The night before she flew home we sat at the now closed Denny’s and chatted. Neither one of us realizing we liked each other. I forget how it happened but I started to sing a silly kids song. She said she fell in love with me at that moment.
After she went home a mutual friend told us each how much the other liked the other. I moved across the country to live with her a month and a half later. But then after a few months I moved out and drove north several states to live with my dad’s family. Her and I drifted apart and I started to date another woman. We had a kid and then she left me for my best friend.
My now wife and I had kept in touch through email and remained friends. She decided to come up and see me for a weekend. We got engaged a month later, and married 2 months after that. That was 23 years ago next month.
We now live back across the country in my home town. Our baby is about to start college. And we rescue cats and dogs in our spare time (7 & 3 are the current totals).
My newest dog, Gizmo, and my son’s cat Jethro last year. Jethro is now the second largest cat in the house. My son found him at the flea market when he was ~4 weeks old.
My familiar, Furiosa dozing at my shop.
My son’s other cat, Kitten, who now lives full time in my shop helping with some Warhammer.
My daughter’s dog Mocha cooling off in the birdbath at my dad’s house.
My daughter’s cat Daisy, who was born with cataracts.
Last year my previous shop cat passed away unexpectedly and in her place I adopted these two sisters. However they live at home with us. The tuxie is my wife’s cat, Luna, and the orange and cream is mine, Mouse Police.
Mouse Police (aka Feival Mousekawitz) dozing in a new box.
A selfie from Mouse.
Jethro and Mouse checking out the onion that grew out of the pantry.
Jethro likes to steal bananas.
And a more recent one of Jethro and Gizmo wrestling. Yes he looks like he is screaming. Yes he instigated the wrestling match. He is known to provoke Gizmo when she stops rough housing with him.
Freyja and Daisy eating. They were both adopted together at the same time from the shelter, but are not related. They both had horrible cases of ring worm when we got them. Freyja is scared of everyone but is finally warming up to my wife (after being with us for 7 years). I have found a spot where she lays and I can pet her without her running away.
Bonus of Kitten (she is not a kitten, she is 4+ years old, just my son is not great with names) playing mimic at work.
Not appearing in the pictures are Azrael. A black cat my wife found 6 years ago while playing Pokemon Go. Azrael was in the middle of the road in front of the Catholic Church. She is our largest cat by far, and as is Freyja, scared of everything. Azrael was about 6 weeks when she came to live with us.
Thank you for sharing all the pictures. I love the different names and your write-ups. Jethro seems like such a character. We always imagined our Murphy to be a rough-houser like that, but we never had a dog and our other two cats wouldn’t it.
Murphy’s “scream”:
I have never been in a store with a cat but would totally be a frequent customer if I ever found one.
Back in late 2019 my son found a cat and started to bring her into the shop after school. She passed in mid 2020. We had a stray cat that had been living under our house since 2016. She started wanting to come inside but Daisy, and my wife’s cat (who has since passed) did not like this cat. So I brought her into my shop, which was mostly closed at the time because of COVID. She mostly hid from customers, until I moved to a new location in 2021. Then she became a huge fan of people and would follow customers around for pets. My neighbor had a fire in the suite in April 2023 and the shop cat (Polly) had to move in at home. She passed unexpectedly in August of 23. The vet is unsure of the cause of death.
The day of the fire I was my shop (I was closed that day) visiting Polly waiting for my daughter to be done with work so I could drive her home. Polly was up on the wall, she had never been up there before this. I think the fire was already burning but not enough for me to notice.
I did not live far from the shop. Shortly after i room this picture i went home and then got the call the shop was on fire. I rushed back to get her. I told the fire fighters they could help me, or watch me, but would have to arrest me to stop me from getting her out. I found her in this exact spot. (There was no fire inn my suites, only smoke)
I had to climb the ladder I had out from when she was up there earlier. I had to park a block away from the shop, so I had to carry her all that way. Her claws were sunk into my chest, but I knew if I tried to adjust her any she would have jumped down and run off. I got to my truck, and then minutes later my wife showed up with a cat carrier. I keep a carrier in the shop now, just in case of an emergency.
The night before she flew home we sat at the now closed Denny’s and chatted. Neither one of us realizing we liked each other. I forget how it happened but I started to sing a silly kids song. She said she fell in love with me at that moment.
After she went home a mutual friend told us each how much the other liked the other. I moved across the country to live with her a month and a half later. But then after a few months I moved out and drove north several states to live with my dad’s family. Her and I drifted apart and I started to date another woman. We had a kid and then she left me for my best friend.
