September 17, 2009

Tommy Talks Thursday Tweet

Hello all--Tommy here!
Witty Kitty Fin’s suggestion for Tweet Week conjured up a memory I wanted to share. So I told Noir I’d like to post on Thursday. Noir stared at me, then through me and finally past me. I urged him to play fetch. We did for a minute or twelve—all seems to be forgiven….for now. So I’ll try to do this quick.
Back in yester-century, particularly the late 80’s, I lived with my folks in my Iowa hometown. I’d done this for three years, until I moved to Dallas in 1988. Now, if you’re an adult and lived with your parents, you know it can be an adventure, with a capital A. Alas, that’s a post for my blog, which Noir says tires him so. Anyway, I also had two cats Millie and Morris. Millie was a cutie calico and also Morris’ mom. This Tweet Tale is about Morris—my big, fat long haired ginger tabby who ate, slept and ate some more—hmm—sounds like MaxMaxx today—the eat and sleep part. Both were full grown when they came into my life in late 1984. This while I lived in Kansas City.
Millie
Fat Cat Morris
My step-mother had a pair of white love birds. Instead of hanging their cage from the ceiling, as my dad and I suggested A LOT, she had the birds’ made out of popsicles sticks cage (yes, you read right) placed on coffee table. Did I mention one side was open, because step-mother placed a screen box, with a pie dish of water inside it, scooted up to the open side. This was the birds’ swimming pool….

You with me? Screen box. Popsicle sticks. Coffee table. Eye level. Birds. Cats.

One night my dad and I watched TV, while we waited for step-mother to come home from work. I walked into the kitchen, which had reddish carpet. The white feathers were easy to spot. Even Morris, who had a white splotch on his chest, was accentuated this night, with a white feather also. Being the coward I am, I yelled to my dad what Morris had done. We both kinda laughed—kinda. Then I left HIM to tell step-mother what happened upon her arrival from work, after we swept up the white feathers, that is. I jumped in my car and didn’t come home for about an hour. Coward of the County.

Step mother was heart sick. I remember her asking, “What are we going to do with these cats?” And I remember my Dad, “You should have hung ‘em up in the first da*n place!” Ahh, gotta love Dad—bless his soul!

Oh, did I mention, this was the second set of love birds Morris got to? Her third set (which I bought after he ate the second set) step-mother did hang from the ceiling, However, while on her vacation in Germany, it was a Saturday morning when I peaked in their cage. Side by side-DEAD. I yelled for Dad and told him him how step-mother would find a way to blame the cats. Dad said we’d tell her the truth, yet not maybe until she got home. Why upset her? Well, of course, step-mother called THAT night. When she asked about her birds, alas I couldn’t lie…

In total, I purchased three sets of love birds. Needless, to say step-mother didn’t have much love for me and less for Morris. Years later, we would laugh about it. But it took her as many years to even get another bird, because she remembers how my cat ate all hers up!

Thanks for letting me indulge myself with such a long post. Now I need to locate my Notorious Tabby Tiger and thank him. I'm sure the Friskies Party Mix will help sooth a mighty warrior's heart.. =^..^=
Tommy

23 comments:

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

mmmm... birdies... we wanna meet your step mum!! *licking lips* she knows how to feed kitties!!!

Sultan said...

Morris and MIllie were beautiful.

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

Tommy here: Millie and Morris move to Dallas with me. Morris yowled the whole time in the car--and had 'accidents'--we made it tho. They were sweet. Millie and I were "Two Single Girls in Texas."

Morris passed from feline leukemia in 1991, because I let him run around un chaperoned, one too many times--that's since ceased. Millie was 16 when she went to Heaven in 1996 of renal failure.

Two so sweet kitties. I was blessed they chose to live with me.

The Florida Furkids said...

Thanks for sharing their special story with us.

Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

The Monkeys said...

Cute story. Your poor stepmother's birdies! It's good that she was able to laugh about it, even if it was years later!

The Kitty Krew said...

Millie and Morris were pretty kitties! Sounds like Morris knew how to get the gourmet food in that house...MOL Funny story...tell Noir thanks for letting you share it with us!

Purrs and hugs,
The Kitty Krew

Gemini and Ichiro said...

They were lovely cats! I am glad your Dad stood up for them!

Anonymous said...

What beauties they were!!! Also, NEFFUR keep them at eye level...it's like a buffet table!

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Millie ans Morris were very pretty.

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

Morris looked like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth but he knew where the gourmet food was kept.

Anonymous said...

It is always good to remember our absent friends, and we enjoyed reading about Millie and Morris. We liked reading about the birds, too.... made our mouths go chatter-chatter just thinking about them so close!

Cats in trees said...

Poor birdies, but then, popsicle sticks are meant for treats. And we are sure Noir will like the party mix. (Maybe you could add some feathers)

The Island Cats said...

Morris is our kinda cat!!

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

Thanks to all the furrpals who maybe let their humans take a look at my post. Millie and Morris were so sweet. I hadn't had a kitty in about 12 years until they came into my life. I will tell you, my dad LOVED Morris especially. And told me when I moved to Dallas, he missed coming home to the cats and talkin' with them--sweet memory!

---Tommy

Cheyenne -Millie said...

Millie and Morris look like nice kitties! Interesting story about the birdie that got ate! Hmmm!!! The kitty was doing what comes natural!

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

Morris got to 4 of step-mother's birds. I'd never ever purchased before until then--and not since. The bird man had all these birds in his shop--and I thought a cat would be in Heaven while sent he sent the birds there! :)

Quill and Greyson said...

Oh Tommy we were torn between laughing and cringing. Thanks for playing on Tweet Week, and calling me witty!

Happy Cat Family said...

Just stopping by to say hello from one Dallas kitty crew to another!
It was nice finding you!!!

Lisa Kolosey said...

Oh, I don't know whether that's funny or sad. Cat's will be cat's and birds are quite yummy as I understand it...sigh...teehee! ~Co9T

Percy the Cat said...

Maybe your stepmum shouldn't have had birds. Or had a proper cage, not popsicle sticks! (says my mum)

I think that Morris looks a lot like GJ (Ginger Jasper)!

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

Yea, my Dad and I couldn't ever get over the popsicles stick either. When step-mother finally hung the birds from the ceiling, it was a regular cage. They were pretty birds..

Morris could be GJ's cousin kinda--same poof fur, but not Persian.

Thanks for posting!

---Tommy

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

What a great story Tommy!!!

Beth

sue said...

That is such a funny memory! Tommy make sure Noir and the gang gets lots of love and treats! Even Mooch!