Ponder this:

Sunday, March 10, 2013

She shall be called Peep



I was able to stand being petless for, ohhh, eight days. 

I had started checking Petfinder.com after three days. Looking at dogs until none of them seemed like a comfortable fit. And to adopt a dog when mud season is at hand is to invite misery into one's life.

On the eighth day a cat face brought me up short, made me gasp, made me sigh: Ohhh. 

I phoned the shelter seven minutes after they had closed for the day, left my name and phone number and the name of my vet's clinic. The next morning a young lady phoned from the shelter to tell me she had already checked with Casey at my vet's office, and all I would need to do would be to come by with my $70 adoption fee and a completed adoption application and I would "be able to take her home this afternoon." 

Oh! All through the rest of the morning, excited as a six-year-old on Christmas Eve! I was in love and I hadn't even met her yet. I was barely able to concentrate at work, and left early. A dash into the supermarket for kitty litter and kibble and on to the animal shelter. I leapt from the vehicle as its last vibrations settled, grabbed the cat carrier in one hand, and ran, unburdened arm outflung, toward the building's door. And waited, dancing foot to foot, behind a couple who wanted to browse for a kitten. I had to run out to the car to retrieve the completed application, left behind in the headlong rush. At last! At last! The shelter keeper moved to a large crate behind her and asked my girl if she was ready to go home, and I had my first in-person view of my beauty. First impression: tail in extra long, nearly prehensile. As I took her from the keeper, like a monkey she wrapped that tail around my arm. She rubbed her face into my hand, let her head be tucked under my chin for a cuddle. It was hard to let her go long enough to get her into the carrier. On the way out the door, the kitten-searching couple held the door for me, peeked through the grille in the carrier. 
"Isn't she beautiful?" I breathed. I had owned her for two minutes and I was already showing off her charms.

The minute she was into the house and out of the carrier, she was up and down, tiptiptiptiptiptiptip up the stairway and pumpumpumpumpumpumpum down again, into every corner, under everything that could be gotten under, examining the bookshelves for toeholds, winding that tail around lamps, happily submitting to interruptions for cuddles and then heading back out on her tour. That was last Thursday afternoon. She has been in residence for two full days only, and parts of Thursday and today. She is now able, for periods of sixty or fewer seconds, to be still enough for photographs.



I have taken care of old infirm pets for so long that I delight in her eating and drinking, her capable use of the litter box, her ability to transport herself from place to place without my help. She makes tiny noises only . . . a hardly audible prt as she runs (always, runs) to me, her face bright with greeting. 

I have a furry to love and to love me again.
I have a small four-footed creature who will care if I come home at the end of the workday.
She has healed my heart.

44 comments:

threecollie said...

Life is better with animals, infinitely, positively, perfectly better. Your post brought happy tears to my eyes. I am so glad.....

Unknown said...

Oh how wonderful!

Olga said...

You found each other. She is a beauty and it sounds like she has quite the personality. Congratulations.

esbboston said...

Ah, ... You made my morning marvelous and heart happy, furry friends are best. Good choice for a name, not sure that I have heard that one before.

A Reader's Life said...

If the cat could blog, she'd be bragging about you as well. She is lucky!
Enjoy...

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

I just had a feeling you needed a new pet. She is still very young so that is a delight. Our Ellie was already 6 when we got her from the rescue place. She had recovered from an injury and no longer has the ability to leap to high places.
Your pet's colours are so different. Cutey for sure!

the7msn said...

So stinkin' happy for you!

Sharon said...

What good news for both of you! You sound absolutely buoyant:)

Anonymous said...

My heart is so happy for you! We went to the shelter yesterday and a young couple beat us to the little gray girl we wanted. We will keep looking.. :) I want to have tears of happiness over a kitty of my home like the tears of happiness I had for you reading this!

DJan said...

How absolutely wonderful! Congratulations to you and Peep for having found each other. What a heartwarming post. Thank you for the gift! :-)

Joanne Noragon said...

You make my heart sing. She is the most beautiful cat ever!

Muffy's Marks said...

I am so happy for you and your new pet. You are both so lucky to have found each other.

the veg artist said...

Just gorgeous - and she knows it!

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Saw your comment on 7MSN blog and was intrigued. Glad I came to read and weep at the joy of a new "life together" story. We have welcomed two new rescue cats into our home Casa de Cuckoo in the last 6 months and life is good. Congrats to all. Oma Linda

Jan said...

