phool starting over

On Starting Over
LILY MAGNOLIA AND PANSY GARDENIA

Lily Magnolia and Pansy Gardenia
Adopted 6/18/97
(Lily, left, and Pansy, right, at eight weeks)

The biggest news of 1997 is that we have finally adopted again. The new girls are Lily Magnolia and Pansy Gardenia, and they are adorable. Real hellions. The story actually starts with another cat, a sweet white one named Pinky. Pinky’s family moved to Utah in the Spring and could not take her along, at least initially. They had wanted us to adopt her, but Elaine wasn’t ready to make the commitment, especially to an adult (Pinky is six.) We were her foster parents for three months. On Fathers’ Day weekend, Elaine flew Pinky out to Utah to her family in their new home. She came back Sunday and was devastated at the emptiness of our house.

By Wednesday, we were at the Providence Animal Rescue League, interviewing candidates to live the life of Reilly (as Elaine’s mom would have called it.) After an hour and a half the decision was made. Jagdish admitted later that he was fearful of coming home with six little furry things, since Elaine wanted so many. (Surprise, surprise.) Fortunately, Providence law limits us to three pets per household. Since Elaine counts Jagdish as one, we took just two kittens home from PARL.

Lily and Pansy are littermates and look almost like twins. They are predominantly white (like Pinky.) Lily has muted calico markings, similar to Tulip’s colors, but in very different proportions. Pansy has Daisy’s calico colors, but much more white. Lily is sweet and easy going, like Daisy. Pansy is assertive and demanding, like Tulip. (Remember, the colors are the reverse, however.) It can be quite unnerving to have a kitten that looks a bit like Daisy behaving like Tulip, especially since Elaine still misses her first girls. Lily is like them in that she paws the walls and everything BUT the litter. Pansy actually covers her business in the box. At least we’ve improved 50% here. They groom each other, whereas Daisy groomed Tulip, who rarely reciprocated. The new ones play and skirmish together like true twins. They’re sociable, even with strangers, and are very much their own “people”.

For several weeks we struggled with the best way to tell the two apart. In dim light and especially if not together, they look very similar. Pansy has what was originally referred to as “schmutz” near her nose and mouth. (For those of you who never lived or worked in New York, that’s dirt.) In one of her typical moments of inspiration, Elaine reclassified this as a beauty mark, and announced to Jagdish that it reminded her of Marilyn Monroe. Jagdish, who adores Marilyn, nonetheless responded with his own observation. “Don’t you think she looks more like Cindy Crawford, only it’s on the wrong side?” This initially had Elaine wondering how he remembered which side, but once she got past that, she took a closer look at Pansy. Jeez Louise, he’s right. She looks just like Cindy Crawford in a mirror.

So we are a family again and all enjoying it. Stay tuned for more news.


On Starting Over LILY MAGNOLIA AND PANSY GARDENIA

Lily Magnolia and Pansy Gardenia Adopted 6/18/97 (Lily, left, and Pansy, right, at eight weeks)
The biggest news of 1997 is that we have finally adopted again. The new girls are Lily Magnolia and Pansy Gardenia, and they are adorable. Real hellions. The story actually starts with another cat, a sweet white one named Pinky. Pinky’s family moved to Utah in the Spring and could not take her along, at least initially. They had wanted us to adopt her, but Elaine wasn’t ready to make the commitment, especially to an adult (Pinky is six.) We were her foster parents for three months. On Fathers’ Day weekend, Elaine flew Pinky out to Utah to her family in their new home. She came back Sunday and was devastated at the emptiness of our house. By Wednesday, we were at the Providence Animal Rescue League, interviewing candidates to live the life of Reilly (as Elaine’s mom would have called it.) After an hour and a half the decision was made. Jagdish admitted later that he was fearful of coming home with six little furry things, since Elaine wanted so many. (Surprise, surprise.) Fortunately, Providence law limits us to three pets per household. Since Elaine counts Jagdish as one, we took just two kittens home from PARL. Lily and Pansy are littermates and look almost like twins. They are predominantly white (like Pinky.) Lily has muted calico markings, similar to Tulip’s colors, but in very different proportions. Pansy has Daisy’s calico colors, but much more white. Lily is sweet and easy going, like Daisy. Pansy is assertive and demanding, like Tulip. (Remember, the colors are the reverse, however.) It can be quite unnerving to have a kitten that looks a bit like Daisy behaving like Tulip, especially since Elaine still misses her first girls. Lily is like them in that she paws the walls and everything BUT the litter. Pansy actually covers her business in the box. At least we’ve improved 50% here. They groom each other, whereas Daisy groomed Tulip, who rarely reciprocated. The new ones play and skirmish together like true twins. They’re sociable, even with strangers, and are very much their own “people”. For several weeks we struggled with the best way to tell the two apart. In dim light and especially if not together, they look very similar. Pansy has what was originally referred to as “schmutz” near her nose and mouth. (For those of you who never lived or worked in New York, that’s dirt.) In one of her typical moments of inspiration, Elaine reclassified this as a beauty mark, and announced to Jagdish that it reminded her of Marilyn Monroe. Jagdish, who adores Marilyn, nonetheless responded with his own observation. “Don’t you think she looks more like Cindy Crawford, only it’s on the wrong side?” This initially had Elaine wondering how he remembered which side, but once she got past that, she took a closer look at Pansy. Jeez Louise, he’s right. She looks just like Cindy Crawford in a mirror. So we are a family again and all enjoying it. Stay tuned for more news.