In June of 2013, I had recently married and moved to a cute little bungalow in the country (in Appomattox, VA.) I wanted to start volunteering at the shelter there, and my first opportunity was an Adoption Event held in the parking lot of the Tractor Supply Store. That morning, as we were loading up the cats and dogs for the event, a lady walked in carrying a small cardboard box. She said "I just found this kitten walking down the road." Right about that time, a little furry black kitten popped her head out of the box and said "MEW!" quite indignantly! So, we looked at her, determined her sex, and figured she was probably 5-6 weeks old. Now, technically we should not have put her in the event until she was spayed and vaccinated at 8 weeks, but it was the country and things are more lax out there, so we took her to the event to try to find her a home.

When we got there, I went inside and bought a can of cat food, one that was meaty bits in gravy, not a pate. I opened it, set it in front of her, she sniffed, then started eating. She was hungry! After she ate and drank water, I held her in the palm of my hand against my chest for the rest of the day. She never moved! She didn't want to move! I still helped around the event, one handed. But I held her, kissed her, and talked to her all day.

When it was time to clean up, the Volunteer Coordinator came over and said, with a wink and a smile, "I'll just go ahead and get that adoption paperwork ready for you, ok?" And I said, with a laugh, "Well, let me run it by my husband first." Not that I needed permission, just out of respect, letting him know I really wanted to keep her. I knew he'd say ok. What he actually said was "Ok on one condition: that you don't volunteer at the shelter anymore." LOL Because he knew I'd bring a new cat home every week if I did, and he was right of course.

Since we got her in the middle of June, and we think she was about 5-6 weeks old, I celebrate her birthday on May 2. I used to do it on Beltane, but I like to separate the 2 events now.

So, Happy 8th Birthday to my Evening Star, aka Eve, aka Sissy, aka Sassy Pants, aka Fluffy Butt! She's been with me through my divorce, my heart attack, fostering the boys and keeping Willie, the move to Lynchburg, the move here to Mom's, and the whole First and Second Degrees. She's my loyal little girl and I don't know what I would do without her.