A Tail of 2 Brothers

Ever since of beloved Ella met her maker a month ago...the question I have heard repeatedly is...

When are we going to get a new kitten???

The girls searced dilligently each day on KSL (local newspapers website)...Petfinder.com....Humane Society

Each time they found ones they "loved and had to have"...but I reminded them of the 2 week trip adventure to the "motherland" of Texas.

Still they searched.

Many times I heard "Mom, come quick I found the one I want". OR

"Mom, we have to go this kitten NOW or it will go to a shelter" OR

"Mom, this kitten is going to be put to sleep if we don't save her"

But patiently I waited. You see I didn't want your run of the mill alley cat...or calico...

I wanted our ELLA back. I wanted those bright blue eyes smiling at me each morning.

I wanted that long soft fur to pet.

I waited and waited...and did my own searching.

After we detoxed from Texas a few days...I was searching once again... and found the ONE. It was the ONE I had to have...ooopppss!!! I mean the ONE my kids had to have.

His name was Bouffant...he was 1/2 Persain.

I had a sweet persain once...it was my 1st wedding gift from my beloved. Her name was Chloe. I only had her 5 years before discovering that she was giving my only daughter at the time, severe Asthma. I did what every good Mom would do...I pretended it wasn't the cat..then gave into the deep dark truth and found my beloved Chloe a new home.

I called the flock of girlies over to the computer...they ooohhhed and aaahhhed at my choice.

Well except one.

I will let you guess which one had a small problem. The one who has to have ALL of her demands met or there will be fire to pay. The one who tugs at my heart strings and breaks them at the same time. The one who goes from 0 to witchy in 5 seconds flat. The one who runs my life.

I have always wanted another Persain...but Ri-Ri says "they are gugusting"...or in layman's terms...Disgusting.

She loved the brother of Bouffant...from the moment she laid her big beautiful eyes on him. I brushed off her adoration and called to set up an appointment to get MY beauty. So what if it was HER kitten I was trying to replace.

I knew how good my savvy selling skills were (see Dad I have put my marketing degree to work)...so we headed out the door. I was sure I could do the bait and switcheroo.

She wouldn't know the difference.

Oh was I wrong...she picked up Bouffant and quickly put him down...and said "Where is the kitten that was in basket in the picture." How did she know???

It was a fuzzy small picture on the computer.

She was in LOVE.

How could I deny her the kitten of her dreams...especially after her daddy squished her 1st one.

(Don't let the picture decieve you...it is a different kitten from Ella)

So I gave in...handed over the 50 bucks (I had just pulled out of Daddys account) and made her dreams come true.

She walked to the truck...beaming with her new prize...where her sisters were screaming with glee.

I was hanging my head down. I had lost my touch.

But I knew there was only 1 thing to do. I grabbed my purse and headed back into the house

and bargained a deal to buy the one of MY dreams.

Now I was the one beaming as I walked out the door.

The screams of happy girls could be heard miles around.

Daddy had already gotten home from work and was wondering where his herd of chicks were.

Ri-Ri bounced in the door carrying a large tote and shoved it at her Dad and said through her plastered on smile...."Mommy took us to the dumb mall and all I got was this."

All he did was calmly look at me and say "Really???? We needed 2."

And I replied "Yep...an Heir and a Spare"

No further comment needed.

The others helped Ri-Ri choose the name Bugsy...you will know why if you saw BedTime Stories. His buggy eyes say it all.

I took a few days to mull over my names. After ignoring all the girls suggestions of Zach and Cody or Jonas or some other popular boy toy...I took Nana's suggestion and went with Poofy.

She says her kids always teased her that she had poofy hair...and so does my Poofy.

Now Dad announces his arrival into the garage...we all dive to pick up our kittens to save them from the Big Freddie Flinstone Foot.

LONG LIVE THE BROTHERS...at least I hope.

FLASHBACK 20 Years

I know I haven't been posting much in the last 2 months...so I am trying to catch up day by day.

We packed up this gaggle of girls and headed home to TEXAS.

I try not to subject myself to extreme temperatures of heat or cold...but this year it could not be avoided.

100+ degrees and 100% humidity...here I come.

Many of my high school chums were converging on our hometown to see how far we have come in 20 years. (Gosh now you know how old I am.)

With no date (hubby was back in Utah doing that thing called work) I called the next best thing.. my baby baby sister. How appropriate I thought since she graced our family my senior year of high school.

Like the proud sister I was...I toted that baby to basketball games...to the store and more.

I can imagine the looks I got...as unknowing people passed with their eye brows raised high.

Lauren drove in from the best college around...UT need I say more.

She said, "are you sure you want a YOUNGER, PRETTIER version of you there?"

I quickly changed my mind and said HECK NO...please stay here and watch my offspring for the evening.

(Thanks younger prettier version of me)

So away I went like Cinderella to the ball with no man on my arm.

I did meet up with one of my bestest friends, Lisa before the gala.

We have laughed together since our young 4th grade days as baton twillers.

I can still do a mean windmill if you would like to see.

My friends amazed me how grown up they are.

Professionals, Spouses, and Parents.

(Spanx was in working well that night)

Some who could barely pen their name to the SAT test, were now in charge of major divisions of companies or entrepreneurs.

Well they did show entrepreneur skills even back then as the fenagaled their way out of detention or demerits or failing classes.

(These are people that lived on my street of Spring Grove. Tres was my bestest guy friend. He teased me unmercifully but I wouldn't have it any other way.)

My bigest surprise was to see how dazzling my gal pals all stayed. They paraded into the ballroom with swanky dresses on and bodies that still looked the same.

Tried as I may...not a pound was shed pre-reunion..all that jogging got me no where on the scale but depressed. Then I realized that my friends loved me no matter what I look like.

So I pinned 5 individual pics of each of my darling kids and headed out the door.

(This is one of my bestest friends through high school and beyond. We were the only ones to get accepted to the best university around. Hook Em' We still bleed orange.)

Award ceremony came and I tied for the most number of kiddos. Only outside of Utah would 5 win. My buddy Tres has 5 too...but I think he should be eliminated since he didn't carry one of the them for 10 months much less squeeze one out.

Also a friend named me the "Most Dressed" of the Night.

Gotta keep a girl humble.

4 layers was more than enough in the 100 degree weather.

But my shoes were to die for. (picture to come)

Thats all that matters.

We did have 10 of our fellow Bears pass since our high school days.

Surprisingly they were all guys.

Sad as we remembered them so full of life walking down our hallways.

So here's to the next 20 years.

Hey that's a country song if you are brave enough to admit it.