Hello Monday and Hello to all of you…………..SO – first of all what is SPARKS on Monday? “SPARKS” was started by Annie McGuffy of McGuffy’s Reader but ended when her blog was hacked some time ago. It was meant to be a way to start out each week with with a meaningful thought – something that spoke to each of us and hopefully everyone else who read it. Sometimes we need a little “spark” in our lives and these posts were meant to at least be a PART of that effort. Please feel free to post a SPARK of your own on your blog and let everyone know you have…….we get energy from each other that way.
Last week on Monday’s SPARK post I confessed that I’m recognizing (eek) that I am aging and maybe more quickly now than ever before. I think whenever I go to the doctor I tend to “refocus” on my body more and that’s when I realize that “I’ve Come A Long Way Baby!”………and hopefully have a long way to go. I had an eye appointment for the first time in a couple of years; partly due to Covid and partly because I wanted to find an opthalmologist closer to home – which I did – and I like her a lot. Anyway, she told me my cataracts are ready for surgery whenever I want to do that. I’ve had them for a while – terrible vision but I’m kind of “used” to it. I’m going to have that surgery after we take our vacation this Fall. THEN I had my 6 month physical with my primary care doc and told him I’m having a bit of a problem catching my breath lately on the stairs or walking up our hill in the front yard especially if I’m having to carry my boy Teddy the 23 lb. cat up the hill to bring him inside (when he doesn’t want to come inside). SO I have a pulmonary function test scheduled next month now too. Dermatology doctor and dentist are both in August as well. BODY MAINTENACE is time consuming! But as my SPARK today illustrates – our body is IMPORTANT……….maybe now more than ever!
Yep – that says it all right? Right! So I will not complain when I spent most of next month in physicians’ offices. It’s worth it. Totally.
TWO Spoiled Cats 
It is this age, we are like old cars, looking great, but all the parts need care. I read your blog just after checking the first two weeks of August, looks like yours.
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Well said Kristiina – !!!
Hugs, Pam
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Pam, all of these check-ups are important. But if you eat low-fat food, exercise and maybe let Teddy walk on his own, haha, you’ll be in good form. There’s an awful lot of butter in those bacon recipes, haha. And remember that a glass of red wine is essential for heart health! Woohoo.
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Yep – I eat better than Teddy would make you think! Red wine isn’t OFF the menu here either – oh yes – gets us through a lot! 🙂
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true.. we can not move to another one and we can not do diy projects, because we will look not good with duct tape efurrywhere…
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At least if we use duct tape they make it in colors now instead of DULL gray (oops…..not that there’s anything wrong with gray of course….) !
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That couldn’t be more true. Getting old is certainly no fun but it is part of life and we have to try even harder to take care of ourselves. I hope you have a fun vacation and I hope the surgery goes well.
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Thanks and I hope you, Rose and the kids have a good trip to W. VA!
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Thank you.
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Youth is wasted on the young! My biped says she’s only just beginning to understand that saying. 😀
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She’s a wise biped Clowie!
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Love the thought you gave us today, and boy, that’s the truth. The only place you have to live. In my work, we had intensive physical exams every year. The pulmonary function test was one of them. The first time I had one, I got tickled at the hose they handed me to blow into, and I couldn’t stop laughing. Laughing to tears rolling down my face. I told them between gusty laughter that it was like blowing into a vacuum cleaner hose. Just hit me funny. Took me several times if having to do it to finally not laugh.
XO Katie Isabella
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HAHAHAHA…..that’s hilarious – now of course I will think of this when I have my test………THANKS A LOT (tee hee) !!!!!!
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I LOVE that!! (Never thought about it that way!) Wishing you the best with all those appointments.
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I will be thinking about you when I spend most of August and September in Doctor offices… Ha! I hate going to the Dr. I feel like it is a test and I never do well on tests. Your Spark is so true… my body, it’s all I got!!!!
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Oh I hope you do well too – things seem to become more frequent when we age don’t they. I keep thinking “didn’t I just go to the doctor for my checkup????” – every 6 months pops around QUICKLY. You must have a lot of stuff getting checked out girlie – glad you are taking care of yourself! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I agree. I will have to start with appointments again too.
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So very true!!!!!
The Florida Furkids
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Excellent spark. I will be praying your pulmonary test goes well. XO
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Jumpin’ Catfish that is an excellent Spark OMCs
Hugs Cecilia
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I liked yours too !!
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Sending tons of purrs and prayers that all goes well! My sister-in-law had the cataract surgery and she said her vision has never been better! There is no pain involved or anything! I have cataract issues too (and am overdue for a checkup), but he said I could wait to have them done (but that was over a year ago). Um, anyone carrying a 23 lb cat up the stairs would be huffing and puffing!!! xoxoxo
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I know it’s a chore having to transport Teddy but I really just want to make sure I don’t have anything brewing – like COPD. Good to have these things checked out – catching stuff early pays off!!!! I am excited about the cataract surgery – it took them long enough to “ripen” so I could have the surgery that’s for sure!!!!!!
