"When there was room on the ledge outside of the pots and boxes for a cat, the cat was there - in sunny weather -- stretched at full length, asleep and blissful, with her furry belly to the sun and a paw curved over her nose. Then that house was complete, and its contentment and … Continue reading THE ETIQUETTE, ETHICS AND EMPATHY OF SAYING GOODBYE TO A PET: IN MEMORY OF MAXX (2008-2020)
Out of curiosity, I decided to see how challenging it would be to dress our loyal and long-suffering -- and did I mention gorgeous -- cat, Mendy (short for Mendeley) in fancy bridal duds (veil and garter) -- to test his reactions as a potential member of a wedding party. This was just an experiment in connection with today's topic, but it resulted in Mendy's thorough disapproval, as noted by his expression in the portrait above; I'm not sure if that's because I dressed him as a bride (that's all that was handy from our daughter's childhood bridal teddy bear set) or just the whole idea of expecting him to engage in such a venture! I showed my gratitude for his (very brief) cooperation by bribing him with his favorite treats, and realized the only way I would have a prayer of luring Mendy down the aisle in an actual wedding would be to scatter catnip instead of rose petals. And, even then he might decide to roll around in it rather than proceed with dignity in the processional.
Airline Travel Etiquette
Although airline travel has become increasingly complicated and challenging, it is also increaslingly popular this summer and flights are crowded. You can expect delays due to weather, equipment issues, flights backed up and other conditions.
The formula to make your air travel as pleasant and efficient as possible is: preparation + good manners = successful air travel. The following tips will help your travel to be safe and enjoyable:
Fourth of July Barbecue Etiquette
For many Americans, nothing says summer has arrived like a Fourth of July celebration. Roughly two weeks following the summer solstice, The Fourth is a great marker for the seasonal passage.
There are many ways we Americans celebrate The Fourth. Among the favorites is the barbecue; following are some etiquette guidelines to make them even more enjoyable:
On The Road – The Car Trip
In addition to crowded beaches and long lines, traveling to one’s vacation destination can test the mettle of the politest among us. Many road conditions are simply out of our control, but how we behave and react to them is most definitely within our control. That’s where etiquette for the road comes into play.
Don’t Forget to Pack Your Manners
Everyone looks forward to summer. Regardless of whether you have plans to go away or not, the nature of summer seems to slow time and evoke a feeling of being on vacation if only on the weekends. With its warm weather, sunshine and evenings fragrant with honeysuckle summer sets the stage for cookouts, picnics, trips to the beach, lighter clothing, relaxing evenings and a drift toward leisure time. Summer is vacation time because for many it’s the most convenient time of year to take off time off from work.
In Memory of
Bogie 'Woof' Nelson
2003-2012
Etiquette, Ethics and Empathy for Our Animal Friends
This past weekend, my family and I lost a beloved pet. We had to make the difficult decision to euthanize our adorable, funny and affectionate male cat, Bogie – AKA Woof -- whose progressive disease finally left him crippled, in chronic pain and unable to walk without great difficulty, despite his medications, home therapy and tons of TLC. But, in the midst of our grief we had the most extraordinary experience.
