Heartbreak

For those of you who were concerned about me when I disappeared from the blogosphere on Friday... I'm sorry to have worried you. I only wish the excuse was ever so much better than the one I am about to give you. I almost decided not to tell you at all, but felt it was neither fair to those who love us nor true to who I am to withhold this information. We are a family and will get through this together. I know that I need you all right now. Have Kleenex before reading, please. I will be back tomorrow with a much better story and the news of TWO adoptions.

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Heartbreak

I have few words to convey the news for today. There was a devastatingly tragic accident on Thursday evening. Our dear little Chanel is gone.

Out of respect for the family's privacy and feelings, I will not discuss the details here. Only that it was a true accident in every sense of the word. She went quickly and did not suffer. My heart is completely broken, not only for Chanel but for the wonderfully perfect family who took her into their home and hearts... and for all of us who loved her here as well.

I truly believe that little Chanel's short life had immense purpose. There was a reason she was so charismatic and expressive, willing the world to pay attention. She was an old soul in a kitten body, a tiny little firecracker who always set to explode because all of the time in the world did not belong to her. She was a star, and stars sometimes burn out quickly. But she made a spot in our hearts where she will remain forever.

In her short weeks on this earth, she stole our hearts, made us smile, captivated and entranced us. Most importantly, she fulfilled her mission in bringing Abby to their new family and giving another worthy kitten the best home imaginable. NOW I understand why the whirlwind adoption happened exactly as it did... and I thank God that she is with them there today.

My only consolation at this moment is that this dear sweet family has an Abby to love and comfort them. If there was ever a kitten who was made to comfort and care for people, it is our Abby. I hear she is on the job, working her magic.

There is nothing that makes sense today. Nothing that seems right. I am devastated and numb both at the same time. I know that you, too, share in our heartbreak just as you shared in our joy.

I am sharing our favorite Chanel pictures today as a tribute to our baby girl and the tremendous impact that she had on each of us in such a very short time. If you would like to leave your  condolences for her family in the comments, I will forward everything along to them.

Thanks to all of you for being here.

And thank you, Chanel. You will always be the parrot angel on my shoulder.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

A.A. Milne

Winnie the Pooh

Cuddle Puddles

Snow day (finally!) in Teeny Tiny Tabby Town. The family and fosters took full advantage and rested up after our extraordinarily busy (yet, oh so satisfying) weekend.

(Left to Right) Bear, Misty, Levi, and Grizzly Madison take a nap

"Go away, Lady. We are SLEEPING!"

(That would be Grizzly, by the way)

Levi shows off his gray blended coat and faint tabby stripes.

Uh-oh... We awoke the Sleeping Bear.

"You will cuddle Bear NOW??!!?!?!!!!!??"

(It would be at this point that I share the fact that Bear is

the demanding cuddle monster of the family)

"Don't look at me, Lady. YOU woke him up. YOU snuggle him."

Well, of course I did.

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The Abby and Chanel Update Continues...

I received a quick update from Abby and Chanel's new dad yesterday. The family continues to be over-the-moon in love with their girls. Abby has not only become her dad's constant companion, but she is taking on the task of mothering her poor little sister.

I think I saw that coming...

"She keeps licking Chanel's head, even though

Chanel TOLD her she could do it HERSELF!"

The family appreciates the outpouring of love from our little community and promises more updates in the future. I can't wait to watch these girls grow up :)

Are You Ready? Bombshell Contained Within

In case you missed it. We had such a crazy busy weekend that I gifted you with a Saturday post AND a Sunday post. If you haven't already read them, go backwards and work from there. You've missed a lot over the weekend.

And Now for the Bombshell to End All Bombshells

Chanel was adopted on Saturday afternoon. (Don't worry... that's not the bombshell. I expect that you already knew that particular piece of information.)

When I arrived at adoption hours, her excited new family was already waiting for us. We sat down at a table in the adoption area, surrounded by playpens full of available cats and kittens,

Chanel's new dad mentioned that he had been thinking about feline companionship for Chanel and eventually (sometime down the road) adopting another kitten for their family.

He admired a young cat in a nearby playpen, noting that this youngster looked very much like their dear departed Luigi.

He asked to meet this kitty and hold it while we were filling out the paperwork. Magic was worked, and by the time we were ready for signatures, a second set of adoption papers were being completed.

Chanel has a new forever sister.

Her name is Abby.

Yes... that Abby, OUR ABBY!!!!

Woo Hoooooooooooo!

Break out the kitty treats!

I wasn't prepared for this to happen so quickly. Remember, this is the kitten who just got the go ahead to attend adoption hours two days prior. The one who had been with me since September. The one who had been a perfect fit with my family for months. The one I love with all my heart.

I knew I couldn't keep her. I wanted her to be adopted. I just never imagined it would happen like this, or that it would happen within the first 30 minutes of her time at the adoption center.

But, like I said, Abby worked her magic. She flirted. She purred. She charmed. She hugged. She grabbed hearts and ran off with them... just like I knew she could.

And so on Saturday afternoon, a new family was created...

I am blissfully happy for them. I'm not sure my brain has completely wrapped itself around these events. I do know that my feet have barely touched the ground since then.

And on Saturday evening, a happy phone call and several text pictures were exchanged. Behold Abby and Chanel in their new home...

We haven't heard the last of Chanel and Abby. I've been promised updates and photos from time to time. And I still have photos that you haven't seen yet.

PS-- Someone is feeling a little bit bored and lonely without her friends today.

Super Sunday Surprise Edition

On the night before Chanel went to her forever home, the girls decided to have a slumber party in my bedroom.

My younger daughter Megan was the first one to fall asleep (unusual for her). Please notice Zelda is still in her heater bed. :)

"Hey! It's comfy here! Besides have you noticed that it's JANUARY?"

"And the location next to the stinky feet leaves something to be desired."

"Excuse ME... Isn't this slumber party supposed to be about CHANEL???"

"Okay OKAY, some of this can be about Zelda too..."

"Or perhaps we could talk about Sadie..."

"Or ChaNELLLLLLL!"

"Chanel IS the one getting adopted, you know."

But first...

One last playdate with Ruby

Part two of Chanel's day will be in tomorrow's blog post.

I promise her adoption story is special.

I promise her adoption story is significant.

I promise her adoption story is surprising.

But it's still a secret, so come back tomorrow pretty please.

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OKAY, OKAY... I'LL TELL YOU ONE SECRET

Let's see. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, (skipping ahead to) Quincy-Adams... Can you fill in the next one on the list?

Meet the Madisons....

Better photos to come, I promise. Between the lateness of the hour, the lack of time, and the refusal of both mama and kittens to sit still, I have blurs for you today. But now you have something to look forward to... ;-)

Mama Clarice Madison is a gorgeous silver gray tabby with a fantabulous plume of a tail.

"Can't you see that the Mama is busy?"

Mama Madison moved here from her last foster home along with her four rambunctious babies.

Bear... An outgoing long-haired black boy.

Grizzly... A fantastically funny black tabby boy.

If you don't know why these first two names are spectacularly special to me,

you might want to read this post.

I named Mama when she came into the rescue, 

but another foster mom named the babies.

Well done.

Levi... our quiet short-haired black boy

and last, but certainly not least

Misty... our very shy tabby girl.

The clan moved in on Saturday right after adoption hours. I'm just working on being able to tell the difference between our pumpkins (and get a clear photo of their bouncy little selves).

I plan to bring you many more photos on Tuesday. Yes, Tuesday... I have a big secret to spill on Monday.