This time last week, I was tossing and turning in bed. My arm hurt from the Covid vaccine, and despite being exhausted, I could not find a way to get comfortable and fall asleep. A few hours later, I would have a fever of around 102, and a miserable 48 hours ahead of me as I had an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
In some ways, the days following my vaccine were easier than the weeks leading up to it. The upside of the miserable days after the vaccine was that I at least new what was wrong with me. In the weeks prior, I felt exhausted all of the time. I had unexplained symptoms that came and went, sharp headaches, mild fever, muscle aches, stuffy nose, but more than anything, I simply felt sad. I fell asleep every night thinking about how much I miss Pumpkine and Storme.
I will never stop missing Pumpkine and Storme. I loved them both so much, and their time on Earth, in our happy home, was way too short. If I had been the decision maker, I do not think that I would have ever again gotten another cat.
Little Chirp felt differently. He too misses Pumpkine and Storme. We all have different ways of healing. He asked repeatedly when we could get another cat, and I could not find it in me to say no, especially when I observed how lonely Trooper is. I thought it would be at least a year before I made good on my promise to get Little Chirp another cat. I am glad that I thought wrong.
The newest addition to our happy home arrived on Saturday. He is a blue point Siamese born to a stray cat that a kind older woman rescued and nurtured through out the mother cat’s pregnancy. Little Chirp took until today to give him an official name. He was temporarily named Smore, which I was not a huge fan of. The new kitty’s name is officially Echo. I wanted to add an “e” to the end, but Little Chirp decided against it.
Echo is too cute. In just three days he has gone from super timid, trying to hide under the couch, to adventure kitty. He already comes to Little Chirp when Little Chirp calls for him. Echo has found his person.
I went to sleep with a happy heart last night, but I had what may seem like an unusual hope for someone that just brought home a new kitten. My hope was that the person that was supposed to adopt Echo’s sibling, a flame point Siamese, would flake. About mid-morning, I got a text message asking if we were still interested in the second kitten.
I skipped my lunchtime to go to pick up the second kitten. I was not even sure if she was a boy or girl. Holding her, I thought that she is a girl because she is so much smaller than her brother.
The plan was already for me to pick up Little Chirp from school with the new kitten ready to go to the vet. Little did he know, that I had two kittens in the cat carrier. I thought he would not realize it until we got to the vet. He noticed immediately. He beamed with happiness.
While we waited for the vet, we agreed the second kitty would be my kitty, and the first kitty would be his kitty. Little Chirp told me weeks ago, that he always wanted a white cat, so he could have a cat named Snowball. Part of me still thinks that we should name her Snowball. Pour Little Chirp, everyone keeps dissing this idea. Honestly, Snowball does seem like a name that a four year old girl gives to a cat. We have decided to name her Winter. Her white coat and crystal blue eyes remind me a of a snowy winter landscape.
Right now, Little Chirp is in his study, where both the kittens are hanging out. Winter is hiding behind one of the pillows on the day bed, and Echo is prancing about as if learning to play.
I not only feel better physically than I have in months, I feel better emotionally. I am happy; my heart is happy.