It's hard to name a blog. Really hard. There were a LOT of contenders, but none of them were just right. David made insane helpful suggestions like "Petting Zoo Fire" but in the end it came down to Little Acorn. So why Little Acorn you ask? Or maybe you don't ask, but I'll tell you anyway. Well, there is my unabashed love of squirrels and all things squirrely. Squirrels/acorns - it seemed to fit. Then there is my love for the band The White Stripes. They have a song called "Little Acorns". Not my favourite song, but nothing else White Stripe-y seemed to belong as a blog title. But mostly there was the first Little Acorn... In 2005 David and I fostered Mama kitties and their babies for the summer. We got all the joy (and mess and craziness) of a house full of kittens and then would tearfully happily send them off to find their homes. We were the only suckers do-gooders who would take in a mother and daughter cat duo with their 7 + 3 kittens. Yep, that's right. 2 adult cats with a total of 10 mental kittens between them. David and I said we wouldn't, but of course we named all the kittens and we loved them fiercely for the time they were with us. Mostly when it was time to go, I'd get a little sniffly and then send them off. But our last group of 3 kittens was...special. There was the Mama kitty - her SPCA name was Patches, but when my Mom decided that she would give her a good home she became Belle, the prettiest, cuddliest, most affectionate and lately the ROUNDEST calico on earth. She had three kittens - Tenzin (after Tenzin Norgay, because he loved to climb), Ember (a sooty tortoiseshell with just a few flames of orange) and Acorn... I don't know why or how Acorn got her name, but I know I gave it to her and it was just right. She was a mottled nut brown and her and I just connected. David loved crazy-kitty Tenzin best, but Acorn and I... Okay, those of you who aren't cat people won't understand, but she was just THE ONE, you know? I loved Acorn so much and when she went back to the SPCA I cried and cried and cried. I wanted to run back there and take her home where she belonged, but I didn't and I've regretted it ever since. Acorn should have been my cat. Not that I don't love Musette and Zephyr of course, but I never should have let sweet Acorn go. I hope she is having a lovely life. I hope her people are kind and I hope they realize that they've got a truly great cat. I hope her world is full of treats, soft voices, loving touches and warm places to sleep. Oh dear. Now you're all going to think I'm insane. One of those crazy cat ladies. Maybe I am.
Oh - and if I ever have a band, I'm totally naming it "Petting Zoo Fire".
OMG!!! She is soooooo cute!!! I need kitties!!!!!!! I second your thoughts and hope that she has all of those things. Every kitty should have a loving home and an adoring companion!!
Posted by: Kristine. | June 22, 2009 at 06:46 PM
Oh, what a lovely thing to share. :) A friend of mine rescued some kitties and their mommy, and she sent me pictures of them. I knew right away which one would be our's, just by the look on his face. Normally, I wouldn't dare make such a hasty decision, but I just KNEW he was it. Turns out, he fits in like he always belonged here, after all. His name is Oliver "Mongo" James.
Posted by: rustandroses | June 22, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Whoot to the White Stripes (I'm from Detroit too). :) Little Acorn is such a crazy good song (if you'd call it that). Good story...
Posted by: Sarah M. | June 23, 2009 at 07:13 AM
sweet photo of a sweet kitty - bittersweet story - thanks for sharing
Posted by: karen | June 23, 2009 at 07:27 AM
Ok that's a pretty sad story but the happy ending is I do have the sweetest cat in the end. Belle is everything you describe and well you know Oscar. No wonder he gets along with David so well as David likes the crazier cats and maybe Oscar knows that.
Posted by: Mom | June 23, 2009 at 08:33 PM