The Tsarina continues to amaze us. Yesterday she let me get close enough
to pet her, and as I am an ignorant two-leg I thought I might pick her
up. She has picked up some tricks from the Moscow Circus. Upon picking
Odessa up she pushed off my chest, did a backflip in midair, then pushed
off the air conditioner and flew out of the bedroom faster than a
chicken with The Colonel behind him. I'm very impressed!

She has issues with Roxie now, however. Roxie's become used to being the
lady of the house and has been having words with Odessa, many of which
are impolite to repeat. Has anyone here had this problem, of two little
ladies arguing over who gets to be queen of the hill?

What amazes me lately is Stosh's behavior. He seems to know that Odessa
came to us underweight and that she really needs to pack it on. He will
now cede his bowl to her and stand by, watching as she eats from his
after finishing hers. Is my little boy gaining some maturity? My little
juvenile delinquent? It's touching, and much like Fritzie was back in
the day. Louie and I sometimes think that Fritzie whispers down to our
cats from the heavens, telling them to do something because it would be
funny or perplexing. But Fritzie had kindness in him; at the vet's, he'd
go buddy up to a really sick animal, many of whom would end up crossing
over that day. there is a tradition which says that the dying remember
the last thing they see, and perhaps they remembered a noble cat who
came to give friendship and comfort before the last moments. I see him
now in my Stosh. Odessa so needs to bulk up, and she eats as if she
thinks it'll be taken away, or as if there may not be more. I'm not
surprised, given what I've learned of her beginnings. But Stosh is such
a piggy that his obvious concern for Odessa is just amazing to me.
Before, he'd be like a d*g with a bone, and get pricky if he thought the
chow would be taken away.

*Sigh.* I guess Juvies do sometimes come out better with a little age.

The good news is that we don't have to carry Odessa to dinner any more,
and now she hides upstairs. Thank God. I've been nursing a cold from
hell of late, and barely have the energy to deal with running up and
down stairs.

Blessed be,
Baha