Instead of just laying in bed the past few days, I’ve made me myself get up. Get up and go to work. Get up and take care of the cats. Get up and start doing yoga again. I know in the end, not doing things actually makes me feel worse. Even if I don’t feel like doing those things at the time.
I realized this morning, after my morning yoga, that Josie is no longer a kitten.
I’ve had her since August and she’s changed so much in these past few months.
The other cats and I celebrated Josie becoming an adult with her very own green collar and cat treats for all of them. We had a little “pawty” pawty, get it? Pretty sure I’m only funny to myself.
Of course, Josie didn’t enjoy her next step into adulthood. Being spayed. It’s a perk of having your own vet clinic though. I got to do the procedure myself. But, no cat is happy about the cone of shame.
After I brought Josie home, I decided to go for a walk around town.
I never thought I’d run into Ciara Scott and Muffin. I didn’t mind seeing Muffin again. Ciara? I wasn’t too thrilled to see her. I’m confused why she was even in town. She lives in Willow Creek, the last time I checked.
“Hello.” I said after she just stared at me.
“You look familiar…..” She trailed off, thinking before she nodded “Ah yes, the vet. The one with the crush on Joey.”
“I’m a vet, yes.” I confirmed. As for the “crush” on Joey, that’s in the past.
“Hmm.” She hummed, looking me up and down. “I hear he’s in rehab. Man could never hold his liquor well.”
The way she said it…
I snapped inside “Joey has an actual problem, which is he is getting help for. Which is the right thing to do. If you had actually loved him years ago, maybe you would have noticed he was developing a problem instead of being a stuck up witch about everything!” I yelled and stormed off. I didn’t even let her reply.
I have never liked her. At first it was because of Joey, but after meeting her a while back, I just don’t like her. Maybe it wasn’t nice of me, but maybe someone needs to tell her off.
I was fine until this morning. This morning, I just did not want to participate in life. I fed my cats, that’s about it.
I went into the study, sat down in front of the fire place and just sat there. Ares kept me company for a bit. I’m sad. That’s the only way to put it. December is a hard month for me. I try really hard to be in the Christmas spirit, but it’s the month I lost my baby. The pain isn’t fresh like it was those years ago, but it still hurts. He or she would be a child now. Sometimes I wonder what they would be like.
I guess with Dakota and Caleb gone. Apollo having his first Christmas with Naya as a married couple. Aubree getting closer to August. I just feel alone. I’m thankful I have my cats and my vet clinic. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning. I finally did get ready for work and somehow got through my work day. Then I came home to the cats.
Aubree was here, gushing about August. I’m glad to see her happy. Same with Apollo. I’m happy for my brother. I just feel sad inside right now.
I woke up bright and early this morning. Why? No idea. My body just wanted to.
I came downstairs to the kitchen for my morning coffee and found Josie playing with Ares. It was adorable. I watched them for a while. Who needs TV when you have pets? I’m really glad Ares and Xena have accepted Josie into the family. Introducing a new pet doesn’t always go well. Mom told me how Cleo never liked Salem and vice versa.
After I had my coffee and bath, I decided to wake up Aubree. She was excited – not! But we had work to do!
“Happy now? The Christmas tree is up.” Aubree said. I’m pretty sure if she wasn’t staying with me and I had woken her up at her house, she would have clobbered me with a pillow.
“There’s still some decorating to do, but I’m done with you now. You may have coffee. Shower. All that fun stuff.” I told her before going to my box of decorations.
“Thanks, Colonel Hill for your generosity.” Aubree said sarcastically. She watches a lot of King of the Hill.
August picked up Aubree’s mood when he came to pick her up a few hours later. I think they might be getting serious.
Dakota stopped by. I tried to get him into the Holiday spirit with a bit of mistletoe.
I got my kiss, it was short because he had news to tell me.
“Vera. I have to Mt. Komorebi for a month of training. I’m really sorry, I wanted to spend Christmas and New Years with you but it looks like that’s not going to happen.” Dakota explained.
Well, this sucks. I tried not to get upset. All it would do would make him feel bad for something he has to do. I didn’t want that to be one of his last memories of me before he had to leave.
“When I get back, we’ll spend some time together before I have to be deployed to Selvadorada.”
Deployed? I don’t like that word. It fills me with panic.
He must have noticed the look on my face because he hugged me “I won’t be seeing action down there, it’s more to help out the locals. To get them back on their feet. They have a hurricane headed for them in a few days if it don’t shift course.”
That made me feel a bit better but then I feel bad for the people who live down there.
He had to go. We said our goodbyes and he left. I felt sad. I still feel sad. I decided to cook something. I’m not a great cook like Mom was, but I think I’m getting better at it. I no longer burn things.
I decided on garlic noodles. Focusing on something else helped me to not just start crying. I had to remember that Dakota said he wasn’t going to fight next month. He’s going to help people. That’s a good thing. I’m just going to miss him this next month and then when he leaves again. Selfishly, I’m wondering how we’re supposed to make any progress in a possible relationship if he’s gone a lot?
“So, you and August looked pretty cozy earlier….” I decided to tease Aubree about August. Focus on something happy.
Aubree started blushing “It’s getting pretty serious. He introduced me to his parents over lunch today.”
That is serious. I’m happy for Aubree. I really hope it works out between her and August.
I spent sometime with my furbabies today. It’s Sunday, so no work. It amazes me sometimes how much Ares and Xena look like their parents. Makes me feel like I have pieces of Sabrina and Salem with me still.
Apollo popped in to visit me. I was glad to see him. We talked about the normal. The wedding. The vet clinic. I even told him about Joey. Apollo didn’t say much on him. I think he just has his mind focused on the wedding, which I don’t blame him.
I ended my night quietly, trying to work on knitting while trying out a new face mask I got at the local pharmacy. The face mask was relaxing at least. I’m still not good at this knitting thing.
Why do I feel like they’re all having some kind of lion king moment? Like “One day Josie, this will all be yours.” And Josie is like “BRB, going to go play in the elephant graveyard now.”
I found Ares and cuddled him. My cats make me feel better. His fur has gotten more grey lately. He and Xena are considered senior cats now.
“Where is your sister?” I asked him. He just looked at me before wanting to get down.
I put on warmer clothes, I noticed it was getting breezy outside.
I found Xena in the park across from my house. She must have gotten out when Dakota barged into my house. I picked her up, while she decided my hair made a good chew toy. That’s when I heard it. A little scared meow. I ran across to my house, putting Xena inside before running back across to the park. I followed the meowing to a little kitten under a bush.
Old enough to be weened. No collar. She was dirty and hungry. I picked her up and took her to my house. I fed her first before cleaning her up.
After a nap, she started playing with the long forgotten cat toys in my house. Xena and Ares don’t play them at all anymore. I know in my heart I have a new cat, but I will still put up posters to see if anyone claims her. I’m still giving her a name. It’s Josie.
After all three cats were fed and sleeping, I tried to knit again. I swear. One of these days, I will be good at it!
