Dearest Jennifer,
I have tried five times to post to about your precious Calypso. Tears or on again/off again power outages have prevented my typing out loud.
And, now, discover Oliver and Finnegan! Color me smiling through tears!
I have a friend and adopted mom named Joanie. She literally held me together when Giz was diagnosed and not eating...
Joanie took her time about loving again. It took her basically 4-1/2 years before the phone call, almost five years ago, saying, "We're going to PetCo on Saturday. North Shore Animal League is having a pet adoption day. I'm thinking a five or six-year-old furry girl." Said, I'll be there!
I knew she was in trouble the second we entered the store. There were no five or six-year-old furry girls. There were only kittens. Sigh...
I do not have a poker face, Jennifer.
I spied one and simply walked away. Joanie decided she might like to meet that one. I walked farther away never looking at her. Then I did a round-about. I spied another one. Oh crap... Kept on walking... Then Joanie had two kittens on the table creating chaos and brochures were flying everywhere! It wasn't long before I was a reference and had to vouch for her being a truly wondrous mom...
I held firm when she spotted the tiny calico girl I spotted before ejecting myself from the store. Yelled, "NO!" from the sidewalk...
Joanie decided to hold the bags of litter, boxes, toys, etc. She told me to hold the box of furry boys. Remembered the North Shore lady telling me to hold the bottom of the box. The boys started dueling as we crossed Broadway. I grabbed the bottom of the box with visions of kittens spilling out...
We caught a cab -- thankfully! They started dueling again. I was laughing because one was nipping at my finger in the box hole and the other one was swatting my other finger in the hole! Joanie asked, Who's doing what?! Replied, I have no clue. The box is covered.
This would be Tigger's and Benji's first photo. I am the one who didn't have to grow into their ears.
I did however, have to deal with countless calls from Joanie regarding taking the boys and re-delivering them a year later...
I think you've done Calypso proud! She'd be thrilled your heart has embraced both color and joy.
Fly free, darling Calypso! Soar high on your gorgeous new wings! Visit your mom's dreams and tell her she's nuts adopting those two boys! Laugh out loud when you tell her that! You can do that, precious girl. You can do anything. You're free now. Soar high! Send us all a rainbow! Visit your mom's dreams again and tell her she's not nuts, she's a fearless lover! Tell her you're good and you so approve. She'd like that...
Much love, tears galore, and countless gentle and fearless hugs,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...
To Love Again
Oh what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you homeless to my gate,
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter warmth and food?
For from that day I ceased to be
The master of my destiny,
While she, with purr and velvet paw
Became within my house the law.
She scratched the furniture and shed
And claimed the middle of my bed,
She ruled in arrogance and pride
And broke my heart the day she died.
So if you really think, oh cat
I'd willingly relive all that,
Because you come forlorn and thin
Well don't just stand there - come on in!
Author unknown