Happy Birthday Boys

Myspace Glitter Graphics

Happy 15th Birthday Boys. I love you very much!

Here is how my 2 boys came to live with me. About 15 years ago, I was the proud mom to 2 Siamese boys who were fast approaching their 20th birthday, and were in failing health - Tinkerbell - who turned out to be a boy and was renamed Tinker and Toby. Tinker was very skinny and his kidneys were failing and at the time, there wasn't much they could do for kidney failure, especially in cats that old. So, the very difficult decision was made to put Tinker to sleep. I still remember it was a Wednesday, and since I was in college and working full time, and still living at home, my mom made the appointment and went in with him since I had classes. Well, Toby could not live without his litter mate, and was absolutely devastated without his brother. They were inseparable anyway, and he spent the days after just wandering the house looking for Tinker. Toby had had problems regulating his body temperature for a couple of years and every once in a while would start to shiver, so I would wrap him up in a heavy baby blanket (like a baby) and hold him until he warmed up again. On the Friday after his brother went to the bridge, I had come home between classes and work, and Toby started shivering, so I wrapped him up, warmed him up, and tucked him into bed next to my mom. When I came home 4 hours later, he still had not moved, so I knew something was the matter, but as most young people who had already lost one beloved member of the family tend to do, I put it aside. I went to bed that night and when I woke up the next morning, I went looking for Toby because he always slept with me and he wasn't there. When I found him, I knew he had given up on living. He was sitting in a puddle of his own urine with a blank look in his eyes. I cleaned him up, and sat and held him and sobbed until my parents came home. My mom took one look at me and immediately knew what had to be done. This time, I couldn't not be there (it was hard enough not being there with Tinker). I held Toby as they helped him over the bridge, and then our vet wrapped him up in his baby blanket, and we took him home and buried him next to his brother that he couldn't bear to be without. (I still cry thinking about my first 2 boys who trained me).

It was a bit of a stressful time for our family because not only did we loose two babies within 3 days of each other, but my brother was getting married a week or two later, and we had lots of family coming in from out of state. I cried myself to sleep many nights during that time because of how much I missed my babies. The day all of the company left, I called my mom and asked her if we could get two more cats because I couldn't bear not to have any in my life, and her reply was that she was already working on it. In the midst of the craziness of the wedding (and I was thrilled my brother was getting married, but seriously, weddings are stressful) she was thinking of me too and how much I was hurting. That weekend, she took me to meet my boys. The breeder who owned their mother always placed the mother and kittens with foster parents so they could be raised "under foot." My mom and dad had already been to the house and picked out two boys, but she said I could pick any two I wanted if I didn't like her choices. My problem wasn't that I didn't like her choices, I just wanted a third to go with them. It was pretty much love at first sight. And home they came. They were 2-1/2 months old by then, but still rambunctious, and they found more ways to get into trouble than any human toddlers ever could. They figured out how to squeeze under the door and then eventually how to open it. They also quickly figured out how to open the food cupboard to knock down the dog food so they could all feast. They are by far the best gift I have ever gotten from my parents, and I have treasured every day I have had with them. I call to check on them every day when I have to leave them for my annual trip to Washington DC, and I am fortunate enough to get to come home during the day to take a short half hour nap with them at lunch. I don't think I could make it through the day if I couldn't come home at lunch for our snuggle. They have given me far more love and companionship than anyone who isn't a cat person could ever understand. So, Tiki and Tavi, Happy 15th birthday! I have loved every moment I have had with you, and can't wait to see what you have in store for me next. Love, Mom