BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!

Subject: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 06:36 PM

A couple years ago the P-Vine and I found a very small black kitten in the middle of our road and brought it home with full intentions of takin' it to the shelter the following Monday...

The following day I had a blues festival in Bedford, Va. to play and was about half way there when my cell phone rang...

"Did you run over that little kitten?" the P-Vine asked???

"No, why???"

"Well, it can't move it's back legs...", she said...

After discussin' the situation for a couple minutes we figured that our outdoor cat, who is the farm protector, had perhaps bitten the kitten on his back like a "junk yard cat" will do trying to kill it...

So here I was with less than two hours before I had to peform, the shelter closed, the P-Vine upset and a paralized little kitten so what else was there to do but tell the P-Vine...

..."Call Mr. Clifford and have him shoot it..."

(Bad answer, Boberdz...)

Well, what would you have done, Anon???

(Well, I wouldn't have said that...)

So after dodging more trucks on I-81 while listenin' to the P-Vine alternately cry and scream, "How could you even say that" I told her to bring the kitten in and put it in a shoe box...

So I got home late and there in the shoe box was this little paralyzed kitten...

Well, Monday came and the kitten seems real happy in it's little box so we just kept feeding it and givin' it attention and, well, after about a week in the box it started to pull itself around with its front legs and little by little started to kinda use it back legs and after a month or so could actually walk... Not run, mind you but kinda walk...

Over the next few months it got better and better and could run and act purdy much like a kitten...

Of course. we had named him Smokey and he has been with us ever since, coming in every night and sittin' on the P-Vine lap and then retiring to the mudroom for the night... That has been Smokey's routine day in, day out until...

...we went to Richmond on Wednesday and when we got home, Smokey didn't come when we called... That has never happened... Hmmmmmm???
So we figured he would be beggin' to come in yesterday morning... No Smokey... No Smokey all day yesterday... NO Smokey this morning so I walked to the back of the farm to look for tracks... Of course there were cat tracks & deer tracks but there was also coyote tracks!!! That wasn't good... I didn't tell the P-Vine about those tracks but she also went back there and found them...

About 4:00 I had a very bad feeling that a coyote had gotten Smokey but figured it being Christmas Eve that I'd not say anything to the P-Vine... Ten minutes later I hear the P-Vine from the other end of the house yell "Smokey!!!" and I knew that all was well...

I don't know where the cat was and really don't much care... He's in out bedroom curled up at the end of the bed while the P-Vine is getting ready for church and all I can say is...

...let this wonderful Christmas begin!!!

Oh, and the cat ain't goin' out for no reasons tonight...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: ClaireBear
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 06:57 PM

What a wonderful tale for Christmas Eve. Thank you, Bobert! And a very merry Christmas to you, the P-Vine, and Smokey.

Cheers,
Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Smokey.
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 07:24 PM

I'll call my next one Bobert..

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 08:03 PM

What a merry Christmas! Good story.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:05 PM

Sniff... I'm so glad to have him home...

We left him in the red chair in the living room when we went off to church earlier and we're now home and I don't think he has budged...

Glad to have our cat back... Uneaten...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: BlueJay
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:09 PM

I love a happy ending!
great tale there, thanks Bobert, and Merry Christmas!

Thanks, BlueJay

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:13 PM

I'm going to kick up some litter and say, keep it happy and keep Smokey in!


(Really, really glad he is okay.)

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:13 PM

a wonderful christmas story

seasonable greetings to you & your family, Bobert

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Amos
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:17 PM

Good on Smokey for jerking your chain, Bobez. Keeps ya civilized, ya know? Congratulations.

Love ya,


A

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:49 PM

Great ending, Bobert. You had my heart in my throat.

Congratulations to you all!

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:52 PM

My post disappeared.
Thank you for a lovely Christmas story, bobert.
Sleep well, little kitty.
Auntie SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: gnu
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 04:51 AM

Awwwwwww... kiiiity.

Thanks for the smile Bobbert.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: jacqui.c
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 05:05 AM

A lovely Christmas story Bobert. It raised a big smile here.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: alanabit
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 05:50 AM

Smiling here too Bob. Merry Christmas mate!

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 06:28 AM

It IS good to have your cat back uneaten! A true Christmas blessing.

We live on 33 acres of trees and rocks -- full of all sorts of critters from coyotes and fishers to black bear and great horned owls. (Lost a grizzled canny old tom once to a great horned owl.)

Our Rufus has never been allowed out. He's way too curious, would get distracted, lost and et.

Sabine spent the first 10 years of her life going outside (and inside) at will and being a very very savvy cat in the ways of the wild (including cars on Priest Road). Then she got trapped in our up-the-hill neighbor's cellar for five days...after which Curmudgeon spotted a fisher just off the corner of the quarter deck. Sabine became an inside cat.

