The beginning:
In May 2006 I moved in with Todd. At the brink of 26 I was so excited to get going with my life- we were moving in with each other having discussed that we liked where the relationship was going. We wanted to be together. We were a perfect match- we liked sporting events, hot dogs and beer, he has a way with words that makes the English major in me melt- all things that would make a solid foundation for any relationship. Easier said though- (and as Shannon has put it) we're both weird beards which was good enough for me (and oh, those Kurpel calves!!)
I had a week-long class later that June- the last day of class was June 30th. We hadn't killed each other while we were acclimating to cohabitation so we decided it was time for a pet. Coincidentally, June 30th was the last day the Delaware County SPCA was offering a buy one, get one cat for a $1 special-so it was meant to be.
After the class ended at noon that day, I raced over to the pet store, bought a litter pan, litter sifter, litter, and a few toys. My mom met me back at my apartment and we were off to the SPCA. I told the man at the counter my business there, I provided my lease, he showed me the cats.
I saw the boy right away. I have a thing for little boy cats. They're sweet. Most times, they can't really meow- it's more of a squeak. His sister looked pretty cute too so I was just about ready to place my SPCA order...until I walked around the joint and I saw her: a teeeeny little kitten with a two toned face- split right down the center. I had to have her- we matched, after all. She had her two-tones; I had my freckles. Also, I didn't want to leave the boy's other sister with just her full grown mother- not a good pair to leave at the SPCA.
Todd came home later and was thrilled with my choice. Their names: Scamp, after my favorite children's book, Scamp to the Rescue and Cookie after, well, a cookie (I hate to admit it, but it was a euphemism for the female genitalia...creative, aren't we?)
I'll always remember that day- it was the one where we started our little family.
So no real need to go into the heartache this cat caused us with the battery of tests after having seizures, stumbling all over the place, needing meds twice a day, not being able to leave town without a plan since our little friend had special needs, falling down the steps, falling up the steps, miraculous 5 feet vertical jumps- bottom line- we knew we were on borrowed time- but we found comfort knowing that without us, she would've been put down on July 5th, 2006 when she had the seizures in the first place- cost to find out what was wrong: $1,000- fee for us was waived- Todd's sister is a cat vet.
So the life lesson. At 25 I knew I was pretty much signing a lease to an apartment but really I was singing over my single life to start my life with the man I love. We would eventually marry, buy a house have our children and live happily ever after and watch the sunset every night on our roof deck before we go to be in our 12 room mansion, right?
"Ha!" said the 29-year-old Sarah, laughing at the 25-year-old Sarah.
Life, so far, has been sweet for us. When I signed up for a husband and cats four years ago, a house two years ago, our child eight months ago, inevitably and without thinking about it, I also signed up up for whatever heartache that comes along with all of it. There is so much joy to be had and I'm glad that I'm mostly an optimist and I don't necessarily fear death and the unknown.
I'm glad that we tend to jump into situations with our feet first and figure it out as we go along the way. If this teaches me anything- it's that I can't waste borrowed time. As long as our choices and decisions don't hurt people- we need to go for them and figure things out when it doesn't go "our way" because sometimes, we'll find A WAY and that might be enough.
I'm very sad about Mrs. Cookie Picklestein but it reinforces my idea that I need a pool in my backyard and I might abuse my lunch hour to do so.
Also, sorry boys waiting at home... the all-you-can-eat kitty buffet has come to an end. We've kept the food down for the past four years for your little house mother Mrs. Cookie P... and sadly, those days are over. Celebrity Cat Fit Club begins.
:-/
In May 2006 I moved in with Todd. At the brink of 26 I was so excited to get going with my life- we were moving in with each other having discussed that we liked where the relationship was going. We wanted to be together. We were a perfect match- we liked sporting events, hot dogs and beer, he has a way with words that makes the English major in me melt- all things that would make a solid foundation for any relationship. Easier said though- (and as Shannon has put it) we're both weird beards which was good enough for me (and oh, those Kurpel calves!!)
I had a week-long class later that June- the last day of class was June 30th. We hadn't killed each other while we were acclimating to cohabitation so we decided it was time for a pet. Coincidentally, June 30th was the last day the Delaware County SPCA was offering a buy one, get one cat for a $1 special-so it was meant to be.
After the class ended at noon that day, I raced over to the pet store, bought a litter pan, litter sifter, litter, and a few toys. My mom met me back at my apartment and we were off to the SPCA. I told the man at the counter my business there, I provided my lease, he showed me the cats.
I saw the boy right away. I have a thing for little boy cats. They're sweet. Most times, they can't really meow- it's more of a squeak. His sister looked pretty cute too so I was just about ready to place my SPCA order...until I walked around the joint and I saw her: a teeeeny little kitten with a two toned face- split right down the center. I had to have her- we matched, after all. She had her two-tones; I had my freckles. Also, I didn't want to leave the boy's other sister with just her full grown mother- not a good pair to leave at the SPCA.
Todd came home later and was thrilled with my choice. Their names: Scamp, after my favorite children's book, Scamp to the Rescue and Cookie after, well, a cookie (I hate to admit it, but it was a euphemism for the female genitalia...creative, aren't we?)
I'll always remember that day- it was the one where we started our little family.
So no real need to go into the heartache this cat caused us with the battery of tests after having seizures, stumbling all over the place, needing meds twice a day, not being able to leave town without a plan since our little friend had special needs, falling down the steps, falling up the steps, miraculous 5 feet vertical jumps- bottom line- we knew we were on borrowed time- but we found comfort knowing that without us, she would've been put down on July 5th, 2006 when she had the seizures in the first place- cost to find out what was wrong: $1,000- fee for us was waived- Todd's sister is a cat vet.
So the life lesson. At 25 I knew I was pretty much signing a lease to an apartment but really I was singing over my single life to start my life with the man I love. We would eventually marry, buy a house have our children and live happily ever after and watch the sunset every night on our roof deck before we go to be in our 12 room mansion, right?
"Ha!" said the 29-year-old Sarah, laughing at the 25-year-old Sarah.
Life, so far, has been sweet for us. When I signed up for a husband and cats four years ago, a house two years ago, our child eight months ago, inevitably and without thinking about it, I also signed up up for whatever heartache that comes along with all of it. There is so much joy to be had and I'm glad that I'm mostly an optimist and I don't necessarily fear death and the unknown.
I'm glad that we tend to jump into situations with our feet first and figure it out as we go along the way. If this teaches me anything- it's that I can't waste borrowed time. As long as our choices and decisions don't hurt people- we need to go for them and figure things out when it doesn't go "our way" because sometimes, we'll find A WAY and that might be enough.
I'm very sad about Mrs. Cookie Picklestein but it reinforces my idea that I need a pool in my backyard and I might abuse my lunch hour to do so.
Also, sorry boys waiting at home... the all-you-can-eat kitty buffet has come to an end. We've kept the food down for the past four years for your little house mother Mrs. Cookie P... and sadly, those days are over. Celebrity Cat Fit Club begins.
:-/
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