Day of Delivery

Today is the day!  The Mayor's Alliance scheduled delivery of Sal between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.   I bustled around the house on my day off in an attempt to make myself nice and busy so that the time would fly.  I basically just did laps around the house not really getting anything done and then I began to get anxious.  1:00 came and went, 1:30, 1:45, 1:46...47...48...49... *ring*  Mayor's Alliance will be here in about 30 minutes!  In all my efforts to make the day go by faster, I noticed I haven't even set up Sal's crate.  His new "safe spot" until our acclimation period has passed.  Time to get moving.

Once everything is bleached out, scrubbed down, fluffed and done - I check my work, smile to myself and think, "This cat is going to be as spoiled as the rest of them"  I survey my work one final time, tug on all the panels of the crate and make sure everything is safe and secure.  If Sal escapes, our journey is over and I have failed.




The Mayor's Alliance arrives, a lovely woman, kind --  obviously in a rush with cat deliveries.  I know how important those are, so I graciously accept my paperwork and medication, she brings him into the garage for me and tips him into his crate.  He steps out, crouches between the litter box and the bed ears flattened and looks at me.  The kind woman thanks me for my work, I thank her for hers and watch her pile into her red Ford and pull out of the driveway.

I walk back over to Sal, I kneel down and sigh.  His eyes are runny, he is cleaner (although still a mess), ears flattened to his head, although more alert than his picture his eyes are clouded by fear. I think to myself for a moment, this is really a remarkable beautiful feline.  I  knew before he came to me it was going to be a long road ahead.  I slide open the latch on the crate and reach my hand in tentatively.  My gesture is met with a hiss and a low growl.  I slowly pull my hand back, close the latch and assure Sal that I understand.  I am not angry he reacted this way and I know how frightened he must be.  I explain to him the food I have placed for him in his crate, and I ask him to kindly use the litter box provided.  I explain to him his bed, and his cubby and why I chose the accommodations I did and which one I thought would be best for him.  The growling and hissing made way for a hard stare. His gaze was unwaivering but cold.  Until this moment, I did not realize just how long the road would be.  Good thing for the both of us, we have no where else to be.

I go back inside the house and begin to hustle trying to get the regular chores of the day finished, but I can't think of anything else but Sal.  I look up, and it is just about time to leave to pick the kids up from school.  I grab my keys and my phone, open the garage.  I let Sal know where I am going and I assure him I will be back - with a few more people to love him.  He blinks from inside his cubby in acknowledgement, I stare at him a moment longer and I jump into my Suburban.

I pick up Olivia, my 4 year old and CJ, my 2 year old from Day Care and head off to the Children's Center to get my oldest, Rowan, 5 1/2 from her After School Program.  Once everyone is in the car, they request McDonalds for dinner.  I sigh with relief that dinner will be simple tonight and we drive off. 

I tell the girls I need to discuss something very serious with them.  I had no idea the conversation was going to head in the direction it did.   My children are well aware of my obsession with animals.  I have 3 large breed dogs, all rescues.  I also have 3 indoor only cats - rescued.  I have a colony of outdoor barn cats, chickens, ducks and rabbits.  "We save things" my kids mimic.  "That is what mommy does, she saves all the animals"  From the mouths of babes, if she only knew how many animals I just cannot save, but she is too little to have her heart weighed down with such sadness.

"Girls," I begin "this is very important and I need you to listen to me."  I am speaking more to Rowan than Olivia.  Olivia is all me and she has the ingrained animal instincts.  She loves the animals and is a natural with them.  She still needs supervision and guidance - she IS only 4 but she has all the makings of her momma.  Rowan, on the other hand has a sweet, sensitive soul but she is more "people oriented".  Rowan has dreams, as most 5 1/2 year olds do of becoming a doctor, because she wants to help people.  They're good kids, test their bounds, but... good kids.

Rowan gets very serious.  She is an old soul, wise.  She loves the serious conversations because she is treated like a grown-up.  I see her big brown eyes in the rear view mirror open, gleaming, ready to absorb whatever "Seriousness" I have for her.

"What is it Mommy?  What do you have to tell us?"  I take a deep breath, quickly formulate exactly how I need to explain this on a Rowan level, which is a bit more delicate.  Rowan is easier when you are honest with her.  She understands a lot more than I wish she would.  I exhale and I begin.

"Today, we got a new cat.  He was going to be killed, and some very lovely people helped me stop that and he is going to come live with us," I begin

"Why do they want to kill him?" Rowan asks me, very serious and beginning to understand just how serious this is.

"Well, they don't WANT to kill him, but they feel they have no choice.  So many cats are brought in to this shelter and there is just no room.  When there is no room, they cannot keep so many" I try and keep the explanation honest and simple, but that is so very hard to do when the answer is anything BUT simple.

And this, this is when I knew - of all the mistakes I have made as a mother, all the wrong choices I made, bad examples I have set, I knew I was leaving the most important legacy behind that I could ever hope in all of my life.  In all the wrong I am doing the most important thing right.  I am raising NICE children.

Rowan sighs, and very matter of fact begins to explain just WHAT is so wrong here.  "Mom," she begins "we need to be KIND and RESPECTFUL to each other.  Not just to people but to animals also, right?  Why can't everyone just be COURTEOUS to everything, then they won't need to kill the animals, right?  Why do the animals go to this place?  If they kill them, why do they go there, who BRINGS them there?  Can't they go somewhere else?  Why can't they all come live with US!"

I can't find my voice.  If only everyone was kind, respectful and courteous, but now is not the time to get into THAT conversation.  My children believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny... winged faeries that sprinkle dream dust...and that all it would take to save the world, is KINDNESS.

I tell Rowan what a wonderful little girl she is and how I wish, we COULD have all the animals live with us, but she reminds me, "Daddy will kill you"  Yes, he thinks so.

We arrive home and I pull into the garage.  Rowan and Olivia can't wait to get out of the car to meet Sal.  Rowan is first to his crate and I remind her again, "NO FINGERS IN THE CRATE.  HE IS FRIGHTENED AND MIGHT BITE"  I am met with an eye roll, and a wave off.  5.  5 going on 15.

Rowan tells Sal not to worry, he is going to be safe here and is telling him how much I love the animals and how good I am with everyone.  She explains to him he doesn't have to worry about dying now.  I won't let anyone kill him.  He is home, he is safe and she is going to love him.

Olivia stands off to the side, not very patiently waiting for her turn.  Rowan grabs her baby brother and walks him inside, chatting about her day as he holds her hand and listens like a typical male -- with only half an ear.

For those of you who know my dear Olivia, she has 2 volumes.  Loud and VERY loud.  She steps to the crate and in a soft voice begins her "animal whispering" reassuring him, explaining to him the rules... that he cannot eat the chickens and to not worry the dogs won't eat him.  Sal doesn't utter a sound, and he just listens.  Olivia is definitely mine.  She bids him a good night and promises to visit again in the morning.

We all go inside, finish our dinner... watch some TV and jammie up.  The girls make me promise to kiss Sal goodnight.  I bring CJ up to bed and then the girls.  Once I know they are settled, I check on Sal again.  He still hasn't budged from his cubby.  Hasn't eaten or drank or used the litter box... I open the door and once again tentatively reach in... and am once again met by a growl and a hiss.  I smile, tell him it is ok, I understand.  I close the crate, assure him tomorrow is a new day and I will see him then.  I beg him to eat, promise him he is safe and head back in for the night.  I think again to myself, neither of us have anywhere else to be.

I am not changing the world by leaps and bounds but I am changing the world around me and that is even better.  I am leaving behind a legacy of love.