Shelter Cats and Redemption

A happy, joyous, happy Holidays! Love, Tyler, Tiger, Sophie, and Jackson!!

Thought I'd make a blog post about this pic that came up in my "on this day" portion of Facebook. Anyone else think all this social media reminiscing is getting out of hand?  On this day, time hop, we need to look forward, not back! Maybe it's just me. Anyway, here's the original "old man" back in 2011.  A sight I woke up to one mid-December morning.  A sight I miss waking up to ever since he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  While the holidays always has been and always will be my favorite time of year, it just hasn't been the same without him.  As much as I love Sophie in her own way, the bond I have with her will never compare.  I can't ever compare can it? Anyway, I thought this was a great pic of Tyler.  Still robust at 12 years of age.  Still my original old man. Enjoy!

Today is December 9th. Sixteen years ago today, I adopted Tyler and brought him to his forever home. Sixteen years.  My lord, has it really been that long? I've done many things in my life, who hasn't?  I've made many good decisions, and I've made as many, if not more, poor decisions in my nearly 43 years. Without a doubt, finding Tyler at Little Shelter, and running back there to adopt him and bring him home on this date in 2000 was the best decision I've ever made. I've never had a bond with any other being on this earth, feline or human, like I had with Tyler. I never will. I miss you, old man.  Hard to believe you're gone almost 2 1/2 years.  It seems so long, and it also seems like only yesterday.  I wish you were still here, I wish you could see how great Ashley, Peter and I are doing. I miss your head buts, I miss your purr, I miss how clean you always smelled, even towards the end when you were sick.  I miss holding you like a baby and...

Coming soon.......to scare up your holiday season....MUHAHHAHAHAHAHAH!

Here's a newsflash for you. I check my Facebook multiple times a day. I'm also a member of several cat groups that have popped up over the years on social media. OK, get up off the floor, I know I shocked the shit out of you.  Now stop it. But seriously, folks.  Yes, I check my Facebook, and what I see more often than not breaks my heart. People posting lovely, heartbreaking, heartfelt tributes to their cats that just crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  Every time I see a post from someone on a cat group, I stop.  I look at the photos of their beautiful cats.  I read their tributes. Sometimes I even tear up.  I always comment or click the "sad face" reaction.  I reach out when I can. Why?  Because I've been there of course. Twice. Saying goodbye to both Tyler and Tiger remains the two most painful moments of my life.  More painful than any heartbreaking break-up I experienced, more heartbreaking than losing touch...

I might have shared this video before, but what the heck.  It's adorable, so let's watch this again. Tyler, three years ago today, distracting me from a Battlestar Galactica episode I've probably seen 800 times. Enjoy!

Guess what?  Today is national cat day. Of the many "days" that seem to permeate our culture, this is the one day I can get behind with all my heart. So....to one and all.....happy national cat day. If you have a cat, or cats, spend time with them today.  Hug them, give them extra treats.  Play with them.  Let them know how much they mean to you. If you don't have a cat, what's wrong with you? I jest. In all seriousness.....go to a shelter, it's a beautiful day!  Adopt a shelter cat, give a shelter cat the forever home they all deserve. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.