Personalities Galore

One of the things that I love best about my pets is their individual personalities. They stand out even more when I have been travelling and don't have the opportunity to see them every day.

This is how they approach me when I have been far away:

Kirby takes an uncharacteristicly assertive approach boxing out Violette and burying his face in my thigh before I have even come through the door. He then spends the rest of the night sleeping as close to me as he can get and sometimes nuzzling his little face into my lap. Kirby has never been a licker but since my travels began he has graced me with more little kisses in the palm of my hand and sometimes on the tip of my nose while I lay on the couch.

Violette is true to form always. She has more energy and excitement than her little body can stand so it completely overwhlems her until she is convulsing violently and trying desperately not to jump into my arms! She is the kid who just wants to be loved more than anything and often does the wrong thing to get attention because she just can't control all that energy. Violette has such big eyes that allow you to see right into her heart and she loves her daddy more than any animal has loved any human.

Trinity is the bull in a china shop. She wants what she wants when she wants it and by God she is GOING TO HAVE IT! She plops down on my lap/stomach before I have even fully gotten comfortable. It's like she hasn't felt the warmth of being close to another creature since she saw me last. Trinity head butts you and talks to you- you ignore Trinity at your peril. Now that she has decided to roam the entire house instead of just the "cat room" - she is a force to be wreckoned with!

Lastly my Katie. We almost lost Katie two years ago and it would have broken my heart. She is my trooper. She is independent but loving, fierce but sweet and entirely playful! She gives me "drive by love"- as if she just wants to make sure I know that in the animal jungle of our home, she doesn't want to be overlooked or forgotten. She will push her way into the bathroom and rub against my legs as I sit and sometimes will quickly jump into my lap! When Katie does have her moments of needing love frlom me, it honestly warms my heart. She will settle herself into the crook of my body or on top of my chest/stomach/lap (whatever is available). She will tuck her head around or tuck her paws under her chin and purr softly.

I know people who don't have animals won't understand this but these are my children. They may not look like me, they may not speak the same language, but they each have a unique and precious place in my heart and in my home. And isn't that what really matters?

Updates after a drought...

I enjoyed being completely cut off from all forms of communication other than the personal for 5 days

I spent my birthday on a beautiful island with my favorite person

I learned that my body fails me more often than I want to admit

I learned that I can easily be convinced to spend ridiculous amounts of money on the comfort of my pets

I officially entered the mid-30s

I figured out that if I really put my mind to it.... I can do anything

I remembered the things (and people especially) that are truly important in my life

I realized I still bite off more than I think I can chew

I feel energized