One More Way to Make Me Lucky!

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats."*

A Colonial American Proverb

From Catman of Parliament Hill, Great Cat Stories, Roxanne Willems Snopek, 2004

It must be my lucky day when I found this unusual quote from the stacks of books I helped recycled.  Following what it was suggested in this old saying, now I get another excuse to make friends with "strange" or not too "strange" cats.

This old proverb also reminded me of a cat I used to know.

Many years ago when I was still in school, I had rent a room near where my school and work place were.  During those trying student years at the rental home, I made friends with my land lord's Siamese cat.  In countless evenings when I was studying at home, Junior, would come to visit.  But this noble cat in a smooth brownish fur coat was never a bother.  All I had to do for him was letting him sleep in one of the drawers of my desk.  So he could make up the beauty sleep he missed when patrolling the "Palace" during the day.  When the study session was over, so was his visit.

Now in retrospect, I think at that time Junior must be my much needed lucky charm that I did not know I had.  Instead of cat furs, Junior's nightly visit brought me a secure and peaceful feeling that I had never sensed before.  With him snoozing in my desk drawer near me, the soft and constant purring sound from that makeshift cat basket made me feel safe and not alone thousands of miles away from my home.  - Ayee

Keep Mr. Alzheimer Away (II)

The following is what the Japanese people do to ward off dementia.*

1.  Start each day with a glass of warm water.
2.  Drink at least three glasses of fresh fruit or vegetable juice each week.
3.  Cook own meals.  Meal planning is a taxing matter that requires extra brain power.
4.  Always have some dark chocolate handy to enjoy during the day.
5.  Walk 30 minutes a day.
6.  Sit in the sun for 15 minutes per day.
7.  Keep body weight down to reduce the possibility of being diabetic or suffering hypertension.
8.  Avoid soda pops and any processed foods.
9.  Do exercises that induce perspiration.
10. Leave the CD player on with music or inspiring speech while taking a short break lying down or sitting.
11.  Include sliced raw onions in salads.
12. Do not have any food after 8/9 PM.

-   Ayee

*This is from an Internet posting in Chinese.  Author unknown.