We Had Waited a Long Time For This Long (surprise!) Welcome March Home

Simply, looking thru my art mag.

Lo and Be Holden.

My eyes pop open.

Holden onto your hat.

A thunderbolt flashed, crashed overhead.

Taken aback & by complete surprise I read the following words :

   “Get your MoJo back.”

The slogan for a magnesium ad. Facing across on the other open page were three cat images. These 4 words had nothing to do with magnesium. They had everything to do with our MoJo cat. Our home’s depleted energy mojo was now filled with a hollow void of emptiness because of our cat MoJo's departure. Our home had no mojo. & no MoJo.

For Real : In the last three years we had lost three orange cats. One was, hard to believe, 20 yrs old. One, fresh out of a rescue center, died of FIP (cat covid) at 6 months. And MoJo died last month of congestive heart disease at his age two. We were getting too much practice in building wooden boxes, digging holes, and getting our hearts torn open.

I read those get your mojo back words & shut the mag. Picked up my phone.

Searched for kittens on Craig’s List. The 6th entry had been posted 6 hrs ago.

There were three male orange cats & one tortoise-shell sister looking for a forever home.

There they were.

Their faces show Pure Panache. Primo Poise. Sparkling Pizazz.

                    Mucho Gusto Zesty Zingy Zany Zippo.

 I got bitten by the kitten love bug. I was smitten with dem dare kittens.

Left a voicemail : Call me.

 I had just found what I had been

searching my entire life for.

I had previously over the past month checked in on Craig’s List for orange bittys only to discover what rare jewels they are. All kittens nowadays seem to be black, white, or a mix of the two. I am only about the oranges because they are social with strong out-going personalities. Love their goofy, wishing to be around you all the time, playful, and yakkity talkative orange selves.

Next day : NO word back from the three oranges tortoise shell.

I scanned Craig’s List, again. The three orange one tortoise shell were NOT listed anymore. Gah-gah-gah- - - Gone. I texted with false hopes : "Call me."

Oddly enough, I found two other orange litters listed. The photos show orange fur with lottsa white and indirect-seemed-a-bit-off wonky gazes.  I was not so attracted to these pale-in-comparison to those original orange three and tortoise shell others. Still, I was willing to explore these other runner-up prospects. I texted both : "call me."

Time had come today. There are things to realize.

And that one single most important thing was to find orange bittys.

I got a text. It said : “Tortoise shell taken. Still want the three oranges ??”

I nearly peed my pants in excited anticipation. I realized that this text is from Those Ones. The Ones We Wanted in the Beginning.  We arranged to come by at 6PM.

I was close to tears with overwhelming bright orange panache happiness.

Soon after I received an email poem from a friend about the loss of loved ones and how things seem to just sort of naturally sort themselves out. This poem was all about what was happening right at this very exact moment. All was fitting into place. Things were sorting themselves out beauti-fully. Even received a written confirmation about the fact !! The universe spoke : “time has come today to go and get your orange bitty mojo guys.”

We hopped our walk-on passenger boat substitute ferry boat carrying a cat carrier, a tray, food, and bowls. We had to be prepared to stay overnight on the mainland if we missed our last boat of the night. We would be cutting it pretty close for our scheduled oranges meeting. We sat inside the boat because of the rain. The seats in front of us were filled with questioning little girl faces asking about what’s in the pet carrier huh huh ?? We said we were going to go fill the carrier up with three orange bittys. Their mom show us their orange cat photo. The excitement was mounting over this retrieval of orange. The little girls were so excited. Aww they moaned, we won’t be seeing those kitties when you bring them back, we are going on a trip …. Here we were, on our way to go get the orange three and already the anticipation and bright orange energy vibes radiated strongly around our mission. The universe supported the expedition. We’re Coming Bittys !! We’re On Our Way !!

We walk to our car and a friend across the street calls out “HI !! I’m going home” and I answer “HI !! I’m going to go get three orange kittens !!” And she laughs & cheers us on. Yeah !! So much fun to the going to get the three oranges. So much gaiety glee & orange elation.

We drive during rush hour all cars the whole distance going in our opposite direction. Seamlessly we cruzzze … Pedal to the medal. We glide to our destination and easily locate where to find the oranges with no glitches or hitches.

The three oranges were staying in a day care room filled to the brim with stuff and kid toys. A TV in the corner on full blast with nobody watching. The three oranges owner greeted us and we three adults comfortably sat on the rug shoes off legs folded. The bittys were hiding under a kid’s table. Their beautiful orange mom sleeked into the room like a queen. She checked out her babies as the bittys suckled for comfort and not for any nourishment. They were all a single entity.

The oranges owner and me share our cat histories together. I told her a stray kitty came to my front door and I was going to take it to the pound after work because I am only a dog person only to fall in love with him and had him for 20 years. The orange owner was in disbelief. 20 years, wow !!  He was my best friend and our bond was so strong because he knew I had saved him, only for Joe to pitch in that actually it was this cat that had saved me. So True. This cat had developed kidney disease and I syringe-hydrated him for 3 months which added another five years to his life span. The orange owner exclaimed, you are a cat doctor !! I told her about our rescue center cats. One died of cat covid, the other later from heart failure and never again rescue centers that’s why I found you this time.  I got to meet the mom, hear of the kitten’s history, see his home before adoption. All that. The orange owner share her birthing story. This momma had 2 litters. One litter had a looked dead kitty and the orange owner had miraculously revived it. What a story that was. The oranges owner show us two other of her cats from the previous litter two years ago. What a good mama. And a good owner.

