Uncommon Kitties

   First thing this morning, my friend Rick commented on Gypsy's photo, which I've had as my Facebook banner for a long time. He said, "This is truly a magical photo. The light, the composition, the Gypsy spirit..." A fitting comment, because today is the day I said goodbye to her, one year ago. Hard to believe it has been that long. I still think about her (and, of course, my other kitty, Atom) every day... Finally with more gratitude than sadness. :)
   I say gratitude because I always thought I was a dog person. But this trio has taught me that I'm actually more of a cat person who happens to love dogs too. I've been very lucky to have found myself caring for the coolest cats.
   In my experience, dogs are more predictable and straightforward. They will nearly always happily accept your attention. Cats are smarter and more perceptive; they pick up on more subtle cues than dogs. They like things on their terms, though that fades significantly after you've earned their trust. They carry themselves with a grace that dogs just don't have. And the affection with which they reward you feels very different; it's hard to articulate, but cats do seem to view themselves as your equal, so it means more when they accept that maybe they need you as much as you need them. 
   Here they are: my funny, clever girl, beauty queen; my uber-sweetie pie and champion mouser; my perfect combination of the two... With a twist. I'd swear that Atom & Gypsy's spirits inhabited Kismet.