I'e mentioned Marilyn, our Brandy-candy's foster mama, on a few occasions. i
heard she's gotten really bad with the ALS ("Lou Gehrig's disease".) I just
heard today that they've put a feeding tube in her stomach; she is confined
to a wheelchair; and though a very small, slight woman, needs a special lift
to get in and out of bed. She can no longer speak and refuses visitors except
the Tenth Chance volunteer who comes to do the litters and feedings. Marilyn
won't allow visitors. I so wanted to give her pictures of our Brandy. Marilyn
was so thrilled last year when Brandy came to her in the window, purring and
rubbing on Marilyn's hand; it did her good to know that one of her
fosterlings hadn't forgotten her. But she will not have anyone see her
degenerated, even friends. I hate to think the next time I see her is going
to be at The Last Party, where she'll be the guest of honor but not there to
enjoy it.

I'll give Michelle from Tenth Chance the pictures of Brandy wrestling and
getting her grooming from Stosh. She'll get a kick from it, I think. This is
how ugly this disease is: her mind is as intact as rock, and knows that the
body is its own prisoner, and can get no pardon. She'll know her baby in the
pictures, but cannot laugh, even smile, at them.

I so wish I could go to her.

Louie and I will be the beneficiaries of one of her ten cats she fosters.
There was a "stay of adoption" recently placed on this little band of babies,
for Marilyn requested she not be left alone; she has no one but certain
family members who are waiting at the doors of her bank with outstrteched
hands, the SOB's. No wonder she wants her cats around; they love her for
herself. It is likely we will end up with a big middle-aged gentleman named
Pumpkin, who gets on well with other cats including rowdy Juvenile
Delinquents. Michelle figures this likely because Pumkin is approximately 9
years old, and the venerable fellow might hae a harder time findiing a home
tan the younger ones. And that is okay with us. We got a sweet baby from
marilyn once; it is only fitting we repay her for our Brandy by taking care
of the one cat who was not a foster-kitty, and giving him the love he'll need.

One spattering of good news: her one FIV kitty, who had her own special part
of the house, has been adopted out permanently to a good family. The other
fosterlings and Mr. Pumpkin are healthy and negative for all the kitty
nasties out there.

Plese spare a few good hearty purrs for a dear friend who needs to know she's
not alone.

Blessed be,
Baha