So pleased for you. We have had two "mad torties" and both of them lit up our lives. She's exquisite.

Rusty said...

A beautiful attachment! A great and natural find. ATB!

English Rider said...

Balance restored in your universe. I am so happy you did this for yourself, and for the new Queen.

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

Good for you! And wonderful for Peep! I am so happy for you both. Your story brought me joy. Thank you.

Hilary said...

Oh this is such a sweet, beautiful, wonderful thing. I also gasped when I saw her face.. she looks SO much like my long departed Topaz who blessed my life for 17 years. What a lovely time for you. I'm so happy for both of you.

The Cranky Crone, she lives alone! said...

Hooray for you June! an such a beauty seemingly not only in looks, so hapy for you to have such an affectionate furry friend again. CC

Saku said...

What a beautiful girl! I wish you many happy years of cuddles and purrs.

VioletSky said...

awww, she is sweet looking. I still haven't gotten a new pet after a year without my cat. maybe this summer....
I am sorry for the loss of yours. It has been a trying time for you, I'm sure.

Grandmother Mary said...

She's a dramatic color- such a cutie and able to bring you such joy. Perfect. Enjoy one another and congratulations to you both!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Oh June, this is just wonderful news indeed. I loved your post.

Dear Peep,
WELCOME little "Peep" - you are now officially famous world-wide.
You will be loved beyond measure and you've brought great joy to sad hearts.
Pats and hugs from the other side of the world.
Rose

georgia little pea said...

Awww sweet. I'm very glad you got a Peep to make you happy but I'm still hoping you'll get a dog too :) when the weather warms up and it gets less muddy. 8 paws better than 4!

Anonymous said...

aw hello little Peep! such a beautiful face, what a lovely match you make for eachother, both so loving xxx

Tom said...

Congratulations on your new love affair!

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

I'm so happy for both you and Peep! What a beauty! What a delight! One animal never replaces another, just adds to the circle of love in our lives. Congratulations! You and Peep were truly meant to be!

Amy said...

How wonderful and congratulations on the new addition. Peep, welcome to the family - I am sure we will see and hear much about your doings...

rachel said...

There's a special quality to caring for aged pets, but oh, the delight of having a young, lively one again is indescribable! I am so very pleased for you; I understand your feelings perfectly, and wish you as much love and joy with this little girl as my Lottie has brought me.

Catherine said...

You wrote so movingly about the loss of your beloved dog. It is heartbreaking, but I am so pleased you have found your beautiful, loving cat to help to heal your heart.

C-ingspots said...

Life truly is better with animals by our side! Happy for you, and Peep.

Carolynn Anctil said...

Oh, so happy for you both! Doing a little happy dance jig over here and wearing a big beaming grin!!

She's a leggy beauty with obvious charms. I had the same experience with my little Celine - fell headlong in love with her after seeing her photo on-line. It just can't be helped.

Vicki Lane said...

Yay, June! What made you wait so long? ;-)

Friko said...

Of course you have. Of course you have. Of course you have.
How could it not be so. You are meant for each other.

A house without at least one furry creature is sterile, lifeless, not worth coming home to.

Congratulations. May the two of you be happy together for a long time to come.

Pam said...

Oh, I've just read about your dog. I'm so sorry. And happy that you've got your cat.

We've just discovered that our lovely friendly furry six year old cat has lesions on his lungs. So worried for him.

Tabor said...

Congrats on your POTW and have fun with that new furball.

TexWisGirl said...

thank you for sharing this most marvelous pairing with us. :) loved it.

came over from hilary's to say congrats on your POTW - well deserved!

Hilary said...

This is a lovely post...and you are obviously a lovely human being.
Lucky kitty. Lucky you.
Animals do heal us, don't they?
(she says as Roy the pit bull lays across her feet)

Teri said...

Thank you for getting a shelter cat!!!!!!

Sandi McBride said...

First let me congratulate you on Post of the Week...then let me tell you that as soon as I pulled up your blog and saw the photo of Peep, I had tears pouring down my face...if you happen to wander to my blog, you will see why on the right side...I love your attitude, and am totally smitten with your blog...I will be adding you to my favorites...
Sandi

Cloudia said...

such lucky friends!

e said...

This brought a tear to my eye since I lost one of my cats a few months ago. I've two left and they bring me joy every day.

I wish you both many years of happiness.

Barb said...

Ohhhhh- I'm in love too! What a beauty in both appearance and personality. Good for you. I so miss not having a furry friend.