Happy Returns

Happy Friday! On Monday I mentioned that the weekend had been kind of a downer. You see, my Mom's cat had somehow escaped from the house and no one could find him. Being a house cat and all, he didn't have any tags. Why would he, right? He's never been outside in the 6 years we've had him. This is her youngest cat, her baby, if you will, and it's quite possible she loves that cat more than she loves the very children that are made up from her own DNA.

Needless to say, she was kind of a wreck on Sunday. So Chris and I headed up to New Hampshire to attempt a rescue mission, which basically amounted to us walking around an acre of woods shaking a treat container and calling his name. We didn't find him, even when we broke out the tuna.

Monday went by, then Tuesday and Wednesday. My Dad kept insisting he must have been hurt or attacked or else he would have returned to the house. While this wasn't the most sensitive observation, it was quite possible- the NH woods have mad wild animals that would love a soft little domestic animal for dinner. Fisher cats, bears, foxes, hawks, owls... it's a wonder I feel safe enough to get from the car to the front door, really. Oh, and did I mention the monkeys? Anyway, my sister and I consoled ourselves by imagining Jake on a little adventure, a la Milo and Otis. My mother hung posters in every conceivable place in my small hometown, she and my Dad pestered the neighbors with pictures of him, they even loaded up his image on the local cable access channel with a REWARD sign. No luck.

Both Chris and I despaired a little bit of his ever returning. Then on Wednesday afternoon I got the phone call from my mother. She was crying so hard I couldn't really understand her; I thought she must have found his little body somewhere, ravaged by evil animals of the woods. Finally she yelled, "Jake came back! He's back!" and then cried some more.

She had heard a cat crying outside. She ran out to see who was making it, and found him meowing under the porch!

So happy to have you back, Jake! And not a scratch on you. Now please never do that again- my mother's blood pressure can only go so high before her head explodes.

In other news, the forecast for this weekend is looking bleak. The Christopher left today for a mini-break to Rochester and I will miss him. I wish I was going with him but I have about 12 million errands to run and such and there was no way of missing a Friday and a Monday during the last couple weeks of school. So tonight I'll be at school until 8 doing some random school-related activities. But hello, Rochester people! I'll see you soon, I hope! Saturday will be shopping for Mother's Day and hanging out with some family members (I know, procrastinator!), and Sunday is the big Day of Mothers, where my mother will once again be spoiled rotten by her kids (note: Jake's never bought you something cool, has he, Mom?!), and be treated to a fabulous brunch. Needless to say, I am jealous that C gets to run around having fun all weekend while I'm stuck doing DDR with students and their feckless parents. But at least I get to see my Mama.

Hope you all have a fabulous Friday. I will be posting some pictures for you on Monday; be very excited. Something to look forward to!