Life Celebration & Kitties

Originally mom had wished for no funeral or memorial service upon her death.  However, several months before her passing, her faith and desire for community led her to Spirit of Joy Church just a few blocks from her house in Hemet. She had soon made several dear friends and had the entire congregation praying for her through all of her health issues. She became a formal member of the church just a few weeks before she went on her New Way and her experience there changed her mind about a service.

So, in honor of her faith, her church community and other friends who wish to attend, there will be a small celebration of life ceremony at Spirit of Joy.  All are welcome to join us, and those that can't get there at that time, we know you'll be there in spirit. :)

Wednesday, August 27, 2014
11:00 am
Spirit of Joy Church
3126 West Johnston Avenue
Hemet, CA 92545

The family would like to request that in lieu of flowers, we ask you to consider donations in her memory to the Ramona Humane Society. She adopted her beloved Jezebel from there and loved animals...so helping them to find a new home would be a wonderful way to honor Nan.

The last as first...this is tonight!

And speaking of Jezebel and new homes...I'd like to take this opportunity to share a bit of stories, update and photos of mom's other child so many of you have heard and asked about..."how is she doing?" :)

Poor thing, she had a bit of a 'new way' to get adjusted to too!  First, she loses her mommy, then she loses her home. She gets chased down and shoved into this little suitcase thing after MUCH protesting...leaving me with lasting mementos of that effort, ouch!...and gets hauled on a long road trip north, her first car ride ever since going home with mom from the shelter at 6 mos old.  She actually did pretty well and didn't try to bolt out when I reached in to give her some attentive scratches now and then, whew!

But, to add to the drama and trauma, she gets brought to this smallish apartment that is already inhabited by two other feline critters...who had no idea what was about to rock their world either! Now, I understand how to try to slowly introduce a new cat to a household.  However, I don't have many options here...I've got one bedroom, one bathroom, and one rest of the apartment...and my cats fully expect to be able to follow me to every room and romp at will.  

Her first chance to roam.

Before even bringing Jezebel up to the apartment, friends helped me unload and I got Jezebel's huge cat tree and safe haven set up in my living room with a window view...whew, it fit in about the only spot I had available without a major redesign!  Wanted my cats to start getting the smell of "someone new" before I brought Jezzy up.  Jezzy started in the bedroom...but that would NOT do...that was the scaredy cat hiding place and they couldn't get in!  So, that first night home, the bathroom was Jezebel's safe place and off limits to Charlie & Spanky...who could smell another critter under the door.

I was purposefully home all day on Sunday, decompressing and 'relaxing' before heading back to work...but more importantly, I was watching and refereeing the introduction. Decided that since I was home to observe, I would try to speed up the process a little.  I locked my two into the bedroom and gave Jezebel some time to meander around and check it out. After a good while, it was time for THE introduction.  It could have been much, much worse! :)

Guess where Jezebel is? ;)

When it had been long enough and we had one good chase and smack, it was time to put Jezzy back into her bathroom safe place...where she pretty much lived for the next two days.  I would let her out some in the evening while I locked my girls up...but that was VERY unpopular with Charlie. ;)

Charlie checking on the newcomer.

There's gotta be a way!

Then I decided to move to the next phase...see but don't touch!  I went and got not one, but two pet gates to try out for this experiment.  It was a great idea...but of course, they're cats!  They lasted one day before Charlie figured out she could climb the thing...mind you, she's a bit of a tubby and has some trouble jumping onto the chair, but she could climb! The next day, Jezebel followed her lead and decided to jailbreak while I was at work.  Oh well...got me two days...guess that was enough, it's make or break now! :)

Jailbreak! This was her second attempt...the first she would have succeeded if I didn't yell at her!

Just a representative sample of their relationship!

Spanky get's up close...good thing Jezzy's sleeping!

There has been progress.  Jezebel freely moves about the house, but as she likes to do, she stays as high as possible most of the time...and tries hard to avoid Spanky.  She...my scaredy cat, under the covers hider when new people show up...is the one who just can't quit stalking Jezzy. She doesn't doesn't really attack or hiss or growl, she chirps and stalks...almost like she really just wants to get close and smell her and figure out who the heck she is...but when Jezebel runs away, Spanky runs right after!  No blood, they're both alive, I trust that they'll get there eventually.  Heck, even as I am typing this very posting, for the first time I just saw Jezzy and Charlie touch noses without any issue...PROGRESS! Now...we'll be making BIG strides when I see that between Jezzy & Spanky! :)

 Charlie's going to have to share her favorite spot. ;)

Umm...okay, that's a new one for this house!

Not sure if she's waiting for the "summer dinners" to fill the bowl. ;)

In the mean time, Jezebel is starting to relax and be whatever room I'm in...just like my girls...and on whatever I'm working on, just like she did at home with mom. She likes sleeping in her tower and all the favorite places Charlie likes to hang out too...the window seat being a primo spot!  They'll figure it all out eventually.  A new order will arise. In the mean time, there will be a bit more growling and some hissing for a while, another cat to jump up on, climb into or knock things off places they shouldn't...and I have one more set of paws to dodge, feed and scoop for in this already cozy apartment.

Aww...what we do for love. ;)