ONCE UPON A TIME...A LITTLE RED CAT

came to live at the cozy cottage. That was exactly 10 years ago this month. She was a senior at 8 years old but we wanted her. She needed to do an important work for my dying mother. To fill her final days with a tender distraction. Miss Peach became a HOSPICE worker and made mother fall in love with her. Not an easy job because mother hated cats! They shared seven weeks together before the Lord released mother from her earthly pain. My brother Tony and sister Patty are all the family I have left...we live in the same town but seldom see each other due to work and life just happening. John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."My sister Patty called to see how things are going and I told her about sweet Peachy slowly failing. She loves this tiny cat...the last living connection to our mothers last days of happiness. Patty came right over and brought the beautiful purple blanket she made. We had coffee and chatted...then her cell phone rang. It was our brother Tony. Patty asking him to come over and see Peachy but he said he could not. Soon Patty had to go home and as she was leaving, we heard a voice in the driveway...it was my brother Tony! He came! I nearly cried...the three of us have not been together for 10 years since mother's last summer.
Then something really amazing happened...yes it gets better! For 10 years two boxes have sat on the top shelf in the auntie room...boxes that belonged to our mother that we have never unpacked. It seemed like the purrrrfect time to get them down and look inside. One box had a Japanese tea set in it and a German china set. The other box had the treasured photo albums that we thought had been lost many years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pictures of long lost days came flooding back into our minds. Our hearts shouted prayers of thanks for this family reunion and the recovery of memories long buried under cobwebs of our past.
My sister Patty with my Oma's photo album from the 1950's and my brother Tony with the little sled I used to pull him on during the winter's we spend living at our Oma and Opa's house in Bavaria...he could not believe I still had it in my garden shed.
This most unexpected amazing day was a gift to me...to all of us...from my beloved little Miss Peach. She brought us all together...she gave us unforgettable moments that we will always treasure. Miss Peach will leave a legacy of love that will sustain me during sad gray days with smiles in my heart...thank you my precious Peach.
UPDATE:
Tuesday evening: A tiny update...Miss Peach and I are resting on the sofa...most of the evening she lay with her Lapdaddy and that was so wonderful for all of us. I bathed her late this afternoon with just water and held her until she was dry infront of the fireplace. I told her what a good girl she has been to us here at the cozy cottage all these years. She then crawled up onto my arms and snuggled into my neck...I nearly lost it with happy tears. Later she ate and drank another little bit. But she can not go poop...she has no energy and strained so hard...it broke my heart to watch. I fear her system might be shutting down...but I do not know really. She did pee...that is good. I am waiting for her to wake up and I will put her into the little girls room and hope for more. A little food is waiting in the saucer too...it has been a good evening.Thank you all for your sweet thoughts and prayers...we can feel them. Love Karla and Lapdaddy