As most of you know, ever since my devastating illness in January and February, I have been looking for a "housemate". I have been very cautious in this regard. After all, when you open your "home" to someone, you also open your "life!"

Last Friday I found a lovely older lady who needs a home and who -- are you ready for this? -- not only LOVES cats, but who is owned by two pretty babies!

To make a long story fairly short, she began moving into my guest room Saturday afternoon. It was a busy, noisy kind of day. Suzy was here. There was a lot of conversation, background music, food ordering and preparation, and lots of doors opening and closing. However, everyone knew that the death penalty prevailed if she let a cat "out!"

Now Gizzi is not a cat who takes well to that kind of confusion. I knew he would find a good place to hide, deeper in the house and farther away than the other cats. I didn't know exactly where he was, but I wasn't worried.

Finally, the day wound down. Suzy went home and Sandra, exhausted from this and several other days, retired (with Scooter and Mandy) to her "quarters." I sat back in my recliner and began to call my family. Everyone came, stretching, yawning and talking cat talk -- but Gizzi.

As you know, I am wheelchair bound. Nevertheless, I began to search the house, trying to be as quiet as I could. It was now well after midnight, so I knew I was "on my own!"

By 2:00AM, I was upset. By 3:00AM, I was agitated and nervous, and the crying had started. By 4:00AM, I was verging on hysterical! (How can you invest SO MUCH LOVE in only 7 silly lbs of cat???)

Sandra began to stir around 7:00AM, and we opened the garage doors (pretty much cat proof inside) and also the front door. No little cream colored cat appeared.

I planned on calling Suzy at 8:00AM, but she called me at 7:45AM. "Gizzi's gone," I sobbed. "Hang on," she said. "I'll be right there!"

When she got here, Suzy grabbed a flashlight and began a systematic, closet by closet, cupboard by cupboard, search of the house. I gnawed at my knuckles, wiped my nose, and whimpered.

Finally, after about 45 minutes, I heard Suzy call out, "I've got him!" He was tucked away in a closet in the guest room, way back out of sight. When Suze opened the door, he hissed at her for all he was worth!

We talked about what to do. We all agreed that he might respond well to my voice. When Suzy opened the door for me, he walked out and looked around. "Hi, guys," he seemed to say. "What's all the fuss about?"

So we are reunited. I should have smacked him, but I didn't. Instead, I hugged him and kissed him all over! That day being a day of rest, I slept a lot -- with him held tightly in my arms.

This, I keep telling you, is all part of life in Cat Country!

Copyright © Renee Darvin
August 16, 2001