Song of the Week:
Cold Little Heart by: Michael Kiwanuka (Radio Edition)
Gotta Get to Work
Welcome! I proudly present The Unfinished Times (add the sparkling sound). If you are new here, allow me to introduce you to someone one keeps this blog alive. They make my job harder sometimes, but they put up with my crazy dance breaks. However, if this is not your first rodeo with me, you might have seen her here and there. It is my supervisor! But before she became my supervisor, she was just a little kitten- so cute and tiny. Why would I want to talk about her today? Get ready for a deeper dive into the mischievous world of our feline baby, Benji.
Pink Penguins 4 Life
Growing up I actually never had a pet, EVER. I used to beg my parents to get a dog, but since we were a traveling circus, it was deemed irresponsible to have a dog until we settled down. At that time, it made sense. But what my parents failed to mention was by the time they settled down, I would already be in college and out of the house. It was a nice way for them to not come out and say no by setting a preface first.
From the day I was born, I have always had-and still have– a big heart for animals. A pet was all I ever wanted as a kid. I went through phrases of being completely obsessed with cute animals: penguins, bunnies, cows, pandas, dolphins, golden retrievers, Stitch- you get the gist. I’d daydream about having my own personal zoo at home, with a giant ice chamber for penguins, vast lands for my cows and dogs to folic, and another massive enclosure for ducks and bunnies. I just want to squeeze them so tight! I can’t handle the cuteness! I definitely suffer from that one thing when you see something cute you brain wants to crush it or something like that.
Fast forward to the day my partner and I got our first-ever place together. Can you guess what happened? I insisted we get a pet! Oh boy, that journey is a tale in itself, but spoiler alert: it led to us both getting our first pet and first place, all wrapped up in a chaotic bow.
It was Destiny
The day we got Benji, it was just a random day in September. I had noticed that Front Street Animal Shelter here in Sacramento was at its full capacity with dogs and cats, so they were hosting a free adoption day! One thing about me: I love a good deal. I casually mentioned to my partner that we should check it out, just take a peek.
Front Street was buzzing with activity on that busy day. People walking in and out with their brand-new pets, phones ringing off the hook, a line to get adoption papers. The excitement was palpable, but the crowds meant we had to wait in groups to explore the choices of cats or dogs.
Beforehand, we set some rules or criteria for choosing a cat:
- An orange tabby.
- Preferably a kitten, but if there was a big boy or girl, we’d consider it.
- Absolutely NO brown tabbies.
With these criteria in mind, we scanned the area for a certain kitty that we had seen on their website. We found him sound asleep, and next to him was a sign that someone had already claimed him! Disappointment, we decided to broaden our horizon.
We stumbled across another big yellow boy! He was extremely friendly, rubbing up against the glass and purring. We fell in love instantly. Out of nowhere, as I was petting him, he abruptly turned around and bit my finger! Stunned, shocked, bewildered-why the sudden change of heart? I said no thank you and proceed to walk away. Just a few steps away, a family swooped in and took him from under our noses!
Every cat we wanted kept getting stolen right in front of our own eyes, we turned our attention to the second criterion: a kitten.
Among the cute options, we picked the one that nobody was paying attention to- spoiler alert, it was Benji’s container. Inside were two siblings, a tuxedo boy and brown tabby girl. Unable to decide, we came up with an easier solution: name them based on their behavior. I picked the tuxedo, leaving my partner to pick the name for the brown tabby girl.
As we observed, the boy persistently tried to play with the girl, who clearly wasn’t interested. She swatted and ran away, giving all the hints. Concerned, I was about to share my thoughts with my partner when he suddenly said, ‘The girl, she looks like a Benji.’ I was skeptical at first- Benjamin Franklin? For a girl? But once I focused on her, it just clicked.
Love at first sight! We immediately said yes, clicked the button to meet her, and waited. In the back, the assistant opens the glass, and I urged my partner to get her, but she wouldn’t budge. She darted to the farthest corner, and, of course, we lured her with some treats. He scooped her up, held her close, and from that moment on, she was undeniably ours.
Troublemaker 101
Once we brought her home, that’s when the real eye openers started to unfold. My partner and I never had taken care of a kitten before- she was so small and fragile, yet a bundle of chaotic energy. As first-time kitten owners, we assumed she would sleep, play, eat and be cute. Boy, did we find out the hard way.
One of the very first things we realized was that I am deadly allergic to her. Yup, you read that correctly. I couldn’t stop sneezing, had watery or puffy eyes, a stuffy nose, and itching all around. Despite being around plenty of animals before, this was the first time I showed any severe symptoms. After waiting for about three days to see if my body would adjust, I caved and ordered an air filter, allergy pills and two bottles of Allerpet. Did I go a little overboard? Maybe. But am I allergic to her now? Just slightly. And that is an improvement!
In all honesty, having an air filter when living with any animal is a must. It removes the dust particles in the air that clog your nose. It managed to minimize my allergic state to the point where I stopped taking my allergy medicine. The Allerpet helps with the occasional flair ups, now that my body has become used to having Benji around, those instances are rare.
The second thing we noticed, rather quickly, was that cats are troublemakers. They’re curious pets and will eat anything left out or open. We’d hear rustling in the wee hours of the night, scared that a monster getting into our cabinets. Turns out, it was just Benji, trying to grab a midnight snack. Other times, the apartment would be eerily quiet. Lost in homework, I’d momentarily forget about Benji until I start looking around. Unlike a dog who comes running when called, she stays put until you find her. You find her in small spaces, in your drawers, under the sink and you wonder how on earth she got there. I have to admit there’s no cure for this one; at least for my cat, she keeps me on my toes. Thankfully, she does wear a bell, forever embodying the mischievous spirit of Benji.
Benji Boo
I must admit, owning a cat is nothing like owning a dog, I don’t know which is better, but for now, I am content with my Benji girl. All this to say, I have accomplished what my childhood self has always wanted- having a pet. Was it what I dreamed it would be like? Hell no. She’s a pain in my butt. Hence, this week’s song of the week is Cold Little Heart by Michael Kiwanuka (radio edition). Benji isn’t your typical cuddly, sweet girl; in fact, she’s quite the opposite. She’d much rather ignore us unless there’s food involved or her favorite blanket. Her love language is quality time, definitely not physical touch. But I know deep, deep, deep, very deep down she loves us. She just has her own way of showing it. She just has a cold little heart.
With that, I leave you all with something to ponder. It doesn’t matter how small a childhood dream may be; go accomplish it, no matter the outcome. Who knows, maybe next I’ll take some ballet classes! Life is this one gigantic mess so live till your heart’s desire. Stick around for next week’s as I dissect another ins and outs of friendship since it was such a hit!
Thank you for joining me on this journey at The Unfinished Times! Don’t forget to follow me for more insightful content, give a shout-out to spread the word, and consider signing up for our Co-Collective to be part of our vibrant community. And if you missed any posts from previous weeks, take a moment to catch up! Let’s continue exploring, sharing, and growing together! See you in the next post~XOXO
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