Marilyn was my baby Brandy's first two-legged mama; she'd found Brandy and
her brother near an elementary school where the kids had been feeding them
from thei lunches and playing with them. First the brother found a home, then
we took our "Bit," and have been indebted to Marilyn for the good care that
turned a feral kitten into an outgoing, playful, plump Juvenile Delinquent.

I ran into Marilyn yesterday at the department store where she slaves, er,
works; she's not doing too hot. I'd known she had some unusual thing that
crippled up her left arm and made it close to useless. Now to see her, the
fingers look like useless kielbasy at the end of an arm, and she says she has
no feeling all the way down her left side. I could barely understand her; her
speech sounded drunken and slurred and it took a near-Herculean effort to
form words. It's all she can do to make her left leg bear weight; fortunately
she is not like me and doesn't have much weight to bear. She said she'd been
to 4 neurologists but her store is not liberal with either sick time or
insurance especially for specialists. She still cares for some 8 or 9 cats,
all who need homes, including an FIV+ but healthy tuxie who must live in
separate quarters, poor girl. I worry for my friend. A few healthy-Marilyn
purrs would be good for her...and thanks, all.

Blessed be,
Baha