And no Willys either, in beautiful (ahem) downtown Mountain Home, Idaho. Nope, it’s just me and Jeepers tonight.
Jeepers at the motel
That’s because Willys is now a (happy) new resident of the small little backwater community of LaGrande, Oregon. And I will personally guarantee that he’s absolutely thrilled to be there and not here with me and Jeepers, not in a cat carrier, not in the truck, not on the road. No, all that, I believe, was killing him.
After I was forced to place Willys back in the truck last night in a last-ditch attempt to get a little long-overdue rest for the drive ahead, I found him this morning in much the same state as I left him last night. Distraught. Ill-tempered. With patches of hair rubbed off from twisting and turning in fits inside the cat carrier. Now Willys was beginning to look, and smell, like he was stepping onto the path of a downward spiral.
So this morning I spent some extra time with Willys. I took him out of the cat carrier, brought him fresh food that he would not eat and fresh water that he would not drink. I slipped a collar and leash on him and took him out into the morning air, on a soft green lawn. But no matter what I tried, Willys would not be consoled, would not be comforted, would not relax. His constant loud wails and melancholy moans of the day before continued like clockwork, on the second, every second. And no matter the dosage of sedatives, he was merely slowed but never thwarted. His anxiety, measured by that thumping tail, was not diminished.
Fear is a powerful thing, especially in a small animal that can’t be made to understand that there’s nothing to fear. Even FDR wouldn’t have been able to get that message through to Willys.
So today I made a decision. I drove along until I came to a small rural town, where the neighborhoods looked folksy and Mayberry-like, with lots of surrounding open meadows and the occasional old barn probably rife with field mice. And I pulled over.
Here was a place where Willys would be happy. Once free again to roam at will, he would relax and return to his former self, the Willys I know and love, the sweet lithe little cat just happy to be someone’s loyal friend and tireless mouser.
So I held Willys close, gave him a big kiss on his (hard!) little noggin, and put him down on the good earth where he’s most at home. He didn’t run away immediately but stayed close by me for a few minutes. Then his feline curiosity took over as he sniffed the air, got his senses back, and slinked low along the ground, ears perked, eyes focused, alive again.
You’re a good boy, Willys, and I’ll miss you so. But I know you’ll be happier here.
So now it’s just me and the Jeepers. I can finally relax and get some sleep, and I can tell Jeepers has relaxed now, too, as Willys’ constant torment was a huge strain on both of us. In fact, so relaxed were we this evening that I put the collar and leash on Jeepers tonight and we went for a casual stroll around the, oh yes, The Hilander Motel. That would be beautiful (ahem) downtown Mountain Home, Idaho.
Actually, it is quite beautiful, in a vast, deserty kind of way.
And tomorrow? Why, we press on!
I know it was a tough decision, but you did the right thing for the little guy. Willys is enjoying his new home and being out on his own. Press on well-rested Sister!
Comment by Nancy — July 20, 2009 @ 4:43 am
I’ve been wondering about you and how you and your traveling companions were doing. I think everyone will be more relaxed and content and you can Jeepers can now begin to look forward to Galveston and the new experiences that await you there. I’m with Nancy. You did the right thing – the only fair thing for everyone. But I know it was tough. Another goodbye. But this one will be followed by a host of hellos in your new home. Thinking of you and the Jeepsters and holding you close in my heart.
Comment by Rosy — July 20, 2009 @ 6:12 am
I feel your pain sista! As I told you before, the trip to Texas from AZ was torment enough in that we only stopped once to rest for a whole 6 hours (big deal!) Traveling with two cats and one extremely bashful golden retrieiver was no picnic. While one cat was perfectly content under the influence of hallucinogenics, the other voiced her protest for 1200 miles. Our dog Sadie on the other hand curled into a ball on the seat of Kevins pick up and shivered in fear. She was traumatized to the degree that she did not eat or do her little doggie doo for the entire 36 hours on the road. We could barely get her to take a sip of water. She did however find the energy to jump directly into the lap of our friend who was driving said pick up moments before a tire blew. She knew it was coming long before her human counterpart! Whoever said animals make great travel companions lied!!!! Lied I tell you!!
Comment by Cindy Krauss — July 20, 2009 @ 7:22 am
Lindy, whatever you have to leave on the curb just do it hun!!! I love babies alot but YOU are the one we need back in TEXAS……….. Be safe LUV and be careful……… watch the big riggs and the little ones too…….. Luv, Gee
Comment by Gary Lee — July 20, 2009 @ 11:09 am
So that is the end of a “sweet little cat, just happy to be someone’s LOYAL friend.” Absolutely apropos for your narcissistic, “alas” and “woe is me” personality, and I’m not speaking of the cat, but the owner, who also ‘can’t fathom for the life of” her why her relationships are disintegrating. Of course you can’t! You cannot see beyond the tip of your long, long nose. It’s all about you, and will continue to be for the rest of your pitiful life. To abandon a pet to starve, be injured, or hit by a car is despicable. So is seducing another woman’s husband, a woman who thought she was your friend, a woman who held you when you cried, built your house, cut your lawn, planned your husbands funeral, rented the hall, ordered the food and sat with you, and cried with you. How about driving you to the hospital to get stitched up when you drunkenly fell from your deck, and do not forget the chopping and stacking of your wood, cleaning your house and doing anything and everything to help make life easier for you, but again, you only do what is “right” for you, and the hell with anyone who has the misfortune to cross your path. You are a truly pathetic human being, and to be sued by friends is completely understandable by this individual. Do you even have a conscience? Has Willys blown through your empty, sociopathic brain and been relegated to your non-consequential actions (as seen from your point of view only) You are truly pathetic, but I digress. Karma is definitely not going to be your friend and I pity those who are.
Comment by Island girl — July 28, 2010 @ 2:26 pm