A Cat Named April

Because of the crazy unpredictable way these last two months have been, my cat April has been staying with my cousin Andrea, her husband Terri, and their two little girls. I'm so grateful to them for taking in April, it's not always easy to find good people to take care of the four-legged family members.

Let me tell you a little bit about my relationship with April. Without sounding overly dramatic, she saved my life. When I moved into my new apartment, I knew I wanted a kitty to keep me sane. Someone I could come home to and look forward to seeing and that's exactly what April was. She is playful, funny, energetic, and she talks a lot. I remember coming home and she would peak around the corner and coming prancing in the living room to greet me.

I saw her for the first time since dropping her off by Andrea's a couple of weeks ago and it was like she didn't know me. She wouldn't let me pet her or rub her tummy. She wasn't as playful, but seems stand-offish and on edge. We think she is having a hard time with the girls, since she hasn't been around children, but I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for her behavior change. Abandoned may be a strong word to use, but I certainly feel like she is angry about something. For me, it's okay that my life is a off course, but to affect another living creature and to change her way of life...well, I just feel bad.

It all seems rather silly to be going on about this, but April was my comfort during a tough and stressful year. She made me smile through tears and distracted me from the busy-ness of life. She reminded me of the simple things when life got complicated. I'm now even more motivated to start over and find us a place to call our own again. I hope to find it soon.

Until next time...