Saying Thanks (Almost) Before Every Meal
Eager for her bowl at each mealtime her humble and reserved personality had other cats served first, but that gave me the opportunity to appreciate the anticipation on her face as I lowered her bowl to the floor in front of her, as if she still couldn’t believe she was actually getting another bowl of food, just for her. A starving feral kitten, probably a day or two from death, Moses never forgot her beginnings.
All of her 19 years I watched her lean into her food to excitedly nibble here and there and thought of this gentle creature still frightened to be picked up and held, uncertain about sitting on my lap, even being petted with two hands, yet when I gave her the space to make her own decisions she came to me with trust, fervently purring and gazing at me with slowly blinking eyes and such love as I have never known.
Then after her first bite of food satisfied that deep-seated fear of hunger it was as if she remembered her manners, my quiet and refined gray kitty, and lifted her face from her bowl, pushed herself with slight difficulty back up to a sitting position and looked directly into my eyes, purring as I saw the fur on her throat gently trembling, and gave me a long, slow blink of her soft verdigris eyes.
“Thank you,” she said, every meal, every day, all her life, then went back to eating as I often brushed back tears at her honest pronouncement.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends, and it’s always time to celebrate the gifts those senior felines, the rescues, the ferals, the fosters and visitors have brought to our lives.
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Thank you for this charming post, Bernadette.. and for your company n inspiring artistry n skills thoughout the year. My elderly adoptee, Sweetie, is sleeping peacefully beside me. All’s Well. So far so good. Thank Goodness. My Love n Best Wishes to You n Your Big Black Beauties xxxxx
Annie, thanks so much for introducing yourself this spring! I’ve been so happy to follow your fostering, and I’m glad Sweetie found her way to you. Love and happiness to you and yours, we are all purring for you.
I love this, Bernadette — it rings so true. Cats like Moses never take anything for granted. And watching them thrive after all they’ve been through is indeed a miracle.
Tammy, they never hesitate to show their gratitude either.
What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Amy, and thanks for visiting.
This is such a lovely Thanksgiving post. Very moving. Thank you for sharing.
Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving.
Purrs
Thanks, Texas. Moses lives on. Hope your Thanksgiving was good.
What a lovely, touching, and gentle post. Blessings to you and your furry gang from all of us at Zee & Zoey’s.
Deb, thanks so much! I hope Kizmet enjoys his first Thanksgiving as well as the rest of you.
Happy Thanksgiving from Allegra, Ruby and me!
Ingrid, I hope you and the girls had a great day!
How lovely! This is such a touching and perfect reminder of what gratitude truly is. Thank you–and may your day be all you wish it to be!
Thanks, Amy! Moses came to teach me. Hope your day is full of things to be thankful for!
We really enjoyed this Thanksgiving post and grateful for all you do for kitties and for your friendship! Purrs from Layla, Merlin, Gris Gris, Domino & Odin.
Thanks, Layla! We are thankful you made it through Sandy. Have a wonderful day!
What a beautiful story Bernadette – thank you for sharing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the kids!
To you and yours too, Vicki!
A lovely story and a lovely kitty!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your feline friends 🙂
Cat, I’m still discovering the lessons.
May you have a beautiful day, all of you!
And you, too, Maru!