Spice (Kitties) Up Your Life:Help Repay My Mom's Generosity

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

If you’ve followed the journey of the Spice Kitties, you know they are all now (as of yesterday) happily placed in really cool forever homes with humans who are going to give them all the attention and care they demand — and deserve! I have to admit I’m a little sad my experience with them is over — but, as they say: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”

Early on, someone said I shouldn’t be shy about asking for help — especially because the person who adopted mama Gertie to me went missing in action when we learned she was pregnant. I mentally filed the offer away, thinking I’d probably need something along the line and would set up an Amazon WishList or something. But then I got involved — overwhelmed, really — in the “taking care of” business, and I never followed up.

But it was an undertaking: for two months five times the food I was used to buying, five times the litter, a bunch of cans of milk substitute when we started to wean off of mama, two veterinarian wellness visits and deworming medication — oh, and one unexpected trip to the emergency pet hospital. Not to mention some “domestic casualties”: a bunch of cords chewed (so long iPhone cords, so long Orange Theory heart rate monitor charger), a shredded sofa, an office deeply in need of a deep cleaning… :-)

I made it all work, so please don’t read any further if you are not moved to help or don’t have the means right now. This isn’t that type of situation. But for those of you who wanted to pitch in, here’s a way.

MAMA STEPS IN

The expenses bunched up and I did my best, even though I didn’t budget for this experience. But I wouldn’t have been able to go the distance if it wasn’t for my mom sending me infusions of cash here and there. I didn’t ask her — but she knew I needed help. She’s not expecting anything back, but I wouldn’t dream of not paying her back. The $350 here is so I can pay her back exactly what she contributed. (If there’s any extra, it will go toward pampering mama Gertie. So far, she has enjoyed a whole plate of tuna from the can, but I’m trying to think of some other ways to treat her for being the most attentive, least troublesome mama cat ever.)

Left to my own devices, I can make this happen down the line. But I’d love to do it quicker, as soon as possible — and I also love the idea that it’s not just me paying her back but anyone who either had their heart warmed by the preciouses in some way or who just thinks what my mom did is something we need more of.

I thought a bunch of people giving a small amount if they feel inclined could add up. When I give her the money back, I’m going to let my mom know that more people than she realizes knows about her generosity, Please don’t spoil the surprise until then.

Thank you for considering. And — even more — thank you for your words of encouragement and support as we raised these kitties and moved them out to the big wonderful world, where nothing is containing the curiosity they embrace with innocent joy nor the love they’re emanating in their new forever homes.

“In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa