The Adoption of Jonah-Alvin the Cat
Jonah the cat had one of those faces that seemed to be eternally in deep thought. His furry brow seemed wrinkled in concern over his eyes. Perhaps it's because he was passed down to so many people. The years of being adapted from home to home, studio to studio, no matter how well intentioned the adoptees, had made Jonah a transitory nomad. Jonah had spent a lot of time alone looking at the outside world on in door window ledges. His weight went up and down, depending on the owner of the time, but his beautiful fur stayed lustrous.
One thing is for sure. Jonah was a spiritual cat. He was not a black magic witch cat mind you, but one passed from massage healer to intuitive worker. Jonah seemed to soak in a sort of energy that is found when visiting massage and psychic shops. He thrived on spirit. I noticed this at my Sisterhood meetings. Jonah would run to which ever woman spoke at the time. Sitting before her he would look INTO her face intently until the next woman voiced a philosophical view point. Jonah would run to her. Sitting either on the floor, or from a lap, his gaze of fascination was real. These were the days when he was just "Jonah".
My last encounter with Jonah, as someone else's cat, was at the Lakota Chakra Healer's home, "Heart Woman." I was channeling tarot cards for our circle of healers when Jonah came running to sit before my cards. As if drawn by the energy I was emitting, he wanted to absorb 100 % of the channeling. He reclined wisely before the cards Sphinx - style. Wish he were mine I thought.
THE ADAPTION
As "Heart Woman's" life brought her to another job, in another town, I was blessed with Jonah. One day she drove up and brought Jonahs trays of food, litter boxes and toys into my studio. I hoped he would be happy and that I could be a good Mom. Most of all, would my husband accept him as one of our own so he could graduate from a studio cat to a home cat? Throwing my self on the floor I stroked Jonah and assured him everything would be fine. He was not so sure. He had certainly done this before. He proceeded to check out the rooms where he assumed he would be looking from the inside out once again. It seemed important for him to find the perfect window ledge.
MY HUSBAND MEETS JONAH THE SPIRIT CAT
My husband climbed out of his F1 -50 black Ford, lunch box in hand, with a very tired face at 4:30 PM.
.
"Black Gold on?" {which means coffee}.
"Yes! How was work?"
"Oh…..same. Bunch of idiots." he said to the interior of his truck.
I decided to wait. Telling him about Jonah was not wise now. After his first cup of coffee I blurted.
"WE HAVE A NEW CAT. WANT TO SEE HIM?"
"Oh shit……ANOTHER one? Hon what did I say………..?"
"But this is a SPECIAL cat hon. And I'll keep him at the studio. Want to see him?"
"No. Not until I have another cup of coffee."
If any one reading this is married to an Animal Rescuer, or IS an Animal Rescuer, you understand this is the most terrifying part of being in a relationship. I believe it drives some couples apart. Mostly women, they are forced to live by themselves on farms. They seem to pick the animals over their husbands and tromp around in rubber boots and farm coats. The animals get bigger and turn in to horses, deer, Abdominal Snow Men and God knows what else.
I sadly walked back to my studio. This was going to be a rough one on Kevin and I.
Three dogs and three cats he had clearly put a limit on. Five minutes later the front door opened and he had a smile on his face.
"OK. Where is he?"
Jonah was reclining on the couch and nuzzled into Kevin's outstretched hand.
"Hmph. A big cat isn't he…… { a glimmer came within me. Kevin likes "big!" He's a weight lifter. Yes!}
'Whats his name again?"
'Jonah………I think the name beautiful."
"Jonah! That's a girls name!"
"No honey. And if you ever read the Bible you would know Jonah is the name of a man that was swallowed by a whale."
"He looks like an Alvin to me."
My heart sunk. {Over my dead body...}
"How about Joe, honey? Joe is short for Jonah."
"No. Alvin. Jonah is a frikin' girl's name."
And that's how my husband fell in love with a spiritual cat, now named "Jonah – Alvin."
To be continued in my book of animal stories. I am presently putting together years of animal rescuer stories, and the spiritual impact animals have on our lives. As a published poet this will be my first Novel. I am currently searching for a good agent to publish with. This story has been copywrighted.