The view from Goomp's bed this morning as new boy in town Purrky (foreground with left ear attuned to our camera work behind him) and missing girl Lucie (peering out from the bookcase) sized each other up after Lucie's surprise return out of the blue last night. Their predecessor, the mighty black-and-white longhair Thomas Sowell, seems to lend an ear of his own as he peers out magisterially from a top-shelf photographic portrait (Matthew Simpson photo).
Lucie had been gone nearly two weeks, Goomp had found Mr. Perkins at the local SPCA shelter to try to fill the empty place in his heart, and we were all trying to go on with our lives by celebrating his birthday with a festive luncheon of tournedos wrapped in bacon, baked stuffed potatoes and buttered peas. Only Tuck continued to believe Goomp's precious sable Burmese would ever return. After all the guests had left last evening and we had settled down for some blog reading at Goomp's computer, Mr. Perkins drew our attention to the window. We cranked it open, and suddenly something black flung itself against the screen. We ran outside and saw the little pussycat cowering near the door. Everyone mobilized, and soon Lucie was inside the garage, too spooked to let anyone touch her. After time and treats, she finally came inside, had a brief hissing and growling encounter with Mr. Perkins and then ran upstairs to Goomp's bedroom.
Goomp blew out the candles of a serve-yourself carrot cake made of miniature cupcakes at the birthday luncheon yesterday, never realizing that his fondest wish -- to have his little black kitty back in his arms -- was about to come true. We asked him just now what he HAD been wishing for. He thought for a moment and recalled that he hadn't been wishing for anything, really, other than that he would be able to blow out all the candles.
During presents yesterday, Purrky took possession of a top-of-the-line scratching post from Susie, paw washing his face in approval.
When Goomp signed the shelter's agreement the other day for adopting the new kitty, they asked him what he would do if his previous cat -- Lucie -- should ever come back. He assured them it would be fine, there would be room in his home and in his heart for both, but of course no one asked the cats themselves. Goomp's latest imail report from the fur front:
Lucie and Purrky have spent time in the same rooms together with suspicion but no overt animosity. Right now Purrky is on the couch and Lucie on the gas heater looking out. I think Lucie would like to go out but I need a few days to recuperate. Lucie just noticed Purrky and ran off, frightened. Somebody hissed.
Somebody always hisses. But as for going out, things are looking completely different now that Lucie is alive and well [lost a little weight, but eyes bright, fur glossy and appetite robust). We had all been thinking about never letting any of our cats outside down Goomp's again for fear of their being snatched by that vicious fisher a neighbor had seen threatening her Jack Russell terrior the other day. But the fisher didn't get her. She was presumably locked in somewhere and unable to get out and back home till last night. 'Reminds us of that time around Thanksgiving last year when Baby went missing for a whole day and then sauntered back hours later wondering what all the fuss was about. Perhaps he and Lucie could form a secret society to share and celebrate the details of what our blog's poet laureate Jeff Hull calls "these mysterious adventures that . . . serve a higher cat purpose." As he wrote upon Baby's triumphant return last November:
Protecting the secret of where they have gone.
We'd like to forget, but cats do what they do
And patiently teach us what yet remains true:
For all of their wanderings demonstrate that
The simple truth is that no man owns a cat.
But back to Lucie and Purrky. Will Goomp's new kitty and old kitty be able to make a go of it now that Lucie has come marching home again? Susie thinks it just might work:
I have a sense that Lucie and Mr. Perkins may strike a compromise. They can share adoption stories.
It sounds like a plan.
Update: Goomp imails a progress report mid afternoon:
Been watching cats and Patriots. I finally have both kitties in this room together, and Purrky is on the couch and Lucie on the catnip on the SP base. Lucie seems relaxed now and Purrky is snoozing.
That's what we wanted to hear.
Update II: An hour later, Goomp reports that "Lucie is madly rolling in the catnip on the SP, and Purrky is watching in wonder."
What a wonderful turn of events! And on a birthday celebration day too!
Posted by: Laura Lee Donoho | November 13, 2005 at 02:43 PM
I received many lovely presents on my 86th, but the return of my Lucie was more than I could have hoped.
Posted by: goomp | November 13, 2005 at 03:16 PM
Marvelous ..a happy ending is the best kind of ending I like.
Mr.Perkins and Lucie will work it out.Cat always do..they are practical that way...
Posted by: Tara | November 13, 2005 at 05:48 PM
What marvelous news! I have been saying prayers that Lucie would return home.