Hugs, Pam
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You know I can relate, Pam. I honestly do not know how you can even pick Ted up. I cannot pick up my 19+ pound ginger boy, but then Coop is very squirmy. I am happy you are taking care of yourself. We all want you to be around for a really long time. Love and hugs, Janet
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I think (believe it or not) Ted has lost a couple of pounds but I guess we’ll find out when I get him in for his next shot before we go on vacation. He’s still an armful and will squirm to get down too which means (as you know) scratches or bruises for GOOD OLD MOM !!!!!
Hugs, Pam
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We were out of town this past weekend, but good to be back – although I hate hot and muggy. I know the feeling as we are at the age of gulping at the thought of an unexpected symptom leading to a test. Best of luck to you!
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I figure it’s good to listen to the little signals our bodies give us before they turn into BIG SIGNALS or a hospital stay! LOL Hope you enjoyed your weekend!
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I hear you very well, Pam! Our bodies need tons of TLC, the more as the years pile up…but for now, despite bumps and hurdles and a zillion scars to prove them…I am humming along, pretty well (oiled)!
I hope all your checkups and tests don’t give you more cause for concern. Sending lots of hugs to help you get through them with flying colors!
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Thanks Ingrid – you’re a sweetie……let’s hope we BOTH stay “put together” for years to come!
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That’s a great Spark! The Dad totally understands, he got new eyes/glasses, new dental implants, now hearing aids. He says he’s the 6 million dollar man, at least that was the price tag.
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Yeah that’s true – refurbishing our bodies as they age isn’t cheap but still better than the alternative!!!!! LOL
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Oh blerg! This Spark is very true, T. Your mama is taking her own advice right there. It’s smart to get ahead of whatever is going on, then there’s no rush to attend to everything at once. Good luck in all the upcoming procedures and tests. Mom and I said a prayer, so we know you will do fine.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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Thank your Mom for me please Cupcake and I thank you too!!!! I try to keep an eye on Mom – like I’m sure you do with your Mom – but humans can be a little stubborn. Have you noticed that?
Hugs, Teddy
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Good spark. My Dr just tells me to drink more water. Good luck with everything coming up. Enjoy your day.
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A lot of us live our lives NOT hydrating our bodies and it does cause a lot of problems….I’m guilty of it myself but I have tried to be better these last couple of years. I have a cup I keep with me at all times and when it becomes empty I try to fill it RIGHT THEN.
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That Spark is SO true…especially as we get older.
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WE are the only ones who can help ourselves when it comes to our health – well – doctors help of course but WE need to be tuned in to see changes!! 🙂
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Yes, we do have to look after our bodies. I do have to say that carrying 23 pounds of cat used to make me puff going uphill too!
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I’m hoping that I do have good lung capacity – I remember them testing that when I was in the hospital after the hip surgery but that was because of the anesthesia I’d had……I guess this will be an “off anesthesia” test to see how well my lungs are working. My sister has COPD and copes well with it but if I am starting to have yet another health problem, I want to address it EARLY! 🙂
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That’s a great Spark, and something we all need to pay attention to. Hope all the tests and visits go well.
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Thank you SOOOOO much! Me too!
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LadyMew sayss yore SPARK iss furry true. Shee did so much damage durin her teenss an 20’ss an even early 30’ss to her body….BAD ddamage an it led to sum of her purrmanent problemss now.
LadyMew treiss her best to get help butt our Meddycal System iss inn shambullss so LadyMew sorta lickss an stickss herself back twogether
free-quently!!! 😉
**purrss** BellaDharma an ❤ LadyMew
Pee S: Teddy yore a hunk a hunk of burnin ❤ Love ❤
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Morning! Glad you liked the Spark. All of us – kitties and humans alike – need to pay attention to our bodies as we only have ONE (well…kitties have nine lives but humans don’t!).
Hugs, Teddy
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LadyMew iss doin her best Teddy an Miss Pam. Too bad shee can not get propurr care here!
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The work you do now to keep your health will pay off tomorrow when you still have your health!
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I know that to be true…..I’ve always tried to “listen” to my body and I’m sure if not for that, I would have had a worse time with my cancer issues and other health “stuff” through these many years!
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Wow Pam you really have a good Spark today. This is just what I need to hear to take better care of my very own little body
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Glad it “spoke” to you! It sure spoke to me……..LOL
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These 50,000 mile check ups are a reality at our age, aren’t they? 😸 This month has several health appointments on the schedule for me too. *sigh
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We can get through our various “bodily checkups” – if they need tuning up, it’s best to do it early on anyway!!! Good luck to you……..Let’s hope we have lots of mileage left on our engines!
Hugs, Pam
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🤞🏼
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