Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Tortie Tuesday

My Pretty Girl



May 17th, 2006. It was my 40th birthday and a friend and I were having dinner. We were discussing pet mortality; his beloved dog of 17 years had recently died, and he was having great difficulty adjusting to it. I was trying, gently, to encourage, if not an immediate adoption of a new pet, at least an open mind to the matter. Meanwhile, my cat Muddy was ailing with well-compensated kidney failure. My friend asked what I thought I would do when Muddy was no longer with me. I didn't realize at the time how soon that would come to pass, being, perhaps, somewhat in denial about my pet's condition. Muddy had literally found me so I responded that I would get another cat, but I would not seek him/her out; the cat would find me. This would give me a year or two to grieve and I knew that to follow in Muddy's enormous paw steps, the cat would have to be extra-special and if he/she found me, that would make it 'meant to be'. Little did I know at the time but, on or around that very day, my extra-special cat was being born.

Barely three months later, on August 10th, Muddy died from a stroke. Even being somewhat prepared for his death, it was devastating. I was inconsolable. Six excruciating days later I received a call from my friend's daughter, Chelse. She was whispering because she was calling behind her mother's back. It seems Chelse had found a kitten in the alley behind her house and, because they already had two cats, her mother insisted they bring the kitten to the shelter. She thought of me immediately and when she asked her mother if she could ask me to take the kitten, her mother insisted that it was far too soon after losing Muddy and she was NOT to call me. Chelse, who is normally a very obedient girl, snuck into her mother's room, looked in her phone book and called me. I was not even close to being ready for a new kitten but I remembered the vow I had made and I knew that I couldn't mess with destiny. I asked Chelse if she could bring the kitten to me and she and her sister came right over with Delilah.



Her pretty little 'no BS' face fascinated me. She was hungry for food and I was hungry for some sort of distraction from my grief. She was the exact opposite of Muddy in that she was young, female and full of energy, so I didn't feel guilty about replacing him. Every day that she was here, I felt a little bit better and started laughing about how she was not afraid of anything. I realized just how devoted to me and fearless she was when a frozen tube-shaped package of beef fell out of the freezer as I opened the door and it crushed my toe. The pain was so intense that I yelled out and cried and hobbled to sit down. She sat, for a moment, staring at me trying to figure out what to do, then ran off to the kitchen. When I managed to return to the kitchen, I found her attacking the meat tube, shredding it with her back paws. The next time I went to open the freezer, she looked at me as if to say, 'Are you sure you want to do this?' and got in an attack stance so she'd be ready for any flying meat! She seemed to instinctively know when I was feeling bad and when I cried about Muddy, she'd curl up in a little ball on my shoulder and dab my neck with her wet nose as if to say 'I'm here'. Delilah was exactly what I needed and she still is really in tune with my moods. She's not as constantly demonstrative as Samson is, but when I need her, she always seems to be right there, ready to cheer me up.



I had never thought of getting a Tortie before I met Delilah. In fact, I wasn't really fond of the look of them (gasp!). But Delilah changed all that for me and I found myself looking for information and pictures of them and developed a real fascination with them. Of course, after we started blogging, I found even more wonderful Torties (Tasha and Isabella primarily) to read about and now I'm hooked!

I'd like to thank Samson and Delilah for letting me write about them. I hope they let me blog again but I imagine they're so mortified with what Mom wrote, that they won't be taking any time off again in the near future.

Happy Tortie Tuesday!

Karen

23 comments:

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

That is a great Tortie Tuesday post and a wonderful Gotcha day story!

Anya said...

Very lovely words,
thanks for sharing....

Cheyenne -Millie said...

What a lovely story! We enjoyed reading it! I am glad you got Delilah! Also that she is a comfort to you!

Luna ( from Brazil ) said...

Hello friend!
My name is Luna and I'm from Brazil!
I came to visit you from Eric and Flynn's blog.
You have a fabulous blog with beautiful pictures and adventures!
ConCATulations!
purrs and love
Luna

The Creek Cats said...

