S'tiva found me when I was helping the students in my mother's Special Ed class make gingerbread houses for Christmas. She was so tiny and dirty gray. The kids had seen her in the field by the school for a couple of days, they thought that she lived with the squirrels. I gave her some milk and a ball of yarn, and left it up to fate to decide if she would stay, with me, in the classroom all day, until I had to leave. Well she did stay... for 18 years. I took her home, put her in the sink, and let her play with the dripping water. She liked it! When I got the dirt off of her, I realized that she wasn't gray at all, but was pure white with green eyes, and the sweetest pink nose, and ears.
She was so intelligent. I would often tell people that S'tiva spoke English, but they didn't believe me, until I'd walk in on them having a conversation with her!!!
She traveled from Northern to Southern California more times than I can count, she had more frequent flier mileage on United Airlines than most people do.
She went to the Renaissance Faire with me, even lived in a van with me, and my friend, Mary, in Apache Junction, Arizona, until we made enough money for a plane ticket home!!! Just this past May, she slept on a waterbed of ice to keep cool in the stockroom of Oudeman Art Glass, at the Renn Faire. She'd sit up on her hind legs, like a squirrel, in her little tent to see what people were doing. She hated to be left out, and loved all of her friends.
She was the most snuggly baby, and would pet me back, when I petted her. I loved when she would bury her head in my side, and "bake bread' while we snuggled every night. For 18 years, she slept next to me, or between my legs. Her sweet face and voice were the last thing I heard every night, and the first thing every morning.
Six years ago, when she was diagnosed with diabetes, I thought that she was not going to last very long. The vet had told me that usually, cats with diabetes seldom live more that 1 year post-diagnosis. She was such a trooper. She would not even flinch at her insulin shots, and would even let us know when it was time for them. Her walking, and mobility began to improve. She dropped from 20 lbs. to 16 lbs., and even had gotten much of her kitten-like nature back.
She remained completely her sweet little self right up until she passed. I heard a raspy breath come from her room (Yes, she had her own room!), and rushed in - just in time for her to take her last breath in my arms.
I miss her so very much, and feel such an aching hole in my heart from the lack of her. She was such a presence, a personality, such a love.