It was an ordinary day. Trying to figure out, with the help of my dear wife, the names of the many cats that we have had as pets throughout the 50 plus years of our married lifetime. (The following sentence can be sung to Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer...if you wish) We've had Ivy and Fluffy and Midnight and Otis, Pete and Gladys and Gunther and Creamsicle; but do you recall, the most famous couple of all; Snickerdoodle and The Gray Lady. Some of our house cats have been fancy, schmancy guests while just one, Creamsicle, was both an indoor and outdoor cat. We tried to limit him to just the indoors, but he faked an illness and our vet said all he needed was to be outdoors at times.
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| Best friend Creamsicle |
Still remember that one summer afternoon a few years ago when I was outside on our deck with him curled up with me on the ground when a fellow teacher happened to make a surprise visit. He looked at me and thought something was wrong with me, since I was stretched out on the carpet with a cat nestled along the side of me. Most of our cats...no I will change that to all of our cats...thought they were so important. They all wanted to sleep in the center of the bed or be first in line to be fed. But, the joy that they all brought was immeasurable. Our two current family members, Snickerdoodle and The Gray Lady, love to be with us most of the time. They both have special times of the day when they need a nap, but other than that, they have to know where we are at all times. Both are close to the same age and we believe that both might be from the same litter of cats that were born some where on our property. We would feed their alleged dad, "Big Bob" on a daily basis and one day they came around with him for a visit. Snickerdoodle came to the back door and Carol opened the door and reached down and picked him up.  |
| Snickerdoodle |
We placed him in our office with a bowl of food and water and an old towel in a box and closed the door. The Gray Lady thought she just had to enter also, but we shushed her away from the door, since one new cat was enough for us.  |
| The Gray Lady just had to come in...so she thought. |
A week or two later, while opening the door to feed Big Bob, she tricked us with her quicknest and in the door she came. We had just taken Snickerdoodle to the vet to be neutered so we left her remain in the house. She hasn't been outside since. She is a pure joy to have around and talks to us all the time about everything and anything she can think about. The only time she isn't talking is when she eats or sleeps. Snickerdoodle is the exact opposite and when he tries to talk, nothing ever seems to come out of his mouth.  |
| The Gray Lady after talking her way into our lives! |
We have never had more than two cats at any one time, but have had cats and a dog at the same time. Our animal house guests over the years have helped us out of times of stress, anxiety and deaths in the family. They always seemed to know exactly when we needed them the most and made sure they were there for us. We have learned so much from our cats. Humans at times can be so irrational and are defined by the knowledge they have that at times blocks the emotions and understanding we have of ourselves. If you open your mind or heart to a cat, they can teach you happiness in life without you really knowing they are doing it. Cats, more than dogs, can take care of themselves and can make their own fun. They seem to possess some of the best qualities in life...some we wish we could have at times for ourselves. I find that I am at times inspired by my two beloved friends who at this moment are sitting in my office with me; one is trying to catch my fingers as they fly over my keyboard typing this story while the other is looking out the window a few feet away hoping to catch a look at the couple of chipmunks that have found a home along the side of our house. Hey, what's a few more guests around the house. We consider all our guests part of the family. Try it sometime and see how much you can get out of life with a few extra house guests. You will be amazed at the love you have for all your little house guests. I know that Carol and I certainly love to have guests to help us get through our days at times. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - The following photographs show why The Gray Lady is so special to us..
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| She was such a cutie! |
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| She wanted in the back door so much. |
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| She's into everything now-a-days. |
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| A true daredevil! |
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| Loves to hang upside down on our open stairs. |
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