as a teacher of government and politics to high school students, the speech this evening should be my focus, but it is not, as I hope you will understand.
Many of you know of our family, five rescued kitties.
Once, one of them, so very sweet, somewhat nearsighted, not necessarily the most brilliant domestic creature we have known, once got lost for a while, and when I shared this community was very supportive, with some offering to come to our house to help search around outside. It had turned out that she had gone in the basement, panicked, and hid where we could not see her. We eventually did entice her out.
Her name is Angelica, she answers to Bittle, and she and her sister, rescued from an inbreed feral colony, have been with us now for almost 9 years. She is and has been a joy.
Her health has always been an issue. We noticed she was getting skinny about month or so ago, and took her in to our vet. She was down to 7 pounds, but her various functions tested largely within normal range. We put her on a supplement as well as her normal food, and she began to put a little weight back on.
But we noticed she drinking a great deal, and seemed to be getting skinny again. When she urinated, it had no odor, unusual for a cat, so yesterday we took her back to the vet. She was down to 5.9 pounds. More bloodwork was done, and today we got the news.
Her kidneys are failing. She doesn't know, and remains happy and incredibly loving. But slowly we are losing her.
We have both rearranged our schedules to go back to the vet tomorrow to get retrained - years ago we went through this with a previous cat, and we had to learn how to hydrate a cat. We will again get retrained tomorrow. So long as she wants to remain with us, we will do what we can to keep her happy.
A few minutes ago she was on the bed with LionEl Tiger, our oldest and biggest (17+ pounds) kitty. He is very tolerant with her and her sister. As I came over she became very loving, pushing her head against my hand to be stroked, purring, being very loving.
As I write I am in tears. It is knowing that she will not be with us as long as we might want. She will be with us as long as she wants. We will adjust.
I will watch the speech and the Republican response. Tomorrow my students and i will review the speech. But my heart will not be in it.
It will be here, in the house, with our cats, especially with Angelica.
My wife called during one class, and i took the call. My students know - I don't hide things from them, and i was clearly distracted after receiving the call.
Yes, I am sad, almost weepy right now. The tears are of anticipation of forthcoming loss.
They are also tears of gratitude, that Leaves on the Current and I have been blessed by having her in our lives.
I know people here will understand.
Peace.