Upside Down Cats

Wondering what NaBloPoMo is? Read this to learn all about it and why (and how) I'm participating!

What a difference a  year makes - #7

2009: Until June I had the best kitty-friend of my life. Abbey came to us as a too-big-eared kitten two days after we moved into our house - officially making it home. She came as part of a duo with her best friend, Penny. That was back in 1994. She nuzzled her furry and ample white-bellied wonderfulness into our hearts for fifteen delightful years. Through every one of those fifteen Abbey-ful years, she filled our home with a calm warmth that blossomed with our attachment to her and hers to us.

Abbey and I shared a very close relationship. She was incredibly intuitive and knew exactly when Mama Gina needed her some Abbey. I've written about Abbey and me many times before so it's really no surprise to many people that losing her was one of the most significant losses of my life.

And it happened in 2009, of course.

2010: I still miss Abbey more than I can (or care to) express. There's a humongous hole in my heart - in my life - that remains empty.

That being said, 2010 has brought me a different kitty relationship with our little man Cooper. He has begun to pay special attention to his Mama Gina. Where Abbey and I were friends, Cooper and I are more like mom and son. He is such a little clown - he makes me laugh every day. Oh, and he's absolutely addicted to his cat treats, which we call "candy." Not a night goes by that he doesn't sleep on me. He brings things to us from around the house (socks, stuffed animals, shoes, bathrobe ties...) in what I call his attempt to help provide for our "pride." Yup, he's our little family guy.

2010 has brought more kitty love into my life. Rather than look at it as having less because of the loss of Abbey, I am trying to look at it as having more because now I have Cooper's love in addition to having had Abbey's.

Thank goodness for kitty love.

Today would have been my mom's 91st birthday. She passed away back in March and today I'm thinking that this is the first time in my life that I haven't been able to wish her a happy day and remind her to spend it celebrating herself. I'll have to celebrate her myself with my memories and by taking some time to reflect on her legacy in my life.

The way I'm going to celebrate Mom's birthday is by writing about the last time I visited her which, aptly, was at the big birthday bash my family held for her last August on the occasion of her 90th birthday. It was a party I very nearly missed... Continue reading "The Counting Skunks Tour 2009" »

This is the next-to-last day of National Blog Posting Month. I do believe I'm going to follow through to complete the challenge for my third consecutive year! For NaBloPoMo '09 I've been posting a photo of our cats and a haiku I wrote about said photo.

Gina's Hai-cat #29

Abbey on the shirts
Great help folding the laundry
Never puts away

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are reading along throughout National Blog Posting Month! Here's today's NaBloPoMo '09 haiku about a photo of our cats...

Gina's Hai-cat #26

A very sad year
Said goodbye to a best friend
Thankful for Abbey

National Blog Posting Month is chugging right along! Here's today's NaBloPoMo '09 haiku about a photo of our cats.

Gina's Hai-cat #25

Lie down and hold still!
So I can lick your head clean
Abbey bathes Desi

We're at day 16 of National Blog Posting Month. I'm participating in NaBloPoMo '09 by writing a haiku each day of November about a photo of our cats.

Gina's Hai-cat #16

Abbey looks outside
Happy to be loved inside
Sweet and gentle friend

Another day another hai-cat - that's a haiku written about a photo of our cats as I participate in National Blog Posting Month. Here's my NaBloPoMo '09 submission for today...

Gina's Hai-cat #12

Who needs a pillow?
Abbey and Penny snuggle
Best friends forever

Today is day eleven of National Blog Posting Month. I'm putting my meager poetic skills to the test by writing a haiku about a photo of our cats every day of NaBloPoMo '09. Here we go...

Gina's Hai-cat #11

Laundry day, hooray!
Hamper lid makes perfect bed
Comfortable Abbey

National Blog Posting Month is nicely underway by now. For NaBloPoMo '09 I am writing a haiku about a photo of our cats every day throughout November. Here is today's poem:

Gina's Hai-cat #6

On the stairs she hides
Abbey plays a stalking game
A wild creature!

Thanks for tuning in to the third installment of my NaBloPoMo '09 challenge where I write a haiku about a photo of our cats or "hai-cat" if you will.

Gina's Hai-cat #3

Three cats pose on plaid
Pretty Abbey, Moe, Penny
Family portrait