So...About That Kitten Thing...

I kept waiting for someone to ask why I refer to you as "kittens" but, alas, nobody has.  I am certainly one for the theory that, as the brilliant Carrie Fisher once wrote, "Instant gratification takes too long."  Therefore, I'm going to tell you, anyway.  I am a cat lover.  The only pets I have ever had (aside from a random fish or hermit crab, sadly, never long for this world in my care), have been cats.  We got our first when I was 12, an orange tabby that we, oh so creatively, named Garfield.

We lost him, under awful circumstances, when I was 18 and for many years after, we never had another cat.  Then, when I went through what was, at the time, my worst life experience, the break up of my engagement and first relationship EVER, I spiraled into a depression that was especially deep for me (and considering that I am at a baseline level of depression every day, this was bad).  At that point in time, I KNEW I needed an animal in my life again and decided on April 4, Easter Sunday, of 1999 that come hell or high water, I was going to find my new best friend that very day and I did.  Through a series of challenging circumstances, that was the day I met the next love of my life, a furry gray, black and white tabby I named Spencer.  

Sydney joined my family in December of 2004 and what a difference 5 years make.  By that point, my husband (yeah, can you believe it) and I had re-located to Florida and Spencer was remaining in New York with my mom for the time being.  We drove, three of us (hubby, Mom and I) in a completely packed Toyota Camry from New York to Florida and thought it best not to subject my sweet and very sensitive Spencer to two days in the car.  Mom was planning to fly down in March for a visit and we thought it best that Spencer fly down with her.  But, in the meantime, I was longing for furry love.  Thus, we went over to the Humane Society and Sydney chose us.  My hubby was actually leaning more towards a sweet and very loving female cat but me being me, even though I was DESPERATE for a "lap cat" (which I had never had), I said no, we had to take the rambunctious orange tabby (that I suppose, even then, reminded me of my Garfield).  Don't get me wrong, Sydney is TOTALLY his own man.  Curious and frisky (not unlike his namesake, Sydney Bristow, Jennifer Garner's Alias character) but the more time I know him, the more I see similarities to his long lost big brother.  

But I digress (do I ever).  Back to the "kitten" thing.

As I said, I love cats.   But "Kari's Cats" would have been a partial fail, alliteration-wise.  Sure, it would have SOUNDED fine but it wouldn't have LOOKED nearly as cute as "Kari's Kittens" and, for a change, I wanted my ego to rule the day.  However, it also works on other levels.  Kittens are adorable, let's face it.  Even those who are not "cat people" (do such people REALLY exist), like kittens.  Kittens are adorable, playful, frisky, open to new experiences and constantly learning.  I guess that sort of fits how I see us, all passengers on this journey through polish, having fun and learning from each other.  So, please know that when I refer to you as "kittens", these are the sorts of things I have in mind.  Without you, this blog wouldn't mean a whole heck of a lot.  Would I continue to write it?  Probably.  Its been a great cathartic release for me and brings me great joy.  To be perfectly honest, I would likely continue to write it even if nobody read it but me.  But does it matter that you DO read it?  More than you can possibly know.  As a "kid with issues", perhaps most-deeply ingrained being the idea that "nobody likes me", having you wonderful people actually give a damn what I have to say, for whatever reason, is one of the greatest affirmations I have ever received.  It matters, YOU matter, a great deal and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for embarking on, continuing with and, hopefully, enjoying the hell out of the journey we are taking together.  Meow, kittens.  xoxo