During my last year of college I worked at a group home for developmentally disabled adults. While there were no pets allowed in the house, there were two cats that sort of adopted the porch. Eventually these two cats had a litter of kittens. They were the most beautiful kittens I had ever seen and the first I had ever seen only hours after they were born. There were only three in the litter and I had plans to keep two of them – one for me and one for my mom. A co-worker was going to keep the third one.
The momma cat eventually started weaning the kittens and we decided it was about time for them to be taken to their respective homes. I was heading home that weekend, so I had planned to take my two little furballs with me. Unfortunately, either the momma cat or the baby kittens had other plans. They disappeared the day before I was supposed to take them home. We have no idea where they went. They were just gone and I was devastated.
Not long after that, a co-worker and I were taking a group on an outing. We had the van loaded up and just as we started pulling out of the driveway, we saw this little puff of white moving around in the grass. We got out of the van to check it out and there stood the cutest little Siamese kitten. I’ve always had a thing for Siamese cats and this little guy was just too cute. He came right up to me and snuggled up in my arms. My co-worker convinced me that it was a sign and that I should take him home.
That night he was officially named Pedro (anyone want to guess where that came from?) and he’s been with me ever since. He was my “baby” before I ever had any human babies of my own and he has certainly seen me through some rough times in my life. He always just seems to know when I’m feeling down and I’ve cried into his fur more times than I can count.
I guess that’s why it is so touching to me to see Evie really connecting to our animals, and especially to Pedro. She absolutely loves Pedro. If she spots him you can bet that she’s petting or hugging him. She walks around asking “Where Pedro at?” She loves him, just as I have for all these years.
Today I am thankful for those little moments in life that make all the bad moments worth living through. Sunday morning Zach was in bed with Hubby and I. He was just beginning to stir and was snuggled up next to me. He looked up with his sleepy eyes and said, “Mommy, I want to feel tummy, baby in tummy.” I helped him place his hand on my tummy in just the right spot and watched the smile spread over his face. That moment has stayed with me for two days now and every time I think of it I can’t help but smile.
