How Wonderful Life Is Now That Kalvin's In The World
Tattoo by Lindsey Baker at Niteowl Tattoo in Northampton, MA, August 2020 (Phase4 2 CT & MA)
Back in 2013 my partner wanted to go into a pet store during a shelter adoption event (can you see where this is going) and wanted to see a pair of pastel tabby kittens. And that how I got my first cats. I was terrified of cats as a kid but during my internship my supervisor has a beautiful, loving, fluffy black cat named Hamilton. He was such a wonderful cat and he made me want to try owning our own. We adopted Kalvin and Kazoo during the summer of 2013, and it was the single greatest decision of my life.
Shortly after getting them I got very sick, we didn't know what was wrong with me, we were visiting the ER 2-4x per month with unexplained pain throughout my torso. I was struggling to go to classes, work, get out of bed and generally function. I remember laying on this big red couch in our apartment and I hear this little ginger kitten crying at my side. He jumped on my belly and kneaded the pain out and sat on me, warming in the sun until we both fell asleep. And that was it, this boy became MY kitten, he became my Ging, Gingey, Ginger, my little man, he has since that day always sat with me when I'm sick, when my chronic health issues flare up, when I'm crying and lost, when people have died, when anything joyful happens, when my partner and I got married, this kitten and his brother were there. Kalvin has always been a diva. He's beautiful and he knows it, he enjoys watch Drag Race and loves all my clothing with fringe and sequins. I have spent countless days re-wording Elton John songs so that Gingey could be throughly entertained and as a reminder that he's the Elton in our family.
In October of 2018 we adopted a little black kitten lovingly called Squiggles and the horde of kittens was born. I mean horde. They all run like a pack of wild animals, opening all the cabinets, pulling out the bread and chewing through the bag to eat it, waking us up with a chorus of whiney meows to get breakfast 2 hours early, they are WONDERFUL!!!
Kalvin aka Gingey, has been my best friend since the day his little kitten self decided I was his top priority in life. He sits in the littlest spoon every night, he eats popcorn with me right out of the bag, keeps my lap warm while I work from home and pulls the threads out of my favorite red blanket which is now clearly his. I want to have these cats forever and if there is a way trust, I will make it happen.
For now Gingey can be on my body until the end of time, wrapped in our favorite blanket, decked out in only the most Elton accessories as a reminder that unconditional love, hope, all the warm fuzzy's are continuously possible, attainable and deserving. Kalvin's favorite Elton John song is, "I Hope You Don't Mind" and it is the perfect song for him, because life is so much more wonderful with him in the world.
