Birthdays

LUNA

On Saturday, March 19, 2011, we celebrated the first birthday of our baby-baby, Luna Pixiedust! 

{Truth be told, we have no idea of her actual birth date b/c she showed up on our front porch in late August.  At her first vet appointment, I learned that she was about 6 months old (they could tell from her teeth), even tho they at first estimated about 4 months from her weight (only 4 lbs.).} 

We picked March 19th b/c it was the full moon for the month (Luna was named as such b/c she came to us within days of the full moon in August) ... and then we learned it was a Super Full Moon ~~ even more special for our Luna!!!  We like to give our kids "cake" with a candle and by cake, I mean, a small container of moist cat food.  Each cat gets his/her own and then we might mix them up to share.  This year, we gave Luna and her big sister, Isis, a can of Iams (different flavors).  They each dug in and then I grabbed a couple plates and scooped out a bit of each, so they could have variety.  Isis wasted no time in cleaning her plate.  She then went over to "help" her little sister ... eventually, cleaning Luna's plate, too!!!  Here is a pic of the girlies sharing:

Isis (11) & Luna (1)

Here is Miss Luna Pixiedust at 1 year

Isn't she beautiful?!

I cannot believe how much I love this little peanut!  At first, she was really, really a handful and I was bound & determined, on more than one occasion, to be rid of her.  The Universe had other ideas, tho, and I am so glad my attempts were foiled.  She has helped to heal my heart from the loss of our boy, Caesar, for sho!  And I think Isis enjoys the exercise that Luna wants to give her!!! 

SOUTH BEND

We also celebrated a birthday  for one of my great aunts.  Aunt Teresa turned 85.  She is my paternal grandmother's sister.  {My grandma, unfortunately, has not been with us since the early 1980's (passing away around 50), when I was 9 or 10.  I didn't get to really know her and it's a bummer.}

We sort of "crashed" the little birthday gathering in South Bend b/c my cousin, Mona, who lives in Florida, but grew up in New York (Ithaca, to be exact), was going to be there with her daughter.  (Aunt Teresa is Mona's grandma.) 

Mona and I met at her aunt, Erma's, wedding in 1986.  We had both begun our freshman year of high school.  We didn't know of the other's existence until that fateful nite, where we chatted a bit and hung out (apparently from some strong prodding by my dad).  We took an instant liking for each other and became pen pals (her in Ithaca and me in Crown Point) ... and I mean real pen pals here, folks!  This is WAY, WAY before the internet ~~ we used real paper and pens and envelopes and stamps and had to wait days for the letters to arrive!!!  Over all of these years, we have only been together 4 times, but we are closer than anyone could have ever imagined or hoped.  We didn't grow up together, yet we have so much in common.  We are always learning things about each other and are still shocked when we realize our similarities!!!  I love her like a sister (truth be told ... she and I are closer and have more in common than I do with my actual sisters) ~~ and she is an only child, so I hope I am like a sister for her, too!  My only wish is that we could live by one another.  We would so enjoy hanging out with Mona, her husband, Mike, and their daughter, Eislinn.

Cousins, Pen pals, Friends, Sisters since September 13, 1986!!