Pictured here is Velvet lounging on the picnic table with the leaves from the mimosa tree swaying above him. This photo was taken nearly twenty-five years ago. I found it tonight while cleaning out my garage.
Velvet had arrived on my doorstep the night of a tropical storm; rain was just beginning to fall when I heard a faint meowing. Initially, I thought it was just the wind. I opened my door and there he was trembling and huddled up; his large green eyes pleading to find refuge from the storm.
I have allergy to cat fur.
So.
So what!
I also had two little dogs. I wasn’t all too sure how they would react to a visitor since they both were already stressed with the howling wind slapping tree branches against the house.
So, I just couldn’t stand the thought of that little cat outside in the storm.
Of course, I bundled him up in my arms in a towel, dried him off, and opened a can of tuna for him. Needless to say, he stayed pretty much by my side for over a decade.
Curiously, no one ever claimed him; so, I claimed him. And, my two little dogs absolutely adored him. They would huddle into a big pile and sleep; they did this during the tropical storm that first night.
Velvet would follow me when I’d take walks around the neighborhood; I think he may have thought he was one of the dogs. He would jump on my son’s music stand and bat at the flute my son had been playing; he seemed to love music.
Mainly, he loved being apart of my family.
Interestingly, a few months after he landed on my doorstep another stray cat whom I named Sheba showed up. Nobody claimed her; so, I did.
My allergies to cats miraculously disappeared! I think it was their love that cured me of my allergies. . .
So, I ended up with two cats that became quick friends with my two little dogs.
Looking at all those all photos that I had stored in my garage is bittersweet. I was suddenly reminded of the rapid passage of time, of loss, and of those magical moments when a simple meow would make me laugh. I was reminded of sunny days in my garden with two cats and two dogs stretched out beneath the crape myrtle trees. . .enjoying the breeze.
Time goes way to fast; I wish I could step back into those hours, but I can’t.
But, I can remember.
I can remember the magical moments of calm and learning to just sit beneath the mimosa tree, like Velvet, and enjoy the sound of silence. And the beauty of peace.
Jenny W. Andrews copyright 2022
Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques 
Awwww, Velvet was so lucky to pick you!
Pets, and their lasting memories, are priceless.
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Hi Megan, it’s bittersweet to remember and to look through old photos, but I also remember those wonderful days. Pets are more than just animals; they are family, they are our most trusted friends. . . Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. . .Have a beautiful week ahead . . .
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beautiful memories.
So you had secret-life-of-pets going on at home. 🙂
long ago. i can’t even do the math now i was in my o-levels/9th grade. a cat birthed 3 babies at our roof top and when she went downstairs she got injured in an accident and couldn’t come upstairs and we got to know about babies and whole situation in a few days. 2 of them survived we found one dead already.
i took care of those too. they were so tiny had very little fur and could barely stand on their feet. they had to be fed by dropper, then feeders of infants. they would stand on 2 feet like humans and held the feeder when they would drink milk. i wish i had pictures.
thanks for sharing your story. it brought back my own memories 😊
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Thank you for reading my blog and sharing your own memories. Animals have such an amazing way of enriching our lives. Do you have any cats now? What happened to these little kittens? I can imagine you probably kept them. . . . Have a wonderful week ahead. . . .
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I love your blog. I just dont get enough time to visit often but i have always enjoyed it.
I don’t have any pets currently simply because i cant take them to work lol it will become another chore for dad.
One day i came from school and they were gone. And then my dad gave me this pep talk where told me how they would be better with thier own clan since they were stay and we had very little space and thier need were changing as they were growing up. I cried for a few days then just accepted it was good for them
I kept them for a long time. Cant exactly remember but they weren’t sensitive babies anymore.
You have a good day week month 🙂
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Thanks for reading my blog. I am glad you enjoy reading it. Have a wonderful week ahead. . .I love reading your blog, as well. . .
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Thank you! 🤗
Have a wonderful week.
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