RELIGION DOESNT MATTER...PEOPLE DO

THE LAST CHRISTMAS

by Michael Segal
Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace and joy on earth -- a time of giving and of "warmth." Many celebrate the day, the birth of Jesus, at church, followed by a sumptuous meal and then by opening gifts that are under the Christmas tree. Still others celebrate the day by volunteering, helping those who are less fortunate, at various food banks, shelters, or hospitals. I will never forget one specific Christmas. I work at Memorial Hermann Hospital, primarily in the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Being Jewish, I also worked at other locations of the hospital that day so that my Christian coworkers could spend time with their families at home on Christmas. Walking through the large hospital I saw many sad families in the many waiting rooms that day. I could imagine them all screaming, " What kind of Christmas is this? Spending it at the hospital?" However, as I knocked on Room 623 on the oncology floor, I met Mrs. Hunter and I soon learned that everything is relative. "Hi, my name is Mike Segal from Case Management. Is there anything I can do to help you? May I come in?" I asked those questions to an 87 year old cancer victim who, according to the chart, would soon be transferred to a Hospice so that she might live out the remaining weeks of her life more peacefully. Mary, her daughter, said, "Please come in." As I entered the room, Mrs. Hunter uttered in a soft hoarse voice, "I still need a straw." Mary quickly explained, "They delivered this Ensure (a very high caloric and vitamin drink) for mom but they didn't bring a straw. We asked the nurse for a straw a few minutes ago, but this is Christmas and I don't know when the nurse will bring it." I excused myself and rushed down to the cafeteria where I grabbed a handful of straws. Knocking on the door again, I was greeted by Mary's huge smile as she saw what was in my hand. "Thank you so much. It seems so small, but for mom the straw is such an important thing," Mary said as she put the straw into the Ensure that her mother quickly began drinking. Mary then wished me a Merry Christmas. "May y'all have a very peaceful Christmas too," I said as I started to leave. "Before I go, is there anything else I can do?" With those words, the 87 year old Mrs. Hunter quickly asked in a soft voice, "Can we sing some Christmas carols?" The question startled me. Besides, I wasn't sure if I knew the words to any carols. However, I quickly replied, "Of course, I'd love to." Mrs. Hunter automatically started singing, "Jingle Bells, Jingle BellsS" and I quickly joined in, followed by her daughter Mary. Mrs. Hunter then started, with Mary and myself, singing two other Christmas songs. Some Jewish people might be asking, "How can I, as a Jew, sing Christian songs?" However, for me the answer was crystal clear. Judaism believes in the sanctity of life. If I could do anything to help Mrs. Hunter enjoy her last Christmas, I was going to do it. The preservation of life takes precedence over everything else in Judaism and "preservation of life" may be interpreted in many different ways. That day I interpreted it as bringing a smile to the face of a dying woman. As we concluded our songs, Mary, with tears in her eyes, said, "Thank you so much. God bless you and Merry Christmas." "Merry Chris tmas to you and your family as well," I replied, feeling the true spirit of the holiday's season.

