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 - #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" »

I have been searching for the road back to blogging after my last post which was a tribute to our wonderful AbbeyCat who passed away last week leaving a hole in my heart.

Well, I want to thank Courtney T. who hails from our neighbor to the north, Montreal, Canada, for providing the perfect absurdity to follow up such an emotional outpouring.

Courtney, you are better than an icy cold lemon sorbet - ahh...refreshing!

Continue reading "A Palate Cleanser" »

...that looks exactly like this.



Our dear wonderful kitty friend Abbey left this world Monday night. I miss her more than I can express. The thought of never enjoying a day in the company of her sweetness again makes my heart ache.

She left us rather suddenly after just a few days of lethargy. I tried all I could to help her regain her strength; giving her water from a medicine dropper and food from my pinky. I held her tiny weak body next to mine hoping to impart health through the love I hoped she'd absorb from me. In the end, she let her daddy know it was time to get her to a place where she could leave us, far away from our happy and lively memories of her. The moment we walked into the emergency vet's office, she began to literally take her dying breaths.

I have never felt so lonely in my own home. I have never felt so alone in my own skin. To say Abbey is part of me is not an overstatement nor an exaggeration. She transcended the 'normal' boundary between species (or maybe I did) to make us friends by any definition that exists. Our relationship was based on our personal brand of communication. I know 'pet people' know what I mean...communication with a cherished pet is something altogether different than with a cherished human. I believe it has to do with the process of bridging the language barrier. Since we don't share a verbal language, we have to rely on other types of communication, which in turn creates and fosters a deep and unique relationship. Other species possess different sensibilities, too, which put them in tune with different aspects of our personalities. In short, only a cat knows you like a cat can know you - and to be known by a cat is a beautiful feeling.

I am privileged to have been known and adored by a very special cat. Abbey filled my life with companionship and laughter. She warmed our home with her steadfast friendship and gentle nature. We shared our many moods and rhythms with her. In turn, she made us privy to the exquisite bliss to be found in a belly rub and a snuggle on a warm blanket.

I know that in time the hole will be filled with cherished memories of Abbey from the fifteen years she spent nuzzled in our lives and hearts. Eventually I will look at a picture of her basking upside down in her favorite sunny spot or remember how she loved to sit in her "cubby" in our headboard and a smile will cross my face. She will be forever my Original Upside Down Cat in my header and heart. For now, though, the wound is raw and the sting is sharp. My best kitty friend and I will make no new memories.

Abbey, not a day went by that I didn't thank my lucky stars for you. I only hope that we gave you the best life possible, filled with abundant love, deep devotion and all the chicken your heart desired. You deserved that and more, Sweet Poopy Girl.

Abbey Road Tilbrook Blitstein

May 8, 1994 - June 15, 2009

Paul Newman was one of the first men of whom I took notice. He was everywhere during that time between Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting. Little prepubescent Gina was completely infatuated.

I was far too young to actually see those movies, but I certainly was aware of them - and their handsome stars! Several years later my friend Elaine and I watched Cool Hand Luke on TV one afternoon. We drooled over Paul like a couple, well, teenagers.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...it was the sparkle in his eye that did me in!

Continue reading "Paul And Me" »

George Carlin and I share a birthday - well, the day, not the year. That fact has always made me feel a special kinship with him, as fellow members of the May 12th Club. It's silly, I know, but I feel the same connection to Emilio Estevez, Katherine Hepburn, Yogi Berra, Burt Bacharach, Tom Snyder, Stephen Baldwin, Bruce Boxleitner, Billy Squier, Gabriel Byrne, our dear friend Stacy and, of course, Florence Nightingale. It never ceases to amaze me how much I have in common with each and every one of these intelligent, charming and talented people!

George has been among my favorite comedians - and public people - all my life. What a multi-faceted talent! His blend of sharp, insightful and fearless comedy makes me laugh and think simultaneously. He is responsible for a large part of my sense of humor and world view. It should come as no surprise that he appears on the guest list for my fantasy dinner party along with a plethora of other fascinating people.

Continue reading "George On My Mind" »

Before we get any farther into the New Year, I would like to acknowledge some of the celebrities who passed away in 2007.

This is in no way a complete list of celebrity deaths...it is merely a list of those with whom I am familiar and will therefore miss at least a bit now that they are no longer here to entertain.

Since I am youngest in a large family, I was exposed to television and movies that were considerably before my time by my older siblings, parents and grandmother. I come from a family of TV and movie trivia buffs, too. These things must have rubbed off on me, explaining why so many of these older personalities are familiar to me.

I can't think of a better example to illustrate the depth of my trivial knowledge than the following list of deceased celebrities with whom I am familiar:

Continue reading "Farewell, Familiar Faces..." »

I am sad to be the bearer of this grim news, but the awful truth must be told...

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is dead.

Continue reading "Requiem For A Reindeer?" »

I'm writing about things for which I am thankful throughout November, also known as National Blog Posting Month. Today on day nineteen of NaBloPoMo, I am in a reflective mood. Looking through family photos earlier today brought back a flood of evocative memories. Many of the photos reminded me of my dad, who passed away ten years ago.

The photos have brought to the forefront of my mind that I am thankful for my dad.

Continue reading "Daddy's Little Girl" »

"Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all." - William Goldman, "The Princess Bride"

I guess no one ever promised this ride was going to be fair at the beginning, middle or the end...

 

Although I've never read The Princess Bride, it is one of my favorite movies! It's one of those movies I can watch again and again, or even pick up in the middle and watch the remainder without feeling I've had an incomplete experience!

In fact, we incorporated copies of the DVD into some very unique Christmas gifts we gave last year...We made "Family Movie Night" gift bags which included The Princess Bride DVD, several blanket throws (how many depended on the size of the family), and tubs of homemade flavored popcorn. We love to give different and meaningful gifts, and we felt really good about these!

In looking over William Goldman's biography, I have discovered that in the course of his writing career (which spans the last five decades) he has written 26 screenplays which have been produced into movies and 14 novels. I think that qualifies him as prolific! Check out his credits by clicking the Wikipedia link to his name above...it's like a list of some of the best movies ever made, and he wrote them all!

I love finding out surprising facts about someone...I only knew his name as the writer of The Princess Bride before I found the above quote. Now I know a bit more about a very talented man.