I'm not that special, just your typical cat lover. Lillybit was a stray who needed someone to rescue her, and she just latched herself onto the first person who came along with that invisible "sucker" tattoo on her forehead that only animals can detect.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love stray cats? They are street-wise and smart as all get out, and when they do land themselves a cushy berth in some nice comfy home, they spend every day of the rest of their lives showing their appreciation. (Of course, the appreciation can manifest itself in numerous ways...)

The way that Lillybit and I met was actually pretty interesting. I had parked my car at my office one morning and had met up with my boss in the parking lot and started across the street with her to the building. As we stood on the curb I noticed a big red truck parked directly opposite on the street, and a little cat perched on the hood of the truck. I saw her and she saw me at the same instant, and she immediately jumped off the truck, ran across the street straight at us, and literally launched herself right at me. I scooped her up and said hello as she meowed and purred furiously. My boss (who is a d*g person) just shook her head in disbelief. I left the kitty outside the building to go to work thinking that she probably belonged to someone in the neighborhood, but over the next day or two as I encountered her again it became increasingly clear that she didn't have a home. So on our third meeting, she followed me out to my car as I was leaving to go home, I opened my car door, she climbed in and settled down on the seat, and off we went together.

Copyright © Beth Harvey
February 25, 2001