Time. When it's bad, it's described as stopping. When it's good, it always seems to fly by too fast. This picture was taken so long ago, but feels like yesterday to me. To give you an indication, one of my first pictures, a selfie at that, with my shiny new digital camera, back in 2000! Fifteen years later, my cell phone has two better cameras than that one, but his post isn't about what changes over time, it's about what that picture is trying to save, time.
The year is 1998, fresh out of college and on my own for the first time. Working all day, not all that unlike school, but now come home to an empty apartment. Gone are roommates and suddenly it feels very lonely. I'm alone. I don't like it. Being on my own did give freedoms, and one freedom that I never had growing up was getting a four legged friend. Always wanted a dog, but a cat felt like a better choice given their independence for my situation. In my dreams, I pictured a pure white cat with blue eyes.
I had been giving the decision to get a cat lots of thought, over analyzing as usual, but impulse caught me. I believe it was a Sunday when the loneliness got to me and drove to the pet store to "look". What are the chances, but they had a white kitten with blue eyes, it's a sign! I'm doing it! The staff happened to be busy, so I had to wait. While waiting, I wondered around looking at the other kittens and happened standing in front of the display window. In the display case was this kitten that was WILD! It was like watching the Tasmanian Devil from cartoons, it was just this blur of motion, when it did briefly pause, these two HUGE green eyes appeared. This little kitten's eyes were so big they didn't look like even should fit on the little body. It took only seconds watching the energy, the craziness, and the silliness, instantly fell in love. This is my cat. Hey, sometimes dreams are wrong.
Naming her took even less time than falling in love with her. Rascal was obvious, she was into everything! Here's where I could fill this blog with story after story of what made Rascal special and how she became such a big piece of my heart. But, I'm not going to do that. This blog is about sharing things I want to remember and don't want to forget. In this situation though, I'm being selfish and am keeping every memory for myself to fill my recent void, because I know I won't forget.
Sixteen years, almost seventeen, is a long time. Both Rascal and Shy have been a part of my life for almost half of it! With the passing of her brother, thought I've been mentally preparing for this moment. When I got the news that her health was failing, I wanted time to stop, but it didn't. Thought I was prepared, but I wasn't. Seeing how frail she is, this is the exact moment my heart broke:
So many emotions, so many tears. Words can't even begin to describe and this blog post will never do her justice. How this ball of fur, with two huge green eyes, touched me so deeply, is beyond me.
Luckily, still time for one last selfie, a whipped cream treat, little nap and most important daddy girl time.
So thankful that I got to spend a little more time with my girl, it wasn't enough, just sorry I couldn't stop time.
Rascal Girl (August 26, 1998 - May 5, 2015)
Rascal, you were exactly what I needed, when I needed it most. The perfect combination of beauty, independence, class, yet a hunter, loving on your terms, so vocal, with the damn biggest sweet tooth, and above all a rascal! Loved every second, every cat nap, and telling every story blaming your brother for breaking something! You will be with me, ALWAYS! I dream of you often and hope to see you soon. I Love You Baby Girl!
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