Where the bloggers take over! This week: Big Tiny! Many thanks to Karen M for this.
Ode to Big Tiny by Big Tiny
I guess I have to start my story by giving you a little history on my Mom. She and Dad (who I never had the chance to meet) were always cat people. Early in their marriage, they did adopt a couple of dogs (a basset hound named Sam and a miniature schnauzer named Toby). Although both of these dogs were greatly loved and lived long easy lives, when they crossed the rainbow bridge, no other dogs joined the family, only cats. Many cats. Mom eventually volunteered at a cat rescue and learned that she is, by nature, a foster failure. It seems that once a cat entered the household and was given a name, he or she was destined to stay on as a permanent family member. Dad complained about the growing number but he was known to bring home one or more himself. The furbabies would sit in his lap and he would sit perfectly still until they decided to get down.
After 40 years of marriage, Dad passed from cancer. Mom adopted a senior basset (I’m not sure why) and he crossed the Rainbow Bridge two years later. Mom decided she had learned enough about herself and that she could now foster without fail. It is here where I and my two littermates entered the picture at the age of less than one week old. It seems someone out in the cruel world had found a mother cat with her three newborn kittens and was threatening to kill the whole bunch unless someone took them. We ended up at the vet who Mom used for her pet care and his wife approached Mom. Sure, Mom said, but only for the weeks before we could be adopted out. And we moved into the house of many cats, were given names and have never left.
A quick side note on Mom and the blog. She went to a book signing of Lee Child for one of his Jack Reacher books. There was a new book being showcased in the store called Dog On It. She bought it and found out about the blog. Although not the longest member of the Chet the Dog blog, she is not far from the beginning. She has been back to that bookstore several times to see OFA at his readings.
Now, back to me! My name is from a David Rosenfelt novel where Andy Carpenter has to meet up with a bad guy named Big Tiny. I was given this name as a wee kitten with no idea I would become a very large (23 pounder at the last vet visit) cat. Not fat but just large, although the vet claims Mom is an example of owner denial and has put me on a diet of weight control food. YUK! Miss Wose has showcased me several years now in her Plunderers calendar as I am quite a handsome, photogenic fellow. Most importantly, I am Mom’s favorite and was given the honor of posting on the blog after BooBear crossed. I (and Mom) do treasure the friendships that have been made through the Chet the Dog family, both old and new,
Thank you, Peter/Spence, for allowing us to continue with it.
10 Comments on “Phriday Photos”
Ode to Big Tiny. What an incredibly heartwarming and moving story. You certainly had big paws to fill, having to step in for Gus and BooBear, who we remember so fondly from earlier days on the blog, including their starring appearance in the quilt given to Peter. You have certainly lived up to your name in every way imaginable.
You are beautiful Big Tiny.
Good day to all.
Greetings!
Big Tiny: I really enjoyed hearing your story. It definitely pulled at my heartstrings. What wonderful serendipity that you were matched with your Mom, and that you and your littermates went to live with her in the house of many cats. You are quite a cat!
I love the decorations in the room and the cat pillows on what SURELY must be YOUR bed. :^)
Good Phriday Photo day to all!
Wose!! It is indeed my bed. I and Little Linus (who is not little) are the only cats allowed into that room. If you look closely at the picture of my room, you will see a framed drawing of me hanging on the wall. Mom won that artist rendering at an auction benefiting an animal shelter. The artist did a great job!!!
Big Tiny: I did notice your portrait on the wall. It looks almost like a photo. It is beautiful.
I love you, Big Tiny! And I love the way you write your autobiography! You are obviously very well loved, as you should be! Kudos to your big-hearted mom for providing you with such a wonderful home and life!
Big Tiny. But of course. I read that book. But I didn’t associate it with you at all. Because of a Mr Big on this blog I just figured you were just a tinier version of Mr Big. A tiny big.
I really enjoyed your story. You are really quite the handsome gentleman. I notice you have rather large paws. I don’t know if it goes for cats but they say puppies with large paws grow to be large dogs. I also notice that even though you and your two siblings foster failed from the vet, that is the last mention they got. You didn’t say anything about your siblings or their names. Does that mean we will get future odes to the foster fails? Will you tell their stories or will you allow them to tell their own?
Even if you were a size medium you’d still be Big Tiny.
I really must get on the ball so OFA has phodder for next week’s Phriday Photos.
Note to ML: I think next Friday may already be covered, but the Friday after that should be open.
That’s perfect. Maybe I’ll skip Goliath for now and do Ramses. The Anniversary of his death is November 23.
Looks like someone is out enjoying the fall, riding his bike.
Or maybe out at a local bookshop or library doing a booktalk.
Or even so engrossed in writing the new Chet and Bernie he has lost all sense of time.