Tickle Smokey behind the ears for me, Bobert! Happy Christmas!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Ed T
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 06:57 AM

"Christmas: A holiday where you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks". Urban Dictionary

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 11:14 AM

Well, going from those gut-wrenching thoughts of your cat being killed and eaten to having him back has certainly made this Christmas one to remember...

We even let our outdoor cat in the house this mornin'... He went ar4ound sniffin' things fir about 15 minutes and then asked to go back outside...

All in all, very mellow here on the Blue Ridge... We woke to snow which quit after it had left a nice 1 inch or so so everything looks as Christmasy as it can... Fire roaring in the fireplace... The P-Vine playin' in the kirtchen... Nowhere that we have to go... Talked with my mom on the phone fir a half an hour... All is well...

...and I hope that is the case in Mudfolk's homes everywhere...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Charmion
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 11:34 AM

Bill the cat is snozzling on the bed, Edmund is baking, and battle prep for Christmas dinner doesn't start for a while yet.

Life is good.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Arkie
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 08:47 PM

Another sucker for furry friends. Glad Smokey made it through another Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: maeve
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 09:03 PM

I'm glad your little cat is safe, Bobert.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Beer
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 09:08 PM

Great story Bobert.
Ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 09:12 PM

Thanks...

We are so happy... I mean, this poor kitty shouldn't really be here to begin with... Had the P-Vine listened to severely crazed me to begin with then Mr. Clifford would have "given it the gun"...

I remember when he was still paralyzed I just pick him up outta his shoe box and take him fir a walk and he would purr the entire time... He loved those walks... Sniff...

Right now, he is the most secure and healthy cat, other than some residual stuff from his injury, that one could ever ask for... Okay, he ain't the purdiest but he can't help that... He is sweet...

Nevermind... Just glad to have him home...

BTW, he's asleep in the red winged back chair in the great room...   

Merriest Christmas of all of them...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: alanabit
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 05:41 AM

Nice story Bob. I tease my kids unmercifully that there will be "Pussy Pie and Kitten Mittens", but somehow they always find their way onto my lap!

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Hollowfox
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 11:01 PM

Durn ya, Bobert, now my eyes are all blurry. I'll have to show this one to my fearsome daughter Amy.
Last Sunday she and I brought in our tree, and about half an hour later one of our visitor cats declared that she was ready to be petted and adored, thank you. Her name is now Cassia (that's an old fashioned name for what's now sold as cinnamon). I thought she was going to do serious havok on her lower chakras from all that food she packed away, but so far so good. She's almost full grown, and doesn't really know how to play, but purrs up a storm.
Seems appropriate somehow that Christmas cat stories end up on the Mudcat, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 07:18 PM

I am reminded of the Thurber lines hark, hark, the dogs do bark, the duke is fond of kittens / He likes to take their insides out and use their fur for mittens...

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 07:31 PM

Yeah, Hollowfox, we love all our kitties... Including this little trouble-maker we have four... Two are barn cats but not real wild and we do have them inside now and then fir a scrathin' an' pettin'... One of the two barnies has it made as we have a growing room in one barn that has lights and heat and hundreds of plants and she lives there... Heck, might be warmer out there than it is in the house??? The other barnie is only half barn 'cause he sleeps in our mud-room most nights which has some heat...

But we love all the kitties...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 10:16 PM

alanabit, that's how one of my cats was named, years ago. She was black, I've always had a black cat until recently, and she would not stay out of my houseplants. I threatened to turn her into Chop Suey and thus she was named. She was a gorgeous, very sweet cat. I'll bet your cats would love some Star Gazey Pie!

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 10:36 PM

Then what happened, kat???

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Dec 10 - 10:54 PM

We ate 'er? LOL! She grew up, we loved her, and she passed away. Then came Bagheera, then Kaysha...no more black cats until the Trystan-the Bully is gone which could be awhile, yet.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: open mike
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 04:02 AM

Firefighters wonder why on Christmas we put a dead tree in the corner,
string a bunch of hot lights with faulty wires all around it, pack tissue paper and cardboard boxes under it, invite our friends over to get drunk and light candles...it has the potential for a very volitile
situation....hope everyone got thru it o.k.!! my bird feeder needs to be re-filled every other day, so the feathered friends are enjoying it!

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 04:26 AM

Thank you Bobert... Lovely story full of miracles.

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: KT
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 05:16 AM

Great story Bobert! Sounds like that little sweetie is a real gift to you. Maybe you should try this

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 05:31 AM

Enjoyed the first part of that story Kat. I come from Cornwall, as it happens, although I have never been to Mousehole, as far as I can remember. My Mum told me about Star Gazy Pie, but I never had it. I am not likely to now either - I have been vegetarian for over twenty years! It doesn't stop me making vulgar jokes about Pussy Pie though!

Subject: RE: BS: Whew!!! Christmas Just Got Better!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Dec 10 - 09:02 AM

Great idea, KT...

(Hmmmmmm??? Where did I leave that wrapping paper???)

B;~)