We are all both the victims and the heirs of our fellow-men. - Ellis Peters
2008, January 25
Thank you my little calico
My little calico ballerina, Itsy Bitsy
When I brought Itsy Bitsy home from the SPCA in June 1993, she was tiny. She fit in one hand. She was about 3 months old, but had not had enough to eat. She set about fixing that right away. She ate and ate, and doubled her weight in about 2 weeks. A real calico, she immediately made up her mind that I belonged to her and none other, and for nearly fifteen years she followed me from room to room and slept on my bed. I heard from her baby sitters that if I was gone for a few days, she sat near the door waiting. I know that when I had a long work day, she was always waiting near the door when I arrived home.
Four years ago, when two new kittens arrived on the scene, she let her displeasure be known. But over about a year she came to tolerate them and even let Baby Jane sleep near her on the blanket in my office. She shared my bed at night with both the younger cats. She made a much better adjustment to sharing her home than I ever expected.
She was never a roamer or explorer. She occasionally went onto the porch to survey the garden, but she never got far from the open door. And the door must be open; if it closed, she came immediately and demanded to be let in.
Now she is gone. After a short but severe illness, she has left me behind and the house seems very empty.
I thank her for sharing her life with me. I miss her and I hope she will always have a warm bed in a warm room with a sunny window.
In the sun |
On the porch |
| |
In the library |
Waiting |
