Mister Kai

 

                                                                            

In early August, a young Siamese was been found on the streets of Stockton and was brought to the Animal Control. I had been looking for a week for a kitten and thought it would be a long time until we found the right match. Covid-19 was inspiring countless families to adopt four legged fur babies and I was told that for each kitten looking for a home hundreds of applications were submitted.

The Universe conspired for the wait to be much quicker than anticipated. A few hours after his photo was posted on petfinder, I saw his sweet photo. I called the Stockton Animal Control, who told me that I had to come in that day as he would not be there very long. Long story short, the supervisor ended up telling me she'd hold this little guy until I could come the next day (which was my day off).

Off I went the next morning, with Havana and my eighty year old mother as my co-pilots. Amara was off on a backpacking trip for the week and Don was home working (he was not keen on new kitten-that did not last long but more on that later). When I got to the shelter, I was the only one allowed in. When I asked to see the kitten, I was told he was already mine and to hand over my credit card for the fifty dollar adoption fee and to wait where I was. 

I panicked. What if he was not friendly. What if I did not feel a connection. What if we were not a good match for each other? As I signed the paper work, a nice gentleman took my pet carrier and left to retrieve our new kitty. Seeing my concern, the staff who was processing the paperwork reassured me, "Our supervisor would not suggest him if he was not a good match." I was only slightly reassured.

When the other staff returned with the kitten. I took a look inside the carrier.  Looking up at me was the most gentle blue eyes and that was all it took. It was love at first site. I knew that this little Siamese was meant for our family.

In the six weeks since Kai came home, he has buried himself deep in all our hearts with the exception of Samson, who is very slowly tolerating him! Kai has turned out to be a playful, silly, loving kitten who loves to chase crumpled paper (and now likes to dunk it in his water bowl), his balls and swap his brother Samson (who likes to growl back). He loves to cuddle and if we leave the house (even going to the mailbox or backyard), he goes to the door and meows in the saddest voice. He has tried to follow us outside, resulting in a few escapes. He has joined his sisters at school, often showing up in zoom classrooms. He loves to nap any and everywhere. He is also mischeivious. He loves attention and if he feels slighted he is prone to knock over glasses of water or whatever else will make a lot of noise and/or mess!  But mostly, his tiny self is full of enormous love and sweetness. And the love is reciprocated. 

Scenes from Quarantine-Part 7

                                                                                

Covid-19 continues to run rampant across the globe. That has mandated that we continue to social distance. For the most part, our family has been at home.  But that has not stopped us from making some new memories from some brief excursions, mostly local and having some fun times at home. 

But it's not all peace and Love. The Davi-Coughlin Clan are definitely getting more irritated by each other. Yet I am sure that is a common occurrence in most homes throughout the world.  Who wouldn't get irked by a sibling, partner, four legged or other family member when you are with them all day and all night. In our family, the saving grace has been that Don and I are working from home while the girls are doing distance learning in the back cabin classroom. The work/school space has allowed a little breathing room to not fan any fires burning inside the house! 

Speaking of fires, we were hit with weeks of horrible fires, limiting our ability to go outside at all. 2020 has proven to be the most unusual and challenging year in modern history. Here are some of the things we have done to make our own little history.

1: We adopted a new kitty Kai (who will get his own blog post very soon!)

2: Nana came and spent several weeks with us. That was a blessing on many levels but especially since we thought we were going to lose her last year.

3: For some reason, we stopped hiking as much (pre fires) but in recent weeks, we resumed hiking and neighborhood walks. (Mom and Amara went hiking w/ Amara's school friend in Moraga. We all went to the Martinez waterfront for a walk in the sun.)

4: Amara went exploring in the wild area behind our home. That is one of her most favorite activities and she came home with lots of bones and feathers. She was elated! 

5: The girls continue to do horseback riding lessons.

6: We went to Lake Tahoe for Don's birthday, which allowed for more hiking,  some much needed swimming for mermaid Havana and it inspired her Halloween costume.

7:  When we were stuck inside due to poor air quality, we took a short drive to  the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts for decaf  iced coffee, coffee, bagels and donuts. 

