As often happens, once the decision was made, things moved rather quickly. The largest hurdle was arranging transportation for the long trip to BC's home, since Angelica herself doesn't drive. The friends tossed around various ideas, including flying and/or some kind of a "relay" transport. In the end, Angelica found an acquaintance who was willing to drive, and she decided to rent a car with air conditioning for the long trip.
Naturally (being a cat) Sasha settled into his very best inside cat behavior during the last few days before his move. And naturally, Angelica (being human) agonized over her decision. Was it the right one? Was she thinking of Sasha's welfare or her own peace of mind?
She told her friends, "I need your help. I need your prayers. I am having a hard time letting Sasha go. I have set up all kinds of plans: found a wonderful new mom for him, a wonderful, safe new home for him, got a good friend whom I trust to set aside a whole day to drive out to the new home and back (approximately a 6 hour round trip), and now something in me is digging its heels in and saying 'No, I don't want to let Sasha go!'"
"Is this normal? Abnormal? I love him fiercely! I feel as though my heart is being torn out from my chest contemplating him leaving me. Oh, God! This is awful. I've caused two dear people to re-arrange their schedules on a weekend to accommodate me and Sasha, and have gotten one person to re-arrange her life so that she could accept Sasha into her fold, and yet ... I don't want to let Sasha go! I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it."
"Please send me some encouragement, wisdom, advice. Sasha's departure date is set for a week from now, on a Saturday, and I am getting anxious and crazed thinking about it. Am I doing the right thing?"
Of course, Angelica's friends came through for her, understanding bunch that they were. They had all vicariously lived through the rollercoaster ride that was Sasha, and they knew exactly what she was going through.
So, the days passed quickly, and the actual move wasn't nearly as traumatic as the decision had been. Sasha travelled comfortably in a sheepskin lined Sherpa bag in the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car. They only got lost once, and made the trip in about two hours. Angelica was sad, but sure she was doing the right thing for Sasha, and once she laid eyes on BC's beaming smile, all doubts fell away.
Angelica is back home now, and re-cementing the bonds with her beloved Whimsey, who is smug and satisfied at once again being "top cat" in Angelica's home.
Sasha is settling in nicely in BC's home. He has an atrium to play in with fresh air and sunshine, and a whole ballet studio to himself when BC is at work during the day. The other 18 kitties still call him "The Stranger," but at least one of them already shows signs of forming a friendship. He has an appointment for a vet check-up, gets turkey snacks, and plenty of attention from BC. Life is looking pretty good for Sasha.
And BC? No doubt she's looking around at her vet's office and the nearby shelter for another cat to rescue. After all, isn't 20 a nice round number?
Start of Article > Sasha Comes Home > Page 1, 2, 3
At the beginning of this article I said that this is a true love story. It is indeed, and the story simply wrote itself, born along by the love of two women for a cat, and the combined love of a group of friends who were (and are) always there for both of them. How can I be so sure it's true? If you haven't already figured it out, I have over 1500 Forum Members who will verify it--friends, every last one of them.
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