As you know, our beloved Tortellini, 19, passed away Wednesday evening.
Thursday morning Jeff and I placed her to rest beneath her fav ancient oak tree that spreads it's massive, graceful limbs across the upper backyard. This is where the story begins...
Actually, not quite. We have to backtrack several years ago to when Jeff and I moved into our house. Our elderly neighbors, across the street, had several cats. One of them was Tortellini. She would divide her time between their house and ours. In addition, we soon realized after moving in, that many neighbors had been transitioning away from the neighborhood leaving their cats behind who were literally in the process of starving.
Many were just bones and near death.
Well, we had to do something, so that's when I began the outdoor gang; feeding, grooming, caring for those pets who had been left behind by their owners. Vet appointments; neutering/spaying, etcetera. Anyway, Tortellini, became a regular member. At that time she was pregnant w/ our first litter. Beautiful kittens she would share w/ us. Shuttling them back and forth across the street. Out of that first litter, a soft yellow/white kitten, we fell in love w/ and named Dagwood-- sadly, 4 or 5 months later he was hit by a car as he was going home across the street. Over the years we've never forgotten him and will bring him up in conversation from time to time. It was in her second litter of kittens that she had Risotto, Simon, and Michel, who passed away last year. So, while, over the years, Tortellini would shuttle back and forth, giving birth to other kittens, it wasn't until her owner's passed away, that she decided to move in full time w/ us.
This is the part of the story where Risotto comes in..
Risotto, is our guard cat extraordinaire. Seriously. She can be in the back of the upper back yard and will hear an animal that is not Anna Chan or the outdoor gang walking somewhere on our property and she will began screeching sounds that sound like the cries of a crazed banshee, it's unbelievable really, this proceeds the chase off the property w/ her in hot pursuit, biting clawing and scratching and will literally chase them down the street w/ the poor animal crying hysterically in fear. Ask any of the neighborhood labradors, coyotes, raccoons or possums, who have made the mistake to come on our property, they never make that mistake twice. Neighbors used to come out running to see what was happening, they now shrug their shoulders, realizing it's only Risotto.
Risotto and I have a great relationship. I would never make the mistake of attempting to pick her up. She will come and sit near me, I can pet her (occasionally). She trusts me implicitly and loves me (on her terms). Well, she loves me to serve her breakfast and dinner, give her fresh water daily and make sure the birdbaths are filled w/ water... she would probably tear my face off if I attempted to go beyond that... it may not be that brutal, but why tempt fate?
Now, that we have that ALL out of the way we can FF back to Thursday afternoon. Arriving home from work I turned the key into the lock of our front door. Stepping inside the foyer, it was odd not having Tortellini welcoming me home. Glancing toward her fav chair in the living room, I could see sitting on Tortellini's chair, huddled together, were ALL of the indoor gang looking sadly forlorn missing their old pal.
After changing into my scrubs and tank top, I walked barefoot from the master bedroom out to the foyer and into the living room. I stopped, sat down w/ the indoor gang and enjoyed some playtime. Thinking, isn't it amazing how one small animal can fill such a large part of our lives w/ their presence and how much they're missed when they are not here?
So, here's the first clue of what happens next. It will make absolutely no sense to you whatsoever, until the end of the story, but I wanted to hear the song now, and this was as good a place as any to insert it.
Confused? Let's fix that. Getting up from sitting w/ the indoor gang, I told them I missed mamasan (my nick name for Tortellini) too. But, it was time for dinner.
Walking out to the garage to get the cat food, I was surprised to see Risotto, peering into the French glass door that leads out to the patio. I walked outside, greeted her and was more surprised as she was impatiently trying to tell me something. What exactly, I had no clue. She wanted me to follow her. She kept looking back making sure I was behind her. Then stepped aside as I reached the outdoor gang's food bowls, looking very pleased w/herself while waiting for my reaction.
What did I discover inside a food bowl? This is what I saw...
Saffron
Introducing: Saffron. A kitten that is an exact replica of Tortellini w/ the exception of having long hair. Risotto had waited until this exact moment to introduce me to this very special kitten who is Tortellini's granddaughter. She has 2 brothers. They are a very soft yellow w/white markings. One is an exact copy of Dagwood. So, of course we christened him Dagwood in honor of him. The 3rd kitten we named Bumstead-- both after the classic Blondie comic strip.
Life, if you wait long enough does come full circle and can be magical.
Risotto w/ Dagwood
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left to right: Saffron, Bumstead and Dagwood
Risotto is graciously sharing Saffron w/me. Yesterday, after work, Saffron came inside w/ me, climbing on my chest, listening to my heartbeat, she fell asleep.
This morning Risotto was in the upper backyard leading the kittens to foliage, where they could nap. In the first pic they're all in line. The second pic Bumstead is falling behind doing his own thing while Risotto waits ahead for him to catch up. Poor Risotto, if you have more than one child (of any species) they will take turns trying your patience.
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