Knuckles has been my cat for twelve years and was the runt of the litter with a broken tail. He is completely neurotic and does not take to carriers or cars at all. He senses the carrier and will hide for days. It was a challenge to get him from Seattle to Vermont and then Vermont to LA. When moving I decided to drive from LA to Seattle as I needed my car and I would have had a heart attack putting Mugsy on a plane. She is not the bravest of giant dogs. I left Knuckles and decided I would fly down the next week to get him. I booked an early flight and had a few hours to get the cat and then fly back that night. I knew it was going to be tough but was not ready for an emotional melt down. When moving knuckles previously he hid in a wall for four hours while I sat on the kitchen floor just waiting for him to come out. When I arrived in LA the soon to be ex-husband had left a message that he wouldn’t be at the house. At one point he said he would be at the house, as he didn’t want me there without supervision. I got there and he had bought a bunch of new furniture, towels, shower curtain and linens. There was no sign of our lives or who “we” had been, I had been erased. It was unsettling but not horrible or shocking,. I called for Knuckles and he meowed so I went to the bedroom and he was in his normal spot under the bed. I sat there on the floor waiting for him to come to me and he didn’t. I then brought in some cat food and treats, Knuckles wasn’t coming out. As time was getting tight I used a broom, moved the bed and no matter what I used he wasn’t moving. As his howling increased so did my emotions. I was getting very distraught and tried moving the mattress but the way the bed was I still couldn’t get to him. At this point I needed to head to the airport and I was sobbing. I called the taxi and while waiting for them I kept trying but Knuckle’s growling and hissing was gut wrenching. I left with out him at that point. The sweet Taxi driver tried to calm me down after I choked out my story of the affair and not being able to get the cat. I got to the airport, cried my way through the document check and then security pulled me aside. After a few minutes of pauses in sobs and hyper ventilated breathing the story went something like this; my husband…breathe & breathe…..had an affair….sobs……I flew down…..sob & breathe…to get….breathe…..my cat…..sob & sob & a little snot….I couldn’t get him…..breathe, sobs and more snot. Yes you can giggle, I do it’s so tragic but funny. They let me through and I made a straight shot with my head down and hair in my face to the united lounge. The woman who was checking me in took one look at me and came around the counter and escorted me to the bathroom where I sat on the floor and just cried. She brought me water and checked on me, until my flight. The looks I got through the airport, flight attendants and passengers was one of great caution. Everyone kept a close eye on the hysterical woman, not sure if I was threat or crazed with PMS. That was one of the hardest days I have had and I really appreciated the kindness of the taxi driver and united administrator. They saw a stranger in need of help and did their best. I made it home, got myself out of bed the next morning and started a new day. Mr. Knuckles still resides in LA and I hope to get him back in the next few weeks. Keep holdin’ on Knucks, if you happen to scratch or bite her all the better.
No comments:
Post a Comment