Returning from the AT last winter, the idea of signing a lease, or even making a ‘permanent’ home seemed impossible. Having work obligations around Seattle, we found a grand solution – house sitting. I love it – it’s like getting to see a portrait of people’s lives, the way the envision themselves – expressed through funky or nostalgic tchotchkes, beautiful and/or totally inappropriate furniture, wild book collections, pleasing artistic arrangements and collections, and most interesting of all – beloved pets.
Since January we have house sat for over 14 residences. Here are (just a few) of the cats I have loved:
Nona – This old gal was a real pal.
Shoehorn – communicates loud and proud. He lives amongst the most beautiful antique furnishings and sleeps on the dining room table, aloft a home-knit blanket. He sees ghosts, but fears only the taxidermic bear rug in the bedroom.
Pooshie – believes that the time you spend in bed is the time you have set aside just for for loving him.
Moochie – lives with my parents and is the wise, patient, priest of the household.
This family forgot to tell us the name of their delightful, drooly cat. However it’s affectionate and demanding nature and tabby colors reminded Groucho of his grandma’s cat. So we named her Thor.
Cortez – an au natural beauty. Her independent spirit seizes every day (and night) as she goes in and out and in and out and in and out at will.
Blues Bros – These buddies don’t know pain. Don’t know fear. Don’t know their own strength. All they know is love.
Friskie – The first cat love of my life
Cats – an excerpt from the musical – Harpo age 15 on the left
Wrong Way Gang 