Upside Down Cats

Wondering what NaBloPoMo is? Read this to learn all about it and why (and how) I'm participating!

What a difference a year makes - #10

2009: Beemer is our kitty who would be happiest if she were an "only child." She loves her people just fine but she's never been at ease around her fellow felines. But as uncomfortable as other kitties make Beemer, the daycare children turned our Bee into a hermit. She decided many years ago that she would prefer to spend her days upstairs on our bed rather than take the chance she would encounter the children or her kitty-siblings. So for the 14 years that daycare children were here, nobody saw much of Bee during the day. Hours and hours would go by and there would be no sign of Beemer.

Then, the moment she heard the silence she associated with a certain "lack of children" she would come slinking down the stairs to grab a lovely meal and take a potty break. If she was having a very lucky day, she wouldn't come across any cats on her expedition either.

2010: There are no daycare children around anymore and Beemer couldn't be happier. She comes around to visit and be friendly all day. It's like she's a whole new cat with a whole new attitude. I think she's busy, however, hatching a scheme to get rid of the other cats - then her life will be perfection.

2010 is not just different than 2009 for me - Beemer is feeling it too.

Wondering what NaBloPoMo is? Read this to learn all about it and why (and how) I'm participating!

What a difference a  year makes - #7

2009: Until June I had the best kitty-friend of my life. Abbey came to us as a too-big-eared kitten two days after we moved into our house - officially making it home. She came as part of a duo with her best friend, Penny. That was back in 1994. She nuzzled her furry and ample white-bellied wonderfulness into our hearts for fifteen delightful years. Through every one of those fifteen Abbey-ful years, she filled our home with a calm warmth that blossomed with our attachment to her and hers to us.

Abbey and I shared a very close relationship. She was incredibly intuitive and knew exactly when Mama Gina needed her some Abbey. I've written about Abbey and me many times before so it's really no surprise to many people that losing her was one of the most significant losses of my life.

And it happened in 2009, of course.

2010: I still miss Abbey more than I can (or care to) express. There's a humongous hole in my heart - in my life - that remains empty.

That being said, 2010 has brought me a different kitty relationship with our little man Cooper. He has begun to pay special attention to his Mama Gina. Where Abbey and I were friends, Cooper and I are more like mom and son. He is such a little clown - he makes me laugh every day. Oh, and he's absolutely addicted to his cat treats, which we call "candy." Not a night goes by that he doesn't sleep on me. He brings things to us from around the house (socks, stuffed animals, shoes, bathrobe ties...) in what I call his attempt to help provide for our "pride." Yup, he's our little family guy.

2010 has brought more kitty love into my life. Rather than look at it as having less because of the loss of Abbey, I am trying to look at it as having more because now I have Cooper's love in addition to having had Abbey's.

Thank goodness for kitty love.

Today would have been my mom's 91st birthday. She passed away back in March and today I'm thinking that this is the first time in my life that I haven't been able to wish her a happy day and remind her to spend it celebrating herself. I'll have to celebrate her myself with my memories and by taking some time to reflect on her legacy in my life.

The way I'm going to celebrate Mom's birthday is by writing about the last time I visited her which, aptly, was at the big birthday bash my family held for her last August on the occasion of her 90th birthday. It was a party I very nearly missed... Continue reading "The Counting Skunks Tour 2009" »

Wow...another National Blog Posting Month is done! NaBloPoMo '09 has been fun as I searched back through the archives of our cat photos and wrote a haiku about one every day of November. Here's the last one...

Gina's Hai-cat #30

Cooper says it all
NaBloPoMo is over
Good night and sleep tight

This is the next-to-last day of National Blog Posting Month. I do believe I'm going to follow through to complete the challenge for my third consecutive year! For NaBloPoMo '09 I've been posting a photo of our cats and a haiku I wrote about said photo.

Gina's Hai-cat #29

Abbey on the shirts
Great help folding the laundry
Never puts away

National Blog Posting Month is almost over! I only have a few more opportunities to write a haiku about a photo of our cats to post for NaBloPoMo '09.

Gina's Hai-cat #28

Who says cats can't fetch?
Mama throws Desi's green ball
She carries it back

There's only a few more days of National Blog Posting Month but I still haven't run out of photos of our cats to write haikus about! Here's my 27th entry for NaBloPoMo '09...

Gina's Hai-cat #27

What a pretty face
Beemer could be a model
So perfect looking

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are reading along throughout National Blog Posting Month! Here's today's NaBloPoMo '09 haiku about a photo of our cats...

Gina's Hai-cat #26

A very sad year
Said goodbye to a best friend
Thankful for Abbey

National Blog Posting Month is chugging right along! Here's today's NaBloPoMo '09 haiku about a photo of our cats.

Gina's Hai-cat #25

Lie down and hold still!
So I can lick your head clean
Abbey bathes Desi

November is National Blog Posting Month and I'm in the mood for something warm. I give you this photo of our cats and a haiku to go with it in celebration of this, the twenty-fourth day of NaBloPoMo '09.

Gina's Hai-cat #24

Two snuggled sisters
One fluffy pile of fur
All warm and cozy