8: Havana called a family zoom meeting (her sense of humor has been growing!)

9: The girls started school; their last year at their beloved school. Amara is an 8th year, Havana 6th year.

10: Amara's friend Juliet dyed her hair an awesome shade of magenta.

11: We continue to talk about world affairs and history.

Covid-19, may be keeping the general population apart, it may cause families to get on each others nerves but  Covid has  given us so many opportunities to learn and grow as well as to make memories that will remain once you have gone. So for that, we hold gratitude.

Blue Skies

 

Give Thanks & Praise! 

The Skies are Blue.

At least for now.

So we rejoice & in-joy,

What was always taken for granted.

But is now a gift.

Blue Skies & Clean Air.

Allowing for a picnic in a park.

Hooray for fresh air, 

For we are set free, 

For a moment.

During this pandemic.

Even sweet Kitties are happy for the Blue Skies.

Earth Fires

                                                                            

The skies are clear now but just a few days ago, our skies were filled with toxic smoke from the many fires that have been burning throughout California and Oregon. It made for eerie, apocalyptic looking days, which added more stress to the covid shelter in place. We could not go out for more than a minute or so because we could not breath the air.  I feel that we humans are not walking in balance on mama earth and as a result, the world is reflecting this in so many impactful ways.

The first photo above captures the ash falling from the sky. In all my life, I have never witnessed such a day as the one we did when the sky was orange from dawn to dusk, leaving it difficult to sense the time of day. I felt out of sorts, confused and deeply, deeply sad that we have been experiencing such things.  

Mama Earth is burning. We are in a pandemic. The centuries of racial divide in this country are boiling over. I have had to talk to the girls multiple times that these are not normal times.  That these are things we have never experienced before. I don't want them to grow up thinking that this life is so full of chaos and such dramatic change. But then again, maybe it is. Maybe we are in a new normal. 

Havana moving joyfully from classroom to house.

Earth Treasures

One of the great joys in having children is seeing the world through their eyes, seeing the joy in their eyes as they explore the world.  Their innocence connects with my own soul-child and the meeting between the two is something sacred.

While up in Tahoe, Havana was initially reluctant to go out to the lake (Covid concerns) but once she saw the crystal clear water and the variety of stones laying on the smooth sand below, she was all in, literally.  Her earth treasures provided some magic. Soon, Miss Havana was all smiles and her playful nature emerged in full gear. It made my heart swell to be in the presence of her joy. 

Earth treasures, good for body, mind, soul.

Back to School (at home)- First Day of 6th & 8th Years

Back to school for most children in the USA this year means distance schooling from home. Covid-19 remains a worldwide pandemic and so most children, including Amara and Havana, will be at home. Their school, MFS, has somehow managed to have some in person through pods (calling it a camp) but our family does not feel safe with that. Too many variables, to many chances to get sick. So this year, during the girls last year at their beloved school, they will remain at home (and that could change mid-year but not likely.) 

We are fortunate in that we have a back cabin in your yard, that was unused until now, when we converted it to the girl's classroom. Complete with desks, computers (electricity is brought in through electrical cords from the main house)m beanbags and our old couch, the girls having a separate space to do school seems to have made a huge difference for them. Last year working in their rooms did not feel like school. This space does and they settled in from day one, taking school seriously. I am very aware of how lucky we are to have this space. 

As the first week of school progressed, the girls started spending more and more time out there, making it their special place. Which meant quieter space in the main house. There are a few issues; the WIFI goes in and out (I am on patient calls and video visits all day, as well as teaching virtual classes so this has been a problem) and sometimes it gets a bit warm in there, or just the opposite, it can be cold. But overall it's well built, with windows so fingers crossed, we will manage through the winter months. And the best part of all is that Mr. Kai Kitty likes to join the girls out there. He has his water bowl, litter box and lots of places to snuggle up on and snooze. 

So here's to the start of the 2020/2021 school year. One that will be remembered for the rest of their lives. Stay at home, away from friends, unable to process in person the last days at their school.  It is is all bittersweet and yet we just hope that they learn well in these days of distance learning.