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I would compare myself to a cat. Here’s why. I think there’s more to a cat than meets the eye. It is not all fur and cuteness. There is a certain wisdom they carry that lies beneath the surface. It shows up when you least expect it. Just when you think you’ve got them pegged, they show you different. I think there is a similarity in that respect.

I’ve been called complicated many times over BUT there is a certain je ne sais quoi about that complexity. I call it a quiet strength that observes more than reacts and when the time is right, it shows itself. Cats, in my observation, have that same kind of strength. They are observers more than reactors meaning it is more about a thoughtful, proactive mindset than just reacting to anything that comes their way. One source says that “cats have 300 million neurons compared to dogs with 160 million neurons. This high-octane brain power fuels feline intelligence. The cerebral cortex not only governs higher functions of rational thought, but also problem solving.” Let’s just say that we are both good at problem solving.

The easy laid-back lifestyle appeals to both of us. Sleeping most of the day away is not my thing but other than that, we love the no stress lifestyle. We love figuring out stuff and how things work. Life is my preoccupation, how it works and why things happen the way they do, while my best buddy, Chachi, loves figuring out how his “human” works!

We are both wise beyond our years, I call myself an old soul and Chachi claims to have lived more than 9 lives, each one taking him back to another place and time. There are similarities there.

If I had to compare myself to a cat, I would say that somewhere in my past I used to be a CAT! I communicate well with them and they seem to love me. Maybe there is something that connects us. I do know this, they call me the “cat whisperer” and I agree. They calm down in my presence and I appear “tame” in theirs!

I’m surprised that you made it this far. Since you have made it here, I want you to know that you are one tough cookie! You’ve survived more than most and are still standing. Kudos to you.

Let’s talk about all the things that you went through that could have been made easier but since you wanted to do things your way, the road less traveled is often the one you chose to take. You meandered like a stream and made your own path. It was hard, made harder by your stubbornness. You had your own set of rules and refused to budge making “love” an almost impossible journey. You had your principles instilled by two well-meaning parents that made your life tough. Letting go of those lessons learned were an almost impossible task. You survived more than most and here you are, a 100-year-old self wondering where the time went.

Time has flown by and even though there were both good, bad, and impossible times, the strength within you managed to withstand what was handed to you. There were times when you didn’t want those lessons, those trials and tribulations but you also knew that some were of your own making.

You are wrinkled beyond belief, several teeth missing, but that smile, the smile that touched a 100 or more lives during your lifetime is hard to miss. It is still there and that makes you beautiful. You’ve crossed many bridges, you’ve thrown fear (your constant companion) aside and here you are standing tall, proud, and ready for the next challenge.

My message to you is clear. You can be truly proud of yourself. Here’s to another 100? Not really, I think you and I know that making it to a 100 was a fluke. We didn’t want to make it that far. The wish was always to go before you get to be as old as Methuselah and become a burden and life becomes nothing more than of wishing and wanting.

Enjoy your accomplishments and may life, the rest of it, be kind to you.

Where would I go on a shopping spree? I really don’t know as shopping sprees are a thing of the past. Once, I loved shopping. Designer clothes, bags, and shoes were the norm when I headed out to some fancy store to load up on STUFF that I didn’t need but loved looking at as they took up space in my closet and cubbyholes! These days, I’m about getting rid of unwanted things that take up too much space and clutter up my mind. I like simplicity and it feels good.

I still have a lot of STUFF but working on simplifying the process. However, coming back to your question. I used to love this village that is a mix of old and new. The architecture is fantastic, the shops even more so. It was a mix of not so high-end and the high-end variety. You can get anything there and the pull are the numerous coffee shops, restaurants, lining the shopping mile as they call it. You can make it an all day affair, shop till you drop and then stop for a meal, get a window seat and people watch.

Market days are Tuesdays and Fridays and it adds to the excitement factor. Fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers take center stage. Eggs, meat, pastries, and cakes are all there on display too. If you like moving with the masses, this is the place to be on those days. I don’t but once in a while it is a welcome change from taking a walk in nature.

If I do make it there which is not often, I window shop, stock up on fresh bread, lamb from the Turkish grocery story, and then stop for lunch at the Indian restaurant which carries authentic Indian food. My favorite, Masala Dosai. They also have veg and non-veg thalis. I usually sit by the window if I am alone and watch people as they move with the crowd. Nice way to spend the morning, I might add.

Shopping sprees used to be a nice thing to do but I love the quiet life now AND instead of throwing money out the window, I go with what I have.

Oh God!! Another one of those questions I think goes deeper than I want to answer. First of all I never paid much attention to my middle name, it is stuck between my first and last name and that’s about it.

It’s there, it has been there and will continue to be, that’s the significance. Do I like it? I couldn’t give a flying flip about it. I never liked my first name but I didn’t have a choice in the matter, it was left up to two people who at the time looked at me with love and decided, we’ll call her TIA! The middle name was of lesser significance so they came up with something imaginative according to them.

Either way, it doesn’t matter. I’m not looking at both with a magnifying glass. I’m happy with both my names, one to a lesser extent than the other, but if I had a chance I would like to have a name that grabs attention. What? I don’t know. Maybe Christine. My sister is called Christine and I used to envy that. Oh well, it’s done and I’m stuck with it.

Daily writing prompt

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

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I would say it is, “How old are you?” Coming from a stranger it is intrusive and from someone I know, it just doesn’t feel right for some reason. If I wanted you to know, I would tell you is my answer.

Age has never been an issue but the constant retort coming back is. “You look so young!” I do agree that I look much younger than my age. Always have and still do but it is nobody’s business but my own. Now if the question comes from an official source, that is a different matter altogether.

Does age really matter? In some cases yes and in some NOT. I feel that a huge age gap in a relationship doesn’t always work. There is a difference with how a younger person vs. an older person deals with certain issues. Perhaps just the ability to communicate is a problem altogether. I ended a so-called relationship with (the cheesecake guy) someone much older. He was older than Trump and loaded as well. The thing is money may speak in some instances but there was just too much of a difference between the two of us. He wanted a much younger woman on his arm and I decided to wait for someone around my age. A good decision? I think so. However, asking someone their age is rude and if it is not offered voluntarily, DO NOT ASK! I think women like to deflect from the “AGE” question. The older you get, the more it becomes an issue.

So if someone asks me, “How old are you?” My usual response is, “Take a guess!”

Daily writing prompt

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

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