Kia Ora

 

When I first met the Zebedees, I was a resident of Bide Awhile Animal Shelter in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.  Bill had come first, as he and Helen had arranged to meet each other there.  I saw him walk in and knew that I had found a home.  When Helen came in, Bill didn't tell her which cat he had picked out, but she immediately came over to me and picked me up.  My purr sold her and I was theirs'.

 

They only lived over the hill from Bide Awhile, so the walk to my new home was fun.  I got to smell the great outdoors, hear the birds and hear Helen and Bill talk about Skye, Neko and Sakura; my new family.

 

When they got me home I didn't waste anytime getting use to the place.  Luckily Sakura had latched onto me like an old friend and showed me around, introducing me to the laid back Skye (who sniffed me, signed--as if to say "another one?") and the hissing Neko.

 

I love this place.  It is so warm and friendly, and I feel so safe here; until Keemone came.

 

One day, a couple of weeks after this nasty rain and wind storm, Helen and Bill arrived with another friend.  I don't know how they do it. Between the five of us we eat so much; maybe the love we show them makes it all okay.  Anyway, Meo was introduced to us and, again, Sakura took him around the house, introducing him to everything and everyone.  I thought I had lost Sakura as a friend, but that could never happen.

 

It was a sad day, shortly after Meo came to live with us, that we lost our patriarch, Skye.  The cats spent so much time visiting with him that last day that it helped make it easier, but there is still a big emptiness around Sparrow Haven.  We could tell that it hurt the Zebedees so much that we all agreed that we'd spend as much time as we could with them as the grieved.  It helped us, being close to them when they needed us, as well.  They have always been there when we needed them, it was about time to return the favour.

 

Then one day they brought another ORANGE cat to our home.  Jack was a very timid boy when he arrived, but we helped him get use to the place.  Only thing left we need to do is help him learn what it means to jump on the couch and spend time in Helen and Bill's laps, sleeping and purring while we get petted.

 

Oh, and, by the way, my name, Kia Ora comes from the Māori language.  The Māori are the indigenous peoples of New Zealand.  Kia Ora is the Māori phrase for "be well" or "be healthy".  I know, as long as I'm living with Helen and Bill, I will forever be both.