And All I Have is a Photograph…

I need my birth certificate for some paperwork I need to file. I remember a couple of years ago moving it out of a desk drawer to someplace safe. The only problem is now I don’t remember where that safe place is. But I did find a bunch of old photographs of Mr. Max, Diego-San, and Thompson (Theo came along in the digital age). 

I showed them to Alias, Norma and Kenta and explained who these three other cats were, each of their personalities and what I loved most about them. I’m not sure why, but it left me feeling good to share my memories of those who came before to my great current group of housemates.
 

Oldie but Goodie

Me: “Hey Kenta, is that a paw in your ear?” “Kenta: I’m sorry I can’t hear you because there’s a paw in my ear.”
 

Smothered

Kenya is smothering his brother with love. Alias actually tolerated this for a fairly long time…
 

Felt Spring Like

It got up to 50 degrees yesterday and it was a bright sunny day. The foot of snow we got over the weekend is melting away. I hope my housemates enjoyed some sun puddles. 
 

Look of Concern

I told Norma if she’s concerned about being shipped somewhere, maybe it would alleviate some of her anxiety by getting out of the box.
 

Snowman

I walked to work yesterday morning. On my way I saw the most impressive snowman I've ever seen. It was Shaquille O'Neal sized and made me smile.

Of course as it gets warmer, I fear I'll feel the same as Snoopy.

Blizzard

We got about a foot of snow over the weekend. All three napping on me didn’t exactly give me any more motivation to get out of bed and shovel.

Nature Norma

I have to drive by my house to turn into the alley where my garage is.Yesterday when I drove by I saw Norma sitting in the window. When I walked to my house I saw Norma still sitting in the window. I hated to tell her that they are forecasting two to three inches of snow on Saturday. There’s probably going to be some curse words if the sidewalk and driveway need to be shoveled. 
 

Unhappy

I got home 22 minutes late from work because of a meeting. I got a couple of glares from those not happy about my tardiness. Usually when I get home from work, they know they will be fed once I change my clothes and clean out the litter boxes. 
 

Safety

Kenta and Norma decided it’s probably just safer to sleep in their own beds. I don’t blame them. 

Flying Kitties

I wasn’t going to admit this but Sunday afternoon the four of us were napping together. Alias in his familiar spot, chin, resting on my knees, Kenta up against my left leg, Norma against my right. I was half asleep half awake, lucid dreaming. The dream turned into a nightmare with a mob chasing me. I leaped onto a building but had to pull my legs up hard. And unfortunately this led to three airborne cats. Thankfully, Alias for one, forgave me. He took the same position in the evening. 
 

Goofy on the Nip

All three partook which is unusual Usually Kenta doesn’t show much interest and Norma gets the goofiest. This time Kenta took the prize.
 

His Many Faces

 

Alias can say so much with the movement of his pupils.

My Pal

One of my very favorite moments of the day comes after Kenta finishes eating his dinner. Because he scarfs his food down faster and with more enthusiasm than I’ve ever seen in a cat, I have to make sure he doesn’t steal Norma or Alias’ dinners. (Alias is a very slow eater.) I used to carry Kenta upstairs to the living room couch hold him and stroke his soft fur. He would purr deeply. I’d eventually let him go and he’d race downstairs. I realized I didn’t know if Norma and Alias were actually done (Did I mention Alias is a very slow eater?)

So our routine has changed. Instead of carrying upstairs, he now follows me up the stairs knowing that he’ll get a treat. So I give him a treat, often Greenies because the vet said they might help keep his teeth cleaner. Or sometimes his hairball goop that he loves. I love that he matches my pace up the stairs even though he could race up them much faster than me. Instead, he runs up right next to me, foot after foot. He changes speeds if I slow down or speed up. He runs with a swagger, tail proudly swishing back and forth in the best Diego-San style ever. 

Long History

Just like Theo, and before him, Mr. Max, Norma loves to sit in my 50 year old clothes hamper.

The Life of a Cat

This is one of the last things I saw yesterday morning as I left the house for work. Sometimes, they make it very hard to leave for work…
 

Conquered

It took a little time, and almost squishing his sister, but Kenta finally conquered the laundry basket.
 

Belly Rubs and Favorite Faces

Every evening when I’m working on my computer, Alias will stand next to my chair, meow, and whether I want him to or not, hop up onto my lap, flip over exposing his belly for a belly rub. Sometimes this ends with the most fantastic face in the world.
 

Center of Attention

Kenta is exactly where he wants to be. 
 

Honey I’m Home

I saw Norma through the window when I got home from work yesterday. She didn’t see me even though I was jumping up and down and waving like a mad man. Or maybe she was just ignoring me.
 

