This has really helped me today as I have begun to deal with the loss of Madison as well as the loss of friends who have died recently.
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
This is from The Holy Bible
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Maddie
My first baby was born April 30,2002. He came to live with me on July 3, 2002 and the adventures began. I had been wanting a pet for a while and was finally in a place home wise, financially, and just in life where I could have one. I had originally wanted a dog and almost adopted a Golden Retriever, but realized that would not be a wise decision given my travel habits; so I decided to adopt a cat or kitten. I then ventured to Florence (I had just moved to Sumter and was not familar enough with the community to find the local SPCA) in search of a young cat or a kitten. Upon entering the SPCA in Florence, I was greeted enthuastically by a variety of kittens. Several greeted me on the spot thus tempting me to take them all home, however, I had already told myself that the first kitten that came to me would be the one I took, however.....
I had a small calico colored kitten with a musache in my arms and had turned to pick up my pocketbook when I saw this little orange body half in, half out my pocketbook. "Perfect", I told myself because I had come in pursuit of an orange cat or kitten having been advised by several friends that an orange kitty would be a good choice, and too they have great personalities. I also was looking for a male because I had also been advised that male cats and kittens have better personalities than females especially after being neutered. Well, I had grown up with cats more females than males, however I knew what I wanted, so this kitten had made his appearance at the right time. The kitty and I then made our way to the desk where I paid (this was on a Tuesday which happened to be Cat/ Kitten Adoption Day for $10); so I could have adopted the other kitty as well, but decided to wait. After paying the fee and signing the paperwork. This kitty and I were on our way with well wishes from the Florence SPCA.
At the time I had planned to name the kitten (kitty) Clemson because he was a beautiful shade of orange and call him Clem. Well, this kitten would have nothing to do with that name, so I went with my second name choice which was James Madison. Madison proved to be a better fit. I had planned to get Madison (quick to become known as "Maddie") a wife ( after being spayed, of course) and name her Dolly after President James Madison's wife. Therefore, my cats would be known as James and Dolly Madison, only Madison would be called Madison or Maddie. Can you tell that I had a lot of extra time that summer? Dolly never made her appearance as Maddie's "little brother", Kaby or KB (for keyboard as the piano keyboard is black and white) joined our family that next year, December of 2003 to be exact.
Back to Maddie, I took lots and lots of pictures the first few months I had him. One would have thought I had given birth to my first child as I was so proud. You see, Maddie was "my" first pet as an adult; so I really was proud. As any good parent would do, I set out to train him to be a good, well mannered pet, by litter box training first with which he caught on to immediately. Next, I leash trained him and went on to teach him to "sit" in order to receive treats thus showing up my friends who were dog owners and who honestly did not believe that kittens or cats could be trained or taught tricks. Boy, did Maddie and I show them!
Madison grew to be a LARGE cat. He really resembled Garfield, the comic strip cat, although he did not eat lasagna. People actually refered to him as Garfield, however, that never seemed to dampen Maddie's spirit nor personality.
He truly was a sweet cat and was loved by all who met him. Though he DID claw some things as a younger cat, he did learn quickly what was and was not tolerated, although, he would forget from time to time, that never changed our relationship as a pet and pet owner.
I have really been blessed to have had such great cats as Maddie and his "little brother" Kaby and pray that Kaby will be with us much longer. Poor Maddie was stricken with what appeared to be Congestive Heart Failure with which there seems to be no cure. I was with him, and he did not appear to have suffered much nor for very long. In fact, he died quickly and quietly in his sleep so it seemed. As for orange cats, I may end being like Sir Winston Churchill who owned only orange cats. From what I have read about Churchill recently, there continues to be an orange cat residing at his home in England. I can't say that orange cats will always reside at my home even when I am dead and gone, however, I plan to have as many as I can as long as I am able to own and maintain pets. Pictures of Maddie will follow in upcoming posts.
I had a small calico colored kitten with a musache in my arms and had turned to pick up my pocketbook when I saw this little orange body half in, half out my pocketbook. "Perfect", I told myself because I had come in pursuit of an orange cat or kitten having been advised by several friends that an orange kitty would be a good choice, and too they have great personalities. I also was looking for a male because I had also been advised that male cats and kittens have better personalities than females especially after being neutered. Well, I had grown up with cats more females than males, however I knew what I wanted, so this kitten had made his appearance at the right time. The kitty and I then made our way to the desk where I paid (this was on a Tuesday which happened to be Cat/ Kitten Adoption Day for $10); so I could have adopted the other kitty as well, but decided to wait. After paying the fee and signing the paperwork. This kitty and I were on our way with well wishes from the Florence SPCA.
At the time I had planned to name the kitten (kitty) Clemson because he was a beautiful shade of orange and call him Clem. Well, this kitten would have nothing to do with that name, so I went with my second name choice which was James Madison. Madison proved to be a better fit. I had planned to get Madison (quick to become known as "Maddie") a wife ( after being spayed, of course) and name her Dolly after President James Madison's wife. Therefore, my cats would be known as James and Dolly Madison, only Madison would be called Madison or Maddie. Can you tell that I had a lot of extra time that summer? Dolly never made her appearance as Maddie's "little brother", Kaby or KB (for keyboard as the piano keyboard is black and white) joined our family that next year, December of 2003 to be exact.
Back to Maddie, I took lots and lots of pictures the first few months I had him. One would have thought I had given birth to my first child as I was so proud. You see, Maddie was "my" first pet as an adult; so I really was proud. As any good parent would do, I set out to train him to be a good, well mannered pet, by litter box training first with which he caught on to immediately. Next, I leash trained him and went on to teach him to "sit" in order to receive treats thus showing up my friends who were dog owners and who honestly did not believe that kittens or cats could be trained or taught tricks. Boy, did Maddie and I show them!
Madison grew to be a LARGE cat. He really resembled Garfield, the comic strip cat, although he did not eat lasagna. People actually refered to him as Garfield, however, that never seemed to dampen Maddie's spirit nor personality.
He truly was a sweet cat and was loved by all who met him. Though he DID claw some things as a younger cat, he did learn quickly what was and was not tolerated, although, he would forget from time to time, that never changed our relationship as a pet and pet owner.
I have really been blessed to have had such great cats as Maddie and his "little brother" Kaby and pray that Kaby will be with us much longer. Poor Maddie was stricken with what appeared to be Congestive Heart Failure with which there seems to be no cure. I was with him, and he did not appear to have suffered much nor for very long. In fact, he died quickly and quietly in his sleep so it seemed. As for orange cats, I may end being like Sir Winston Churchill who owned only orange cats. From what I have read about Churchill recently, there continues to be an orange cat residing at his home in England. I can't say that orange cats will always reside at my home even when I am dead and gone, however, I plan to have as many as I can as long as I am able to own and maintain pets. Pictures of Maddie will follow in upcoming posts.
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