Loved the story! Absolutely loved the part about Deli attacking the meat that hurt your toes! She is awesome! We are so glad you found one another. Kitties have a great way of showing up just when you need them.

Know what you mean.... we never realized how beautiful beautiful calicos are until Maggie May found us.

Mishkat said...

This is a wonderful post and a great story (and nothing for Delilah to be embarassed about!) I'm so glad you and Deli found each other.

We didn't know anything about torties until Brian found Tasha (I'd almost always had male cats before, and Brian had never had a cat that he raised from a kitten), but now we're hooked too.

Tasha sends many purrs to the lovely Delilah!

Everycat said...

WHat a sweet story. Delilah is a special Tortie indeedy. What wonderful powers of healing your heart she has.

Whicky Wuudler

CCL Wendy said...

Delilah sounds like a very special little girl who comfurts you when you need it most.

And it doesn't take anything away from Muddy, because as you noted, she was completely diffurent. It's impawsible to replace one kitty with another because they are such unique individuals and we have to grieve the loss uniquely.

However, I am of the opinion that it is best to find another furry furiend as soon as possible because it helps to soothe the pain, and gives you something pawsitive to look furward to each morning.

My son lost two of his beloved kitties six months apart, and he didn't want to think about getting another. However, he changed his mind, and it certainly helped him get through this rough period in his life -- dealing with two new little ones. It didn't stop him grieving for the loss of the ones who passed, however, but it did make the loss more bearable.

Lovely story about Muddy and Delilah! Torties rule!

The Kitty Krew said...

Another lovely story! Our tortie Callie sends special purrs and hellos to you and Delilah! :)

Purrs and hugs,
The Kitty Krew
Bugsy, Sassy, Callie, Roxy, and Pixie, and Their Mommy

Unknown said...

Our momma has da waterz in her eyez from thinkin' 'bout alla' da furry ones she's lost ta da Bridge. Our momma iz happy dat you found more ♥ in your life.

The Island Cats said...

What a wonderful story! And all because a child decided not to listen to her mother! Haha! Delilah is a beauty! Thanks for sharing her story with us!

Reese =^..^= said...

Oh my goodness. What a touching story. Happy Tortie Tuesday.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing Delilah's story! You told it in such a moving and touching way, we can clearly picture her sitting on your shoulder and comforting you. You are such a lucky Cat Mom:)

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

That is a super beautiful post. I think that destiny realy played a part there. I think also that your beloved lost kitty had a party in sending the little one. Lovely.

Thank you for sharing that..


Hugs GJ xx

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

That is a super beautiful post. I think that destiny realy played a part there. I think also that your beloved lost kitty had a party in sending the little one. Lovely.

Thank you for sharing that..


Hugs GJ xx

BeadedTail said...

This is such a lovely story about how you and Delilah found each other. She is such a special girl and of course a beautiful tortie! Isabella is the first tortie I've had and I'm hooked now too. I'm so glad the cats let you blog these past two days so we could find out their backgrounds!

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

Terrific Toasty Tortie post by Delilah's mom! And Karen-Tommy says you guys are simpatico (I need to Google that)--cuz you have same birthday as Tommy's daddy, In August 2006, Tommy lost her kitty Sammy to kidney failure, and about that time Delilah found you, my mommy. Uncle and Daddy were being born--Tommy says you both are blessed!

Mouchois said...

I've got to say that I adore your writing style. I could read every word and be drawn in for more.
That's such a sweet story and I was so happy to read it.
Destiny has given you Delilah, and has given Delilah you. Everything works out perfectly. :)

Quill and Greyson said...

Oh that was another great post, I think you did your babies more than proud Mom!

Quill and Greyson said...

Hey if I did math I think you and Mom are the same age...

Unknown said...

The mom hadid a huge smile on her face as she read da story, us kittys KNOW who da right person is fer us even ifs yoo beans aren't ready!

The Crew said...

What a nice story. Delilah came to you at the right time.

Cat with a Garden said...

Wow, what a great post for Tortie Tuesday! Thank you for telling us about how destiny brought you Delilah.
Purrs!