Posted by: Omnibus Driver | November 13, 2005 at 05:51 PM
Thank you, everyone, for your kind thoughts about a pussycat. :)
Posted by: Sissy Willis | November 13, 2005 at 08:13 PM
Congratulations, Goomp! How lovely to celebrate a long and varied life along with the return of your beloved cat! You are doubly--or infinitely blessed this day.
Happy 86th!
Posted by: andophiroxia | November 13, 2005 at 09:46 PM
I have been pretty much offline over the weekend except for a couple of little checks for email! A very Happy Birthday Goomp (it's only 11pm - so I still have an hour *grin*) And what a terrific present for you. I can see the two of them now - playing like mad in the middle of the night... LOL.
Posted by: Teresa | November 13, 2005 at 11:03 PM
Many thaks to all for the kind thoughts.
Posted by: goomp | November 14, 2005 at 05:51 AM
Sissy-
So glad to hear of Lucie's safe return. We have two kitties of our own, who are strictly in-door.
Speaking as a longtime (lifelong) cat owner/ownee, the indoor/outdoor thing is a trade-off; longer lifespan and better health vs. a shorter but more exciting existence.
I recall my wife's late cat Bunny who enjoyed regular outdoor access, and I have to say it was enchanting to watch how "alive" she became when she got outside, so I can see why people do let their cats out.
But when all is said and done I choose to keep our furry kids indoors; this is basically driven by selfishness and the feeling that even a "long" feline lifespan of 15-20 years is woefully insufficient - I'll guard every day of that like an overprotective miser. :)
-Scott
PS - an extra bravo to Goomp for keeping Purrky after Lucie's return! That kind of thing really brightens my day.
Posted by: Scott | November 17, 2005 at 10:49 AM
Wicked awesome, Scott. I totally agree with you about everything. There is nothing to take your breath away like the sudden joy that overtakes Tiny and Baby when they jump out of the car up at Goomp's and realize they are free once again to be all they can be.
And not just for them, but for us. As Thoreau wrote, "The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him."
And yet, and yet. I totally understand your "selfish" desire to keep them inside. Not to mention my sympathy for the moles and voles and birds who fall prey to their tooth and claw when they are free to roam outdoors. Tiny actually caught and killed -- and tried to eat before I snatched it away -- a tiny mouse in the kitchen the other night. They are true to their natures whatever their circumstances.
I do hope your words encourage Goomp, who is starting to feel overwhelmed at the hisses and growls and bad appetites of this period of adjustment between Lucie and Purrky.
Posted by: Sissy Willis | November 17, 2005 at 11:09 AM
"I do hope your words encourage Goomp, who is starting to feel overwhelmed at the hisses and growls and bad appetites of this period of adjustment between Lucie and Purrky."
Are Purrky and Lucie fixed? We had a similar experience when we adopted Sofie, our current ladycat - in her case she was not only un-spayed but in heat, so she would alternate between yowling for "special" attention, and trying to tear the face off our boycat Loki.
Spaying her took care of most of the problem, but it still took another month or so before Sofie and Loki were getting along (gradual introduction controlled by pet barriers plus Loki's willingness to stick up for himself also helped) - now the two of them are very close, cuddling and grooming each other as well as being co-conspirators in mischief (we sometimes refer to them as "Bonnie and Clyde").
One thing I have found (as you already appear to know well) is that cats do much better in twos than by themself, and in the long run I think Lucie and Purrky will be good for each other.
-Scott
Posted by: Scott | November 17, 2005 at 12:31 PM
Both fixed. I wish they would read your comments. :)
Posted by: Sissy Willis | November 17, 2005 at 12:40 PM
"And yet, and yet..."
That's how I feel when I see our kitties at the french doors, watching the world outside... :\
I'll definitely have to get better about giving them some time out on leashes.
Posted by: Scott | November 17, 2005 at 01:12 PM
Thanks to all for their good wishes for the three of us, Lucie, Purrky and Goomp.
Posted by: goomp | November 17, 2005 at 01:13 PM
So happy for you!!! I am panic stricken if one of mine is gone overnight. The most has been three days. Hard to believe you got Lucie back after so long - and on Goomp's B-day besides. Truly wonderful.
Posted by: cfomahm | November 20, 2005 at 11:37 AM
OUTSTANDING...
GOOMP rocks...
Posted by: HNAV | February 03, 2008 at 08:46 PM