Your Average $12 Bouquet

A couple random observances on Singapore...

First off, for a country that is nearly on the equator, I expected more people to wear sunglasses. But I have found that most of the people who don eye protection are from the paler side of the skin spectrum and, I assume, not originally from these parts. I guess if you are raised in a country where there is sunshine 365 days a year, your eyes don't mind the shiny fireball in the sky. Us Oregon mushrooms need a little shade.

Second, it is like a game of umbrella quick draw when there is the slightest drizzle of rain. Granted a drizzle can quickly become, what Jay and I have started calling, "Wrath of God Rain". But it is still quite entertaining to see the number, size, and quickness with which the umbrellas emerge. And to be honest, I'm not sure where the umbrellas are stored during sunny weather because I don't usually see people toting them around. Maybe they have 007 umbrellas that fold to the size of a watch or something and when needed they pop up to be the Costco-family size monstrosities I see around.


And finally I want to say goodbye to Bubba. He passed away suddenly this week. We don't know for sure what happened, but it must have been quick. Sunday night Bubba meet Larry and Clairmonde for dinner as usual. When they came over Monday morning he did not show up. As Bubba likes he food, this was rather unusual. After a search Larry found Bubba's body in the green space behind our house.

We were so luck to have Bubba be a part of our lives for 15 years. I still remember the day they pulled the hefty kitten out of the box at the Human Society and he immediately grabbed onto my shoulder. We were there looking for a kitten that had run away from our house. This was not that kitten, but we knew immediately he was 'our' kitten. Bubba came home with us that day.

In his younger days he was a bit stubborn and, despite his size, was quite athletic. His given name was Kepler, but he outgrew that name and became Bubba. He didn't always have the best personal hygiene. He had beautiful green eyes which were impossible to capture on film. He was terrified of balls... we don't know why. He was little brother to Copernicus and Curie. He was big brother to Ray, Egon, and Venkman. In his later days he spent a lot of time sleeping, often with Ray, in the sun or near a heater vent. He REALLY liked food and would sneak bits of 'kitten food' whenever he had the chance. He was not an in-your-face cat. Rather he would hang back and wait for a quite moment to slide up next to you for a scratch behind the ear. And when he did ask you for a pet, you were happy to give it because he was such a special boy.

We will all miss Bubba.