How We Met

Getting bit has never been more worth it...

Back in early September of 2011, my husband and I thought we could hear the cries of a kitten outside. Sure enough, once outside, I could hear it coming from my neighbor’s driveway. My heart immediately began to pound at the sound of a baby-kitty-distress-call and, I gotta say, the set of lungs on this little guy were amazing!

So, there I was, standing in the middle of “Cat Lady’s” driveway (little did I know that I too would soon carry this very title)… frozen and slightly crouched in a cautionary position, hands outstretched as if to further increase my mighty baby-kitty-rescue-senses… Ooh! There it was again! The panicky desperation in this cry was SO LOUD it made MY desperation to find him all the stronger. My innate cat rescuing skills soon led me to an old pallet leaning up against a fence. Upon pulling back some wooden planks, THERE HE WAS! A little ball of fuzz amidst the dried leaves and twigs.

MY. HEART. MELTED.

Up on his hind legs, one particular twig had him pinned upright by the neck with his back against the wall so he couldn’t move.

“YAY! FREE KITTEN!”

But as soon as I loosened the twig he got away.

“DAMMIT!”

I watched my tiny escapee scurry up the driveway and under the old lady’s house. BIG SIGH OF DEFEAT….

HEART. SANK.

The next day, when Rick told me he could hear the baby-beacon again, I instantly rushed out of the house despite my morning hair and attire. Didn’t care. I had a job to do… I must save this baby!! I will not stop! He is destined to be the newest addition to my collection, I mean family.

Once again I found myself back in Cat Lady’s driveway straining to hear. Deeper into neighboring Cat Lady Land I went, sneaking around the side of her house as I tried not to gag from the overwhelming stench of cat pee. Through and under and around bushes and branches and past another neighbor’s shed I went with the occasional pause to listen… It’s getting louder! There I be (sometimes I’m a pirate) peerin’ ’round another neighbor’s fence and what do you think I saw?Yup! That’s right. The teeniest little ball of fuzz was now laying in the middle of a walkway that leads to someone’s back door, front legs tucked underneath his body.

HEART. STOPS.

He was just sitting there, crying out over and over again in hopes that his mommy would come back to him.

“YOUR NEW MOMMA’S COMING!!”

I wasn’t sure how to approach this. He was right out in the open so I couldn’t sneak up on him. With a deep breath and probably a quick prayer for back-up, I stepped out to where he could see me. S L O W L Y I walked toward him and, sure enough, he bolted, running toward a space between the shed and a fence. It was now or never. With no time to lose I instinctively grabbed him before he disappeared into a pile of yard stuff. He then proceeded to hiss like a cobra and bite both my hands. Ouch! Sharp teeth for such a tiny specimen. Broke the skin!

CAN’T! LET! GO!

He clamped down on my thumb super hard but I didn’t flinch; I knew I couldn’t drop him. I quickly drew him close to me and pulled the bottom of my t-shirt up and over him so he couldn’t see. Worked like a charm too, cuz he immediately released his jaw-clamp and never made another sound. I could feel all the tension in his body let go. I couldn’t believe how quickly he relaxed!

Using the sidewalk this time, I speed-walked back to my house, rushed up the stairs to my bedroom, and sat down on the side of my bed. Time to reveal my prize! When I pulled back my shirt he simply looked up at me with giant, vulnerable eyes and made one, soft little meow at me.

THAT WAS IT… INSTANT LOVE.

And the bond he had with me AND my husband was solid and unwavering. A truly one-of-a-kind relationship. He needed us and we needed him. And the love Gilbert gave us will always be forever in our hearts and minds.

Until we meet again, my sweet Gilbert, know that we will miss you every single day.

Oh, how Gilbert loved his dad. Such a bond.