Jenny-any-Dots Fluffy Gumby Hearn

I grew up with cats. Lots of cats. We always joked that we were the crazy cat family. I always felt a somewhat spiritual connection to them. They always seemed to really know when I needed a friend, and they would always come. After Tuck and I were married, and began spitting the kids out, we adopted two dogs. He grew up with dogs and was convinced they were the superior species and would make better pets for the family. I loved my dogs, but something was missing.
Our first Thanksgiving in Georgia, our dear friends, Jim and Janet came down to celebrate with us. They were leaving Saturday afternoon, but Janet and I still managed to squeeze out of the house in the morning for a little girl time. We were mostly window shopping when we happened upon a sidewalk adoption set up in front of the Petsmart. Being animal lovers, we had no choice but to stop!! I was immediatley drawn to a cage of tiny little gray and white fluff balls. Janet, who has always been the voice of reason in my head, was giving me that, "Don't you even think about it" look. My sanity snapped. I was smitten. I looked up at my friend (who at this point was standing over me rolling her eyes) and told her I was not leaving without one of these kitties. In a moment that I accepted as total approval on her part, (although I"m sure she would disagree) she said, "Get the one with the polka dots. That one's cute."
What comes next is iconic folklore in our family. I walk in the door with my new little baby, (while Janet is mumbling something to the affect of being murdered by my husband) and Tucker asks why Janet got a cat. When he realized the fast one his wife had pulled on him, he was not happy to say the least. By the end of the evening though, Tucker had fallen in love. However, my theory has always been that he bonded with her when he named her Jenny-any-Dots, after the T.S. Elliot poem and CATS song by the same name.
So, thus is the tale of my sweet Jenny. She is still my heart and soul after all these years. I love my children, and I love my husband, by my Jenny...there just is no one in the world who could ever fill her furry, little shoes. She waits for me at the window every afternoon for my car to pull in from work. She meets me at the door. When I'm tired she curls right up to me. She sits on the edge of the tub while I soak. She is always there when I need her. I have even been able to develop a language that she responds to. (now I sound nuts) If I'm lying in bed and she is not there, I will meow a few times and she comes running.
Today at work I was telling a co worker about a design idea I had for my bedroom, based on the color pallette in Jenny's fur. My friend just looked at me like I was crazy. I really think I may be.
I'm just so thankful to have such a sweet and loyal friend in my life.
There is so much to celebrate in the simplest of blessings.