RELIGION DOESNT MATTER...PEOPLE DO

THE LAST CHRISTMAS
by Michael Segal
Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace and joy on earth -- a time of giving and of "warmth." Many celebrate the day, the birth of Jesus, at church, followed by a sumptuous meal and then by opening gifts that are under the Christmas tree. Still others celebrate the day by volunteering, helping those who are less fortunate, at various food banks, shelters, or hospitals. I will never forget one specific Christmas. I work at Memorial Hermann Hospital, primarily in the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Being Jewish, I also worked at other locations of the hospital that day so that my Christian coworkers could spend time with their families at home on Christmas. Walking through the large hospital I saw many sad families in the many waiting rooms that day. I could imagine them all screaming, " What kind of Christmas is this? Spending it at the hospital?" However, as I knocked on Room 623 on the oncology floor, I met Mrs. Hunter and I soon learned that everything is relative. "Hi, my name is Mike Segal from Case Management. Is there anything I can do to help you? May I come in?" I asked those questions to an 87 year old cancer victim who, according to the chart, would soon be transferred to a Hospice so that she might live out the remaining weeks of her life more peacefully. Mary, her daughter, said, "Please come in." As I entered the room, Mrs. Hunter uttered in a soft hoarse voice, "I still need a straw." Mary quickly explained, "They delivered this Ensure (a very high caloric and vitamin drink) for mom but they didn't bring a straw. We asked the nurse for a straw a few minutes ago, but this is Christmas and I don't know when the nurse will bring it." I excused myself and rushed down to the cafeteria where I grabbed a handful of straws. Knocking on the door again, I was greeted by Mary's huge smile as she saw what was in my hand. "Thank you so much. It seems so small, but for mom the straw is such an important thing," Mary said as she put the straw into the Ensure that her mother quickly began drinking. Mary then wished me a Merry Christmas. "May y'all have a very peaceful Christmas too," I said as I started to leave. "Before I go, is there anything else I can do?" With those words, the 87 year old Mrs. Hunter quickly asked in a soft voice, "Can we sing some Christmas carols?" The question startled me. Besides, I wasn't sure if I knew the words to any carols. However, I quickly replied, "Of course, I'd love to." Mrs. Hunter automatically started singing, "Jingle Bells, Jingle BellsS" and I quickly joined in, followed by her daughter Mary. Mrs. Hunter then started, with Mary and myself, singing two other Christmas songs. Some Jewish people might be asking, "How can I, as a Jew, sing Christian songs?" However, for me the answer was crystal clear. Judaism believes in the sanctity of life. If I could do anything to help Mrs. Hunter enjoy her last Christmas, I was going to do it. The preservation of life takes precedence over everything else in Judaism and "preservation of life" may be interpreted in many different ways. That day I interpreted it as bringing a smile to the face of a dying woman. As we concluded our songs, Mary, with tears in her eyes, said, "Thank you so much. God bless you and Merry Christmas." "Merry Chris tmas to you and your family as well," I replied, feeling the true spirit of the holiday's season.

Sasha and Drago's kittens

Introduction

My Kittens

I am the proud mom and slave of.... two solid Persian cats:

"Madam Sasha Le Noir Reyes-Avila &
Purrinlot Monsieur Drago Le Blanc"

Sasha is Black with a chocolate undercoat on her belly, her eyes are ligh cooper, almost gold, and she is quite smaller than the regular Persian. Her daddy was a Himalayan Champion Show cat and her mom a solid black Persian, Southern Bell from Surfside - SC

Drago is a solid White Persian with dark - large cooper eyes, from Hampton - VA, he has a Pedigree that can make jealous any royal family around! , his dad was a National Winner, Grand Region Champion : GRC, NW Purrinlot Majestic Kiss"Kissed by God" a.k.a. Majestic a c.e.white - masking bi-color ( too much for just a cat!) and Drago's Mom was Bonnie Blue, a bi-color white and blue, another gran champion cat and blah, blah, blah ( we'll get in the whole pedigree deal in a different post)

They are my companions for almost four years now and I am their faithful slave. S&D are very cute, extremely spoiled, smart and they love to travel with me, that is unusual for cats but they are just great at airplanes and cars. They live in my suit and sleep by my side, wherever they feel confortable over the bed or wherever they want, you just never know with cats! They do not have access to the rest of the house because their hair gets all over, they are mischievous, curious and sometimes quite stinky; so I figured out that they can have all the master suit, closets, bathroom and laundry room just for them while I keep the rest of the house as a No-No-No zone; unfortunately, they do not understand No-No-No and I have found myself running up and down stairs trying to catch them). Everything around is set to give them comfort and a pleasant time.

When we go to Myrtle Beach, where we have a one bedroom condo, well.... it is their condo, they own it and they walk wherever they want and I get just a little space on the bed where I can crush on every night.

I wonder sometimes how is possible that I can be so vulnerable and aloud my cats to take over my heart, my property and my life, but after all the unconditional love and companionship they give me ... It's worth everything for me. They are the sweetest thing I have and their loyalty and love is my strength.

That's why I decided to star writing about my kittens, besides that I need to practice my English writing, I am horrible with grammar but I am trying to improve it on my own! , I am toooo proud to ask for help, but I surely accept all the help and suggestion that people gives me around. I think I am doing quite well because no one ever taught me how to write or read English and even when I went to an American School in Bolivia , I only learned the basics and a some vocabulary... Not enough to keep a two minutes conversation for sure!

Welcome to my kittens world, at this post, I include their pictures taking their afternoon naps.

CBRA