That morning, as usual, W was puttering around upstairs, getting ready for work.
Already dressed, I sat down on the couch where Pimms awaited me, wanting to cuddle in my lap.
Relaxing immediately in a prone position as I picked her up, as was her habit, I brought the giant furry fluff ball onto my lap.
Usually she completely nestles in, zonking out.
Different from any other time, she quietly looked up at me, beseeching me to touch my nose to hers.
As I did that she came up into my arms, which I often tried to do )to hold her like a baby like I did with my previous cat, but Pimms always squirmed out)…this time she sought that out.
Terrifyingly, as she willingly leaned into my arms, she sprang back with a yowl, which caused me to hold on to her.
Suddenly her body went limp…never to move again.
What? How can life extinguish so suddenly, without warning?
The vet said quite often that is a heart issue, undetectable, a silent killer for cats, and quick.
That image has replayed in my head innumerable times.
MEMORIES
Meanwhile W and I have relived old memories…
Well into her teens, this Siberian fluff ball had been my husband’s cat for many years, long before we ever met.
Before I became the strategic advisor, I tended her when he left town, driving over to feed her, clean her litter box, etc.
After W and I married last year, Pimms wondered at the curiousities of the things I brought with me.
One day I found her snuggled underneath the latest quilt I was hand stitching. (see header photo)
During all the noisy construction repairs in the house, she often sought peace and quiet outdoors.
Sometimes, however, the yard maintenance crew mowed and edged the lawns of the neighborhood simultaneously in the front and back and all around, which forced her to endure the cacophony inside the house, while noisy renovations occurred inside the house!
Looking at me in fear, I’d softly assure her I was there and all was well…she calmed with a deep sigh, laid down, and slept.
On quieter days she enjoyed some of the new items I bought for the house, like this door mat.
She liked my wooly moccasins a lot, which perfectly blended with her fur.
She and I compromised on her old red velvet Christmas tree skirt and my new snowy Christmas train village for my granddaughter.
Knowing she’d love the texture, and that my hubby would love how the color blends with her fur, I bought these new floor coverings so they would enlarge our space.
CONVERSATIONS WITH A CAT
Often times W would find the two of us in conversation…well, that is my side of the story.
W’s side of the story: She’s a cat. She doesn’t understand a single thing you say!
In response, I always looked to Pimms and asked: Do you believe what he just said?
As she steadily gazed at me with trust, she moved her mouth as though she was talking back, and sometimes little pippy sounds came out.
At that, I always looked at W in jubilation!
Shaking his head, he called me Dr. Doolittle!
DON’T PET TOO LONG
Although she loves to sleep on Warren’s lap, often times he pets her for far too long.
Not wanting to nip at him, she’d glare, instead.
When he didn’t take the hint, she’d jump down and come to me, since she had learned that I’m the quiet one.
Picking her up and laying her on my lap, I’d pet her for just a few seconds, then let her settle in for a snooze.
We watched many movies together…
She happily interrupted my lap top time…
Sometimes you just have to make like a cat and take a nap!
LOOKING FOR PIMMS
My nearly three year old granddaughter, Miss M, was curiously terrified of the cat…as Pimms was of her.
While Miss M played with her little ball, it accidentally rolled over towards the cat.
Despite the six foot distance between the cat and the ball, Miss M and the cat both filled with anxiety of what the other might do!
Now when Miss M visits, she looks high and low then asks with hand gestures: Where kitty? Where cat go?
As much as I’ve tried to explain, Miss M keeps looking for Pimms…
