Oh, by the way...

My cat came back.

15 Girls, One Boy, and Eddie Vedder

I have the best birthday of my life this past Wednesday. I invited all of the women in my life to join me at LaPaz to celebrate not only another year of life, but also the friendships I have with these women. The one thing I have learned this past year is that I need strong women in my life, and boy, do I have them!

After the dinner, my new beau picked me up for a night with Eddie Vedder at the Ryman. He actually was brave enough to come into a room filled with women, he turned a million shades of red. He surprised me with a bouqet of flowers which consisted of lillies, dragon snaps, and carnations. He escorted me to the Ryman, where he was a gentleman and left me out at the door because it was raining. We witnessed one of the most amazing concerts I have ever seen. Eddie Vedder is amazing and really completed a wonderful birthday. I don't have the pics to back it up, because the Ryman would not let me bring my camera in.

Thank You!! to all the wonderful ladies in my life!! Even to the ones who could not make it to my dinner. I love you all. Thank you to Chris for being a perfect gentleman. And last, but not least, thank you to Eddie Vedder for rocking my birthday!

Smokey

When I was in college, I had a cat named Buddy. He was the best little cat. I thought he was lonely, so I got him a friend. I was working at a Pizza Hut in Warrensburg, MO, at the time. My boss was living in a one bedroom with his new bride and 6 cats!! I can't even imagine. He asked if I would take one off his hands, and I was thrilled to. I went to his apartment and he presented me with the most adorable little kitten I had ever seen. She was so tiny, and smokey grey, and purred like a tiger. On our drive home she got under my passenger side seat and wouldn't come out. I got her in the house and decided to name her Smokey. That was in 1996.

I have had Smoke almost 13 years. That was, until this past Friday. A friend came over to watch a movie. It was late when it got over. I walked my friend to his car, and took my dog out. My friend was the last one out the door. Somehow, the door didn't get shut all the way. When I returned from walking my dog, the door was wide open, and Smokey was no where to be found. I knew she had gotten out, but didn't worry too much. It was late so I didn't go and look for her, I just figured that she would be back at my door in the morning. I was wrong.

This little cat has been through a lot with me. College, then to mom and dad's, my first and second apartment, then back to mom and dads, and finally to Nashville. Most of her life she has been an indoor/outdoor cat. She was little and she was quite skilled at climbing trees at lightning speeds, and able to catch rabbits, snakes, and rats. She never ate them, just brought them to our door as if she was giving us a gift. She has the loudest purr I had ever heard on a cat. I nicknamed her "Purr Monster". She was very mannerly. She rarely ever hissed or got mad at anything. She never scratched up my furniture, always used her little cardboard scratching post. She loved to play with my hair ties. When I brought my dog Penny home, she took to her nicely and never once scratched her. They became fast friends.

I will admit in the end most of my love went to my dog. I ignored Smokey alot, and I regret that now. I knew she wanted to go outside, and even tried to get my parents to take her home to MO so she could enjoy the outdoors. At 13 she was getting up there in age, but you couldn't tell it by looking at her. I took her to the vet in April and they said she was the most healthy 13 year old they had ever seen. I'm not sure why she bolted out the door Friday night. Maybe it was on her "bucket list", maybe she was mad at me for ignoring her and wanted to leave, or maybe she intended to only be gone a little while and something horrible has happened.

I pray that God will protect her. I pray that someone nice has her and just doesn't want to let her go. I am making some signs today and will post them around the neighborhood when I get home. I hope she comes back, and if she does, I promise not to ignore her anymore.