July 20, 1990 was Friday

And the day I brought this kitty home

as a 12 week old kitten home from a Dallas suburb no kill shelter called, Operation Kindness. The shelter remains today in a bigger and better facility. Back on that 1990 Summer day tho, I'd been laid-off for a month and half and mourned the loss of my fat cat Morris from feline leukemia. This disease was new on the horizon. I'd let Morris run around one too many times outside and he'd gotten into a fight. Breaks my heart even after all these years. I knew I would get another cat--yet being unemployed, and already with one cat-Millee, who was actually Morris' mom, and thankfully negative for FeLv--I thought I ought to hold off.  
**A friend of mine goes, "Hold off for what?  A kitty needs you." Didn't need to twist my arm twice. 
***Anyway, the night of the 19th, I went to Operation Kindness and spent what I"m sure seemed like forever in there. As I was about to walk out--with empty hands--one of the shelter ladies, took me to a cage. This bundle of furr snoozed while those in the cage played around him. The lady said his name was Tiger. I knew right then, the name would change if I took him. I picked Tiger up, which woke him up. He was cute, yet I wasn't fallin' over backwards, until he began to lick my face. I think the shelter lady wasn't sure what I'd do, so she quickly said Tiger had been taken away from his mom too soon--hence he licked my face. In fact, Tiger had already been with somebody, but they brought him back.
***I melted with the kitty kisses, but gave Tiger back to the patient shelter lady. I'd have to sleep on it, I told her.  Of course, by the time I got home, I regretted not taking the kitten. I would have gone back then, but Operation Kindness was closed for the night. The next morning, July  20th, I called Operation Kindness ter--shortly after they'd opened.  The lady who introduced me to Tiger answered the phone and remembered me, but said another lady had been in that morning already. That lady talked like she was going to come and get Tiger.  My heart sank. The lady told me to get there PDQ--she knew I saw Tiger first, but she couldn't "hold' him. I flew out of my apartment right after I told the lady I was coming to get my cat. I'm not even sure I hung the phone up--this was way before cell phones--
****Once at Operation Kindness, the same lady helped me with Tiger, and another woman said, "Was there someone else..." And the lady who helped me told her yes, but announced how I'd been there last night and this morning I wanted him. I got there first.  I remember the other lady had a not so pleasant look on her face, but said nothing.  I hoped the other Tiger lover wouldn't shop up. As I did the paperwork, wondering where/when I was going to get a new job to pay for my newest member, Tiger got a bath and little blue collar. He wasn't happy with either one.  I just hoped he would be happy with me.
Tiger became Brenner, because of Yul Brynner being the King in the classic "The King and I" and well, Tiger was part Siamese. My sweet Brenner Bren and I had each other til 2001 when  cancer waged a good war against Brenner and won.
***Even now--after all these years, I still expect to look at a basket of warm, fresh right out of the dryer clean clothes and my own King of Siam, Brenner nestled right in the middle as if  the basket were his throne. 
I heart Cats and pretty darn proud of it.  

September 24, 1971 was Friday

Just like today.

I recall that sunny 1971 day very well.

I was in 8th grade-the highest grade in our junior high-

Rough and tough, our class yelled the loudest

Our first pep rally for our junior high football guys--

We were in 8th grade and next year HIGH SCHOOL!

Couldn't wait to race home and tell my folks-

My mom tried to listen, so did my dad.

Mom lie in bed. Dad sat in a chair next to the bed.

I knew Mom hadn't felt well, I just didn't know how bad-

Until one of Mom's friends came to the house with her

Daughter who was my age, and shortly thereafter

An ambulance arrived.

As my Mom was strapped to a gurney to leave our home,

She pet our Siamese cat, Minglee, who I held

Hostage in my arms. and I leaned over to kiss her--

"Mama love" she said--like she did every night.

Then Mom told me I was to be the woman of the house

When she wasn't there.

I bit my lip. Didn't want Mom to see me cry.

That was the last time I saw my mother alive.

Three days later Mom was dead.

I was 13.

And I cried.

My Mom

I Heart Cats

I do. I heart them alot. Always have. Always will.
Most men I've know hate em.
In fact, back in 2008, I blogged bout a cat chat with a male chum-
Click here to take a look.
Anyway, I heart cats.
I remember being mad at Mom because she wouldn't let
Me keep any of the outside cats inside-
Not until we got a little Siamese kitten Mom named Minglee
Who was the first cat that ever slept with me--
And so has every cat since, including the one posted here...

Too bad most of my chums hate cats. Too sneaky they say.
A couple men said I'd pick a cat over them...
When I was younger I woulda got rid of cat in a blink if I could keep the guy...
Now being older and continue to ignore AARP membership invites
I'd give a man a lovely parting gift and send him on his way....
Purr-fect man is Christian who likes cats and doesn't think twice bout the poo box--
I do believe he does exist...
Yep, I heart cats!
And proud to admit it...
...I want a dog too....

Cat Fan or Not

Folks know I'm all about the feline. Grew up with cats that my mom would not let keep inside. Not until we got a Siamese kitten for 10 bucks. that got named Minglee--by Mom. She adored this cat. While me being an only child finally had another living creature, under the same roof, to share all my secrets with.

Now I have what seems like a neighborhood full of cats who let me live with them. Aafter I feed and tend to their potty boxes, of course. They grace me with a purr or three. None really like to be held nor are much of a lap cat.

What they are good is when I try to sleep at night. When I contour myself in positions to not to mess with their sleep. A cat catching some Z's is a 10 ton brick covered with fur. Try to move one. Impossible. My cats decide I'm the one they do love when they attache their bodies of brick against my legs. Talk about no circulation. Or one decides I must not be positioned on the pillow just right or I have their space. Or I just should be awake at 2am to love them--and he pats and pulls my hair.

The thing is--I wouldn't change a thing. Except I wish my Mom would have let the cats I had before we got the Siamese for 10 bucks aka Minglee, inside. They were just as special as Minglee. So I guess I make up for it now.

Cat lover or not, cue up this video. I laughed OUT loud. Trust me.

Purrs to you!

So Part II

Had a great day today. Some things are still tough, yet I know where to put my trust. My head has cleared in some areas. Maybe the treadmill and bike have helped there! :)

Also been pensive about this blog. As much as I love to put my words out there about every day, I think of pulling back. Maybe not so many days a week or just when ever...

I don't know.

Blue Bell Cookies n Cream ice cream will help the decision.

Stay tuned.