We call Jack the family cat, but really he's my cat. That's not by my design; it's by his. Since I was the one who managed to talk him out of the basement corner he crept into the first day we adopted him, he decided I would be the one he meows at for food, sits on in the middle of the night and nips at for attention. I'm also the only one he will tolerate grooming him, washing him, treating him for fleas and clipping his nails.

Aren't pets wonderful?

If you have a family pet, take him/her to the First Congregational Church on Main Street in Williamstown this Saturday, May 31, 10 a.m. for a special Blessing of the Animals. All animals are invited

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Can it possibly be Memorial Day weekend? It seems like two weeks ago it was snowing. Plus it seems that Memorial Day should mean school is nearly out, when from where I sit in Williamstown we have more than a month left, thanks to five snow days plus the recent "there's no power" day. Everywhere I look people's summer plans have been messed up, from kids either missing the last week of school or the first week of a summer camp.

But I digress. It is indeed Memorial Day weekend, and while it really doesn't feel like it, it is the unofficial start of summer here in the Berkshires.

But first, let's not forget what Memorial Day is actually about.

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No one should ever have to suffer the pain of losing a child.

As a parent of a child with two autoimmune diseases, I face that terror perhaps more often than most parents. But I'm sure anyone reading this column, any parent, would feel nothing short of sheer despair should something happen to their child.

That's why I cried when I heard about Harley Ogle.

I heard about the death of this Pittsfield second-grader from my mother, who used to work with Harley's grandmother. She hesitated when telling me, obviously sensitive to my own situation with my daughter. Harley died in his sleep; my daughter has type 1 diabetes, and most type 1 kids who die do so in their

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My 8-year-old had a gift certificate for Where'd You Get That burning a hole in her pocket and her eye on some ridiculous toy. As we entered the store, I said to her, "You could use it to buy me a nice Mother's Day gift."

"Nope," she said cheerfully and skipped over to the gag gift section of the store where she had her eye on, of all things, a set of plastic handcuffs and fake police badge.

Nice.

Sometimes being a mother truly is a thankless job, even three days before Mother's Day. Luckily I'm here with some ideas for making it a fun weekend for the whole family.

On Saturday, May 10, there are two events in the morning.

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"Peanuts" cartoonist Charles M. Schulz once wrote five very wise words: “Happiness is a warm puppy.” 

This Saturday, May 3, dogs take center stage at both ends of Berkshire County. 

First, in Williamstown, the annual Humane Race to benefit the Berkshire Humane Society starts at 10 a.m. on Water Street. Rain or shine (unfortunately, it's looking like rain, and no one ever said happiness is a wet puppy), this 12th annual 5K Fun Run and One Mile Walk - with or without your dog - will offer a day of outdoor entertainment for the entire family.  The race begins at 10 a.m., with check-in and race day registration starting at 8 a.m. Finish line

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