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Anna Alford Nelson

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Honoring My Mom

In 31 years, I think this is the first Mother’s Day I’ve missed with my mom. Deciding my husband, Bill, and I needed to stay in Birmingham was one of those times I really dislike being a grown-up and making grown-up decisions.
However, we did honor her in a way I can’t imagine any other mother being honored- we rescued a kitty. Honoring my mom by rescuing a cat may seem odd, but this is special to me because some of my fondest memories as a child were of my mom and me playing with our own kitties- some we’d rescued ourselves.
A neighbor rang the doorbell at my in-laws just as Garcia and Goydos were moving into sudden death in the PLAYERS Championship. There was a kitty on the top of an empty, 3-story building who needed to be rescued. Do we call the fire department? Do we try to find a ladder that will reach? No. Bill and I seemed to be on the same wavelength. We couldn’t stand to hear Kitty wailing and knew we could help her. After much searching and frustration not being able to get to Kitty (30-45 minutes), Bill had found a way for me to grab her from the roof.
Kitty, Bill, and I then went on a mission to find her home. Even though she was a little skinny, she was beautiful, sweet and had a flea collar on. I was sure she belonged to someone. About an hour of walking around in the neighborhood was enough for me (and Kitty).
I walked her back to my in-laws heartbroken (and with more of her fur on my shirt than she had on her body from petting her so much to calm her down). I had to try to get her to eat and drink a little. She gulped down the warm milk and inhaled the food we gave her.
It was getting late, so Bill and I knew we had to start heading home. As Bill put our things into the truck, Kitty got a new name. Shadow had followed Bill with each load.
I knew we needed to leave Shadow there in order to find her family. But as soon as we got in the truck to leave, Bill looked at me to tell me he didn’t want to leave her. I told him it was his decision. I was too torn between her needing to find her home and how I’d fallen in love with her.
Wanting to be the supportive wife but not wanting to break down, I did what I had to do. I called my mommy. Bill talked with his parents and finally decided to leave Shadow with them. After a couple of days, if Shadow’s home has not been discovered, they have a friend who offers her home to foster cats.
It is weird though- I kinda miss Shadow.
Thank you, my dear Mom, for teaching me to be sensitive, loving, caring and respectful. I am blessed.