Ok, So I’m Going To Get This Blog Rolling…

We adopted Penny (named for Penny Lane) and Abbey (named for Abbey Road) from Pet Adoption League as a pair. Penny had given birth to a litter in the winter and while sheltering her babies from the bitter cold, she got frostbite in her ears. They were fortunate enough to have been rescued. While at PAL, Penny’s kittens were all adopted out, and meanwhile Abbey remained as the last one from her own litter. Well, apparently Penny’s maternal instinct was still in full force and she 'adopted’ Abbey as her own there in their foster home. The two were very close; it never would have occurred to us to separate them, so we immediately became a multiple cat home. They were a perfect pair…Abbey, a playful, yet timid, kitten and Penny the patient, loving, nurturing mother. They were ideal for each other and ideal for us…just what we needed to make our family complete. Abbey continues to be on the timid side… very selective upon whom she showers her affection, but if you are among the lucky few, you are in for the kitty-lovin’ of your life!

We knew from the start that Penny came to us with special needs…at least weekly she needed me to swab out her ears so that infection wouldn’t set in. The frostbite had caused scar tissue to form in her ear canals, making her ears unable to naturally slough off the accumulation of "gunk”. I was happy to help her, and after a while I believe it was actually – if not pleasant – at least a bonding experience for us. She always tolerated her treatment with grace and a sort of understanding. That’s a good word to describe Penny…graceful. She was a quiet, sweet girl who leant an air of peace to our home. She could convert even those who claimed not to be “cat people.” Over time the scar tissue increased until she needed surgery to open up her ear canals. It did help her tremendously, and her ears, though a little funky looking, seemed to do better at staying clean and clear. After several years she developed cancer. Our poor, brave, bighearted girl was suffering and needed us to help her one more time. The most difficult decision of our lives was to release Penny’s sweet spirit from the body which only caused her pain. It was agony for her to live in such a way, and agony for us to see her suffer. We are thankful that we had the privilege of sharing our life with such a wonderful creature. We are grateful for the lessons she taught us...to gracefully accept circumstances we cannot change, to appreciate the love that comes our way, and that beauty on the outside may be fleeting, but beauty on the inside is what matters and endures. Penny, you will live in our hearts forever.

It warmed my heart to see pictures reminding me of Penny back in her better days when she was vibrant and carefree. I’ve included photos of both Upside Down Abbey and Upside Down Penny…don’t they just fill your heart with joy?