My now wife and I had kept in touch through email and remained friends. She decided to come up and see me for a weekend. We got engaged a month later, and married 2 months after that. That was 23 years ago next month.
We now live back across the country in my home town. Our baby is about to start college. And we rescue cats and dogs in our spare time (7 & 3 are the current totals).
Daaamn, that’s cold what your ex and supposed best friend did. But I love how it all turned out in the end.
I think you have pet taxes due.
My newest dog, Gizmo, and my son’s cat Jethro last year. Jethro is now the second largest cat in the house. My son found him at the flea market when he was ~4 weeks old.
My familiar, Furiosa dozing at my shop.
My son’s other cat, Kitten, who now lives full time in my shop helping with some Warhammer.
My daughter’s dog Mocha cooling off in the birdbath at my dad’s house.
My daughter’s cat Daisy, who was born with cataracts.
Last year my previous shop cat passed away unexpectedly and in her place I adopted these two sisters. However they live at home with us. The tuxie is my wife’s cat, Luna, and the orange and cream is mine, Mouse Police.
Mouse Police (aka Feival Mousekawitz) dozing in a new box.
A selfie from Mouse.
Jethro and Mouse checking out the onion that grew out of the pantry.
Jethro likes to steal bananas.
And a more recent one of Jethro and Gizmo wrestling. Yes he looks like he is screaming. Yes he instigated the wrestling match. He is known to provoke Gizmo when she stops rough housing with him.
Freyja and Daisy eating. They were both adopted together at the same time from the shelter, but are not related. They both had horrible cases of ring worm when we got them. Freyja is scared of everyone but is finally warming up to my wife (after being with us for 7 years). I have found a spot where she lays and I can pet her without her running away.
Bonus of Kitten (she is not a kitten, she is 4+ years old, just my son is not great with names) playing mimic at work.
Not appearing in the pictures are Azrael. A black cat my wife found 6 years ago while playing Pokemon Go. Azrael was in the middle of the road in front of the Catholic Church. She is our largest cat by far, and as is Freyja, scared of everything. Azrael was about 6 weeks when she came to live with us.
I tried to get a picture of Azrael…
Such a fitting name. 😆
Thank you for sharing all the pictures. I love the different names and your write-ups. Jethro seems like such a character. We always imagined our Murphy to be a rough-houser like that, but we never had a dog and our other two cats wouldn’t it.
Murphy’s “scream”:
I have never been in a store with a cat but would totally be a frequent customer if I ever found one.
Great action shot of Murph. His fur reminds me of Polly.
Back in late 2019 my son found a cat and started to bring her into the shop after school. She passed in mid 2020. We had a stray cat that had been living under our house since 2016. She started wanting to come inside but Daisy, and my wife’s cat (who has since passed) did not like this cat. So I brought her into my shop, which was mostly closed at the time because of COVID. She mostly hid from customers, until I moved to a new location in 2021. Then she became a huge fan of people and would follow customers around for pets. My neighbor had a fire in the suite in April 2023 and the shop cat (Polly) had to move in at home. She passed unexpectedly in August of 23. The vet is unsure of the cause of death.
The day of the fire I was my shop (I was closed that day) visiting Polly waiting for my daughter to be done with work so I could drive her home. Polly was up on the wall, she had never been up there before this. I think the fire was already burning but not enough for me to notice.
Then Polly was very lucky you happened to be visiting that day. It could’ve been so bad for her.
I did not live far from the shop. Shortly after i room this picture i went home and then got the call the shop was on fire. I rushed back to get her. I told the fire fighters they could help me, or watch me, but would have to arrest me to stop me from getting her out. I found her in this exact spot. (There was no fire inn my suites, only smoke)
Wow, I’m so glad you didn’t live far and you got her out. Did you just have to call to her to get her down from there or did you have to climb up?
I had to climb the ladder I had out from when she was up there earlier. I had to park a block away from the shop, so I had to carry her all that way. Her claws were sunk into my chest, but I knew if I tried to adjust her any she would have jumped down and run off. I got to my truck, and then minutes later my wife showed up with a cat carrier. I keep a carrier in the shop now, just in case of an emergency.
I understand if you’re not comfortable, but where is your shop? It looks like somewhere I’d like to shop.
Rural New Mexico. If you are in that area, or plan to be dm me and I will share more info.
Ah thank you. I’ve only been in New Mexico once for some off-roading, but if I ever go again, I’ll try to remember to reach out!
It’s such a nice story. Thank you very much for sharing. All the best for your family❤️
You should sell the rights to your story