say because tomorrow is now today judging by the clock on my computer!
And I agree with the comments here wholeheartedly about you and the things you try to achieve -very notable for sure so don't go trying to act the curmudgeon -at least not on this one cause it just ain't gonna fly, my friend!
Now, remind me about noon tomorrow to pick up a card for Dorothy!

IT (aka Ivan Toblog) said...

I'd say Uncle Skip's got it pegged pretty well. I figured out what I like about your posts. Even when you write about yourself you aren't the focus of the story.
If I didn't know better, I'd give you the One of a Kind award... again.
I know. Make a copy. Blow it up (like size increase). Then give it to Dorothy and tell her it's from me. She's another 'One of a KInd.'

Miriam said...

So sorry to hear this. The card is on the way. Glad to see you back!

Suldog said...

Again... Thanks, Folks!

Sandy Kessler said...

I asked her to pray for my cat who just got out of the hospital Friday Mello

Michelle H. said...

Will soon something ASAP.

(no, I'm not calling you "a sap.")

Buck said...

I'm in as well.

Daryl said...

A card with a photo of our cats, Jack & Rose, will be sent to Dorothy tomorrow .. tonite I'll make the card

Shrinky said...

Bless your heart Jim, of course you can count me in! xxxx

messymimi said...

Wanted to wait to comment until i could say "Done!" and now i can.

Anonymous said...

Just put a card in the mail. (It didn't help that they closed the satellite post office near my office.)

I told Dorothy nice things about you, and how you've said nice things about her, so it's nice all around.

Cricket said...

So glad I stopped by. I will see what I can do.

You're a better man than I, Gunga Din. I mean that.

Pearl said...

I'd be pleased to send her a card. I quite like her, from what I've read, and have a soft spot for the pleasantly bright (that's both of you...)

Will send it off today.

Pearl

Tux said...

A hand written letter with a very amusing anecdote is on the way from Canada.

Thanks for letting me help.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jim, I have been a long time fan and you have made me smile so many times. I will have something to Dorthy today. You are a sweetheart. Debra Dickinson

Clare Dunn said...

So nice of you to help us be nice. i think you are officially my hero...