We’ve shared our home with two cats the last five years or so. Zach is our grey lovey cat who pretty much adopted us when he rubbed our legs and looked at us as if he knew we would be his new people parents. He is a delight, although the last two years, he has been totally freaked out by thunder, lightning, wind, and strong rainstorms. We think it occurred when a storm happened while we were away from home.
Our other kitty, adopted when she was far too young from the same shelter is Cici. She is all black with a tiny white spot on her chest. She is shy, spending most of her time under the bed until evening when she wants some lap time, but only on her terms.
Saturday we went to the SPCA event in the mall and fell in love with a grey and beige bengal cat originally named Rockette. We renamed her Daisy. She is currently riding herd, establishing herself as Alpha, with growls and murmers, telling our kitties she is now in charge. Well she might be! She loves to climb to high places where the others know they cannot or will not attempt to reach. She is able, amazingly, to leap from the floor to just below the ceiling to get to the top of the bookcases and above the kitchen cabinets. She’s just that agile.
We’re not quite out of the World War III stage yet, but tolerance is approaching.
Into this balance, we have really put our kitties to the test the last three weeks. With the arrival of grandbaby number 2, they are saying, “What, another one?” They have adjusted well to Kaley, now 2 1/2, and have recognized her value and pretty much tolerate her attempts at friendship. She tries to play blocks with Zach, and he and Cici come to play with her when she’s here. Now they’re faced with little Emily in her carseat.
We have no idea whether Daisy has ever seen a baby. It remains to be seen how she will react. I suspect she’ll go to one of her high observation posts to take it all in. We’ll see.
Then, we just entertained 12 for Thanksgiving. That was traumatic. Cici stayed under the bed the whole time; Zack withdrew to the porch. Now that the Christmas tree is up, Cici stays hidden at the back, observing all that is happening with Daisy, and avoiding any confrontation. We are not allowing her access to her favorite place, under the bed, until the introductory time with Daisy has passed.
None of this is earth-shattering, or probably an appropriate blog topic, but I thought you might like to know anyway.
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.