Making Faces Contest

Norma sometimes wonders how she puts up with a couple of silly brothers. 
 

Curling

Curling season came to an end last night. Curling up together season continues. 
 

Questions

I recently realized Alias is my go to cat when it comes to asking questions throughout my day. They’re mostly questions he can’t answer because there is no answer. But I rarely if ever ask Kenta or Norma questions other than if they know how much I love them. Mushy stuff like that. I think Alias is my answer guy because when I ask him yet another inane question, he looks up at me sincerely and bellows out a reply. At least he is trying…
 

Our House Protector

Kenta going from stalking to lurking to staring.

 

Busy

I took an evening remote temporary job interrupting our house's normal routine. Norma does not approve of these 12 hour 'work' days.

In Control

Yes I’m underneath them, as they sit on my legs. They stayed there for hours making it very difficult to get anything done. And yes, Alias made me look up.
 

Sweep

We got clobbered in our curling match. I told Kenta I could had used him using his tail to sweep the ice. He wasn't interested.
 

Friday the 13th

Superstitious or not, they plan to snuggle together in order to stay safe.
 

Nightly Routine

Norma loves to rub her nose against my chin. This eventually leads to her licking my chin. I really love affectionate Norma. 
 

He Believes in Me

I told Kenta that I administered an adoption of a 10-year-old cat from the shelter I'm volunteering at. I'm very confident she found a great home. Kenta didn't disagree. He's very confident in my ability to find a great home for a cat.
 

AWOL

Came home from the Timberwolves basketball game (a win!) to see my housemates waiting anxiously for my return (and dinner!) Hate to tell them I have a ticket to Wednesday night’s game too. 

Upstairs

I came home for lunch from work last week because I had a package delivered and didn’t want it sitting out in the freezing weather. I went upstairs to see this. Just a normal afternoon. Kenta stretching, Alias looking worried about something and Norma contemplating life.
 

Seahawks v Patriots

I told Norma Sunday isn’t just any old Sunday. It’s Super Bowl Sunday. She did an excellent job hiding her excitement.
 

Voices

Kenta and Norma don’t have a lot in common. One thing they do share is a high pitched meow. The difference is Norma’s meow is much louder to Kenta’s timid peep. 
 

Sick Day

I stayed home sick. These two did all they could to try and make me feel better. Alias took his usual napping spot with his legs on my thighs and his head face down on my shins. Kenta snuggled his brother.

 

Scrutable

Someone once broke up with me saying I was too 'inscrutable.' I told her I'd be insulted by that if only I knew what it meant. She didn't laugh at my response. I shared this story with Alias and this was his attempt at looking inscrutable. Love Norma's photobomb.

Norma Trying Her Best

I long for the days when watching Norma roll up in a mat amused me to no end. 
 

My Tiger

This is Alias’ ferocious look I gave him a grade of B+/A-. Your thoughts?
 

Smart Guy

Kenta melted my heart one more time. He loves learning from Alias and Norma. From almost their first day with me, one of the most adorable things about Norma and Alias is when I’m at the top of the steps, on my way down, and they are at the bottom of the steps looking up. They race upstairs as fast as they can as if to get away from me as fast as possible even if they are innocent. Kenta, for the first time ever did the exact same thing yesterday. 

Question

Alias has a droopy right eye. Norma has a droopy left eye. Mirror images or merely we're all damn droopy in our household?
 

Harrowing Weekend

It was another tense weekend in the Twin Cities with another Minnesotan killed by federal border enforcement agents. I had a ticket to the Timberwolves afternoon basketball game. I wondered if I should still go. The killing didn’t happen downtown where the arena is, but the whole thing felt a little bit like the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing in 2020.

They ended up postponing the game to Sunday so, 24 hours later, I had an hour to kill before leaving for the game. I lay down on my bed. Alias joined me and took his place when we take long naps together, on the top of my legs facing my feet. Norma shortly after joined us taking her usual spot between my feet and Alias. Surprisingly Kenta joined us too. He rarely does but he took his place horizontally on my chest with his fur in my nose and mouth. So I pushed him down a bit and the three of us settled in. This made me want to stay home and I knew the three of them would appreciate that. But the hour passed by quickly and I decided I didn’t want to waste a ticket so I began to move my housemates off of me. 

The Timberwolves got clobbered. They did have a nice moment of silence before the game for Saturday’s victim. Who knows where this charged political atmosphere is going? Thankfully, the three of them continue to teach me. We just have to enjoy our in the moment daily time together. That’s all.