Happy Thought - 9/20/07 - My Knight in Shiny White Fur

    Snowball, Niko and Daisy are the resident animals around this joint.  Daisy is my Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Niko is a blue point himalayan.  Snowball is a white housecat. 

    We got Snowball and his brother Eskimo (who passed away in 2002) just before my twelfth birthday.  We already had one cat, a female spayed maine coon named Impy, who was as tempermental as she was beautiful.  I would play my violin for hours as Impy watched me practice, her eyes following my bow left, right, up and down.  

    My dad swore we would never be allowed to get more pets while we still had Impy.  I had big dreams of having a lovely orange haired tabby cat, but my pleas went unanswered until August 2nd, 1988.  I remember the date clearly as it was my aunt and uncle's second wedding anniversary.  We were meeting them for dinner, and had some time to waste beforehand.  

    Luckily for my brother and I, we ended up at a mall in Buffalo, wandering around looking at all of the Back to School sales.  Just for fun, I suggested walking around the pet store.  I loved looking at all of the animals and the fish tanks.  There at the doorway were the two cutest white kittens I had ever seen.  We were immediately drawn to the cats, along with a handful of other kids and parents.  One of the cats was extremely friendly, and the other was a bit more skittish, staying off to the side.  The price tag said $17.94.  I don't know why I remember the exact cost, before tax.  I thought that was a very reasonable price!  We lingered at the cage for so long that soon my mom was hooked!  It wouldn't be long before my dad HAD to agree to at least one of them coming home with us!  Finally, he agreed that we could get one.  

    My brother and I just stood there looking first at the cage, then my father, and finally at each other.  Two kitties.  Two children.  We must have had the most pathetic pleading faces because he agreed!  We could take both kittens home with us!  

    We were overjoyed as they got carrying boxes, water, and a bit of food for the newest members of our family.   Finally, it was time to go, and we had to decide which kitten belonged to which kid.  We argued.  We debated.  We switched boxes.  We peeked inside.  Finally it was settled.  The more outgoing of the two would go to my brother.  (He is the more outgoing of us too.)  I got the quiet, shy kitty who might have been the runt of the litter.  We found out later that he had a heart murmur.  

    We eventually decided on names:  my kitty was Eskimo, or Eski for short, and the other was Snowball, or Snowy for short.  The new kittens never really learned to get along with Impy, but they tolerated each other until Impy passed away at age 17.  Snowball and Eskimo took turns sleeping on our beds.  My brother taught Snowball how to hug.  Snowball will wrap his paws around your neck!  It's so cute.  

    Now that I am back living with Snowball, Niko and my parents, I have the privilege to help take care of the now 19 year old cat.  He has to eat every two hours or he gets sick.  We give him medicine and regulate his water.  (He really likes to get into the dog's water and drink until he gets sick!)  We have to give him baby food turkey as that is all his stomach can handle.  (I have caught him nibbling on dog food a couple of times though!)

   Daisy likes to follow Snowball around.  A great day is when I groggily get out of bed, and rumble to the bathroom, and clear my eyes and suddenly see three animals sitting at my feet, waiting to greet me.  That's love.  

    When I was a teenager and having one of those epic teenage angsty moments, Snowball would ALWAYS come find me and sit next to me and put his paw on my hand or leg to let me know he was there for me.  He got me through a lot of those teenage tough times, and I hope I am helping him get through his old age now.  I love to sing to him, and I often make up silly tunes.  "Snowball, Snowball, do you know I love you?  Snowball, Snowball, without you I'd be blue!  Snowball, Snowball, I love your fluffy face!  Snowball, Snowball, I'll take you to a race!"   He and I have long conversations about everything and nothing, and sometimes he answers, and sometimes not.  But for today, this is what makes me happy.