This is exactly what we needed. To see where our future bittys came from. Rescue centers are unhealthy hotbeds of disease and mystery. You take your chances. We had learned hard the hard way.

We packed up the bittys after they had gotten to be with their momma for a long stretch. The long march home was further more smooth sailing and we made it in time for our walk-on boat.

The pet carrier was a draw to the people & especially a children magnet. The news that three orange kittens were inside the carrier caught wind and everyone around us had to take a peek at this wonder to Be Hold. All the people riding the boat were elated at hearing about the three oranges and wished us and the bittys well. Walking to the car Joe made a point to stop and show the little girl one last sight of the three orange kittens. She stare wide eyed and smitten at the kittens. It was such a warm welcome, bringing the three oranges home this way on foot in a carrier. For all to share in and greet and meet. Three Orange Kittens !!! Can you believe our great orange luck.

Once at home the bittys discover their food, water, tray, and cosy bed in the kitchen.

They proceeded to sniff, examine, and inspect every square inch of that corner of the kitchen most all the evening as Joe & I sat on the floor observing with great pleasure and great laughter. Why even a wooden chair was such the wondrous of excitements and source of unending joy. All three together wrapped around the rungs playing jungle Jim swinging round the rungs and legs of the chair. Boxing each other being roly poly and chasing each other grabbing tails, mouths open in pure pleasure I swear one could hear their laughter as Joe & I joined in, also, belly-laughing out loud at the antics of these three romping oranges. The night was filled with rounds of mutual laughter : the bittys, us beings, & esp. our home.

Joe pick one bitty up and gave it to me. I held it in my neck and then the loud rumble of contented bitty purr cut loose. Vroom vroom the little bitty rumbled as I lay my ear next to his chest, listening to this music that brought me pure delight. So soothing. So charming.

It was the sound  of love.

The next day the bittys slowly discovered the library room which is off the kitchen. They explored their newest surroundings very timidly very politely very gracefully only going just a little bit further today than yesterday. There was a hesitant elegance to their wide eyed unfolding freedom dance of discoveries. One could hear their thoughts : hey guys !! can you believe this place is the same color as we are ?? the walls, the clothing, the wood, all our same golden color !! whats with that ?? we all fit in, blend in, hey I am liking this space it is so nice and quiet and it is just us guys, guys !!  This day found Joe & I at the end of the day sitting on the floor of the library with a knot in a rope toy that brought all of us together laughing playing all together. The bittys rolled pounced jumped at the toy as we laugh out loud uproariously. So much fun to just observe. Watch. Be. Experience high octane zoom zoom kitty bitty antics.

Joe & I kept mentioning how strange to watch three somewhat identical little orange beings move around and play & follow each other around together as One. It was as if it played tricks on our eyes to watch the transformation of one bitty jump the next jump the next jump as our eyes registered the visuals as if an optical illusion because they all three moved seamlessly one imitating the other all three seem to morph into a single continuous unit over & over. They roll round. They blend. They intermingle. They One. We won.

By this time Joe and I are realizing what so quickly transpired a day ago. We kept looking at each other with big smiles and grinning eyes filled with tears of joy, reminding each other, you know there are three orange bittys in the kitchen right now ?? Right now. Yes I know. Isn’t it great ?? What luck. Welcome Home. For real.

They are all ears.

The next day was Saturday and Joe & I wore our bitty color clothing. The rain was coming down fog filled the trees. We said ahh. We will just “Be” with the bittys all day long. No chores. No yard work. No nothing. Only us & the bittys. Joe stretched out on the couch with a book and I curled up in a chair as we wait in the living room. The bittys had yet to explore this space. Sure enough they made there way into the room slowly checking every square inch out. We watch. We wait. We had placed the cat tunnel tube in here.  We had placed the big cat donut in here. They had yet to experience them. Upon discovery they were shy & reserved. What the heck is this thing ? Slowly each entered these cat toys only a bit at first. Then they made their way to discover Kris & Joe. They climbed up all over us and we held them as the motors kicked in and the purrs cut loose. We held each one of them and we were bonding together all five of us. It was so great. They liked us. They climb on us one two three at a time kittys everywhere. We were covered from head to toe in bittys !!

After they had checked us out completely they headed over to the tunnel. What an exciting discovery was made here !!  Zooming down the length of the tunnel then another bitty zoom energy followed they ran and then another and another and another. They raced thru the tunnel. It had opening look-out windows where they peek out or pounce or leap or peek. They found the four foot wide kitty donut. One brave bitty walk inside the donut chamber. Another followed. They ran laps inside chasing each other in a circle. They did not stop. Zoom zoom around and around inside the donut’s circular chamber. The third got into the circular run. One came out one went in one leaped out flying. Joe & I watch laughing out loud at the acrobatics. The speed of their running and the enjoyment of the bittys just being bittys was so damn funny.

At one point one bitty came zooming out of the donut

& then came over to jump up on me

to see me and I hugged him.

He said I am having so much fun.

I just wanted to come over to tell you how much fun

I am having.

As if thanking me.

At one moment Joe & I look at each other. We said : This. This Right Now.

This Right Now is What We Have Waited So Long For.

This Moment with Three Orange Bittys. Interacting. Being. Experiencing three orange bittys. We melted in our realization. All our history with kittys has come to this day. We have been preparing for having three at once. We were so ready. And this was so right. We had overwhelming gratitude for these three. It all fit. This was just the Three we had waited for.

Long Time Coming. This Day to just Be with The Power of Three.

Three Orange Bittys. A Long Time Waiting for this today right now.

Long March Home.

The Long March Home living life together withThese Three.

    Long Welcome March Home.

The look of Being at Home.