When I moved to Magalia, CA in February 2000, I brought along my two cats who were unidentical twins whom we had inherited on Halloween 1989. Each had their own personalities. The beautiful little calico was a sweet easy to get along with cat that I called Sugar and the black and white “Sylvester the Puddy Tat” type that I called Spikey. He meowed all the time, scratched furniture and was a slob in eating habits.
I had a separate eating area for each with a food dish and a water bowl. I noticed that Spikey would wash his paws like a raccoon before eating. The water that slopped over was beginning to raise the sub flooring so I got the bright idea of putting his water bowl on the first of the folding kitchen stool and “Voila” he had to stand on his four feet to drink water.
One day, my nephew Don Ramsdell came with me to have some coffee at my favorite place in Paradise, Juice and Java. I introduced him to a barista I knew named Laura and told her he was a retired professor from Michigan State. He told her that I was also a professor of Cat Psychology. I told her that I normally didn’t tell people I knew about it because many wouldn’t believe me.
I knew she lived in Magalia and I told her to stop at the veterinary hospital there and ask about me. I have known the veterinary nurse, Jane Perry, since she was six years old. I described Laura and told Jane if she came in, to tell her that she just missed me. I later got cold feet as Jane might be needed by her doctor.
A week or so later, after I had told the other baristas, I told her and she took it very well….although the coffee seemed to have a funny taste for awhile.!
