Monday, October 20, 2008

Road Trip

We got up at the "butt crack of dawn", as Bea likes to say, to head down to Newport again. Bella, Bea's Siamese cat with the chronic lymphoma thing going on in her mouth, was showing signs of irritation again, and Bea was afraid it might mean the cancer was back with a vengeance. I went along for moral support, and took one of the furry herd, Pooh Bear, for his check up and shots.

We loaded the cats into Bea's back seat in the dark and headed out. I should say, my husband loaded my cat carrier, because not only do I NOT function in the pre-dawn hours, I've also been fighting a horrid chest cold this past week that's left me unusually weak and easily winded.

I had thought taking Pooh Bear would be a good call; he's generally a quiet cat - a total squirrel job, replete with nuts, but quiet - and he wouldn't upset poor Bella with a bunch of constant yowling. It's an almost 3 hour drive and the whole screaming cat thing gets old long before we've even crossed over I-95. (If you're wondering why we're going that far to see a vet, read this)

You might be asking right now, (and btw I'm really glad, reader, you've stopped using that strange poetic form of address where you started everything with "O". That was weird) "So, Tapdancing Woman, how did that work out?"

It's funny you should ask: the thing is, that damn cat, the one who was supposed to be the QUIET one? He meowed and meowed and meowed almost the entire way there. By the time we were going through New Bern, and almost there, I turned around in my seat to see what WAS this cat's deal, maybe even rattle his cage, just to make ME feel better.

I looked into his carrier and saw not one, but two pairs of yellow-green eyes looking back at me. I rubbed my tired eyes and counted again. Yep, four eyes for one cat, because obviously there wasn't just one cat in that carrier, there were two. Simon had stowed away, rather accidentally, and my husband, who apparently isn't at his best at 6:30 AM either, didn't seem to think a 30 pound cat was anything unusual.

It certainly served to break the mood of doom we had been driving under (we were worried about Bella, remember?)and the day just kept looking up. Bella did need the boost of a new antibiotic, but overall she was looking good, for a cat with a terminal disease. Pooh got his shots, Simon got his ears cleaned as incentive to never get in a carrier again, and we had an awesome lunch of local steamed shrimp, clam strips, hushpuppies, and sweet potato fries at a place called The Crab Shack. And on the way home we knew who to blame for the ever-present feline song of "Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow,..."!

Addendum: I completely forgot to tell you what happened when we got home that evening! I of the perpetually full bladder, had to winkle as soon as we pulled into the driveway, so I hobbled-ran past the hubman, and told him to get the cat out of the car, puhleeze! He took one look in the cage, asked Bea if the other cat was going to her house, and when she said no, he sighed heavily, thinking I had brought home another stray. The dork. Bea had to tell him to look again, whereupon he figured it out and great hilarity ensued. I mean really - who the hell can't tell the difference between carrying one cat and two? It's not like they're tiny kittens - these are some meat-packing males, ya'll!

16 comments:

Chanda (aka Bea) said...

Road trip shinanigans; it's what we do, and no one does quite as well either(if I do say so myself). We even managed to take a wrong turn or two (is that a rabbit over there?).

Overall a good day. Good news, good food, and the next day was Saturday. Bonus!

Thanks for coming along.

Anonymous said...

Great story. Love that your husband didn't notice "a 30 pound cat". Hysterical.

When my kids are making too much noise, in the car, I turn around and rattle their cages too. I ALWAYS feel better.

A Free Man said...

Cats were just not made for travel.

flutter said...

those sweet little kitty eyes just slay me

Vodka Mom said...

The fact that a 30 pound cat could successfully stow away is cracking me up! SOunds like a good time was had by all! :-)

FairiesNest said...

I think the C Man needs a vacation! Only youze guys could turn a trip to Doc into such fun.

Anonymous said...

Can I come along on your next road trip? I have excellent bladder control, eat very little, and am generally quiet. I promise to behave a bit . . .

Please . . .

Gypsy said...

A stowaway! How cute. :) I'm glad your feline friends were all healthy(ish).

thailandchani said...

Cats really don't like to travel! I've done a few cross-country trips with a cat in a carrier.



~*

San Diego Momma said...

Your husband and mine should get together for drinks.

Yet one of them would would surely forget the keys and the way home.

My husband is a forgetful dork (but a lovable one) of the highest order.

BrightBoy said...

Ha ha, I love the extra cat stowing away.

I'm glad that they all seem to be healthy and I wish you a quick recovery with your illness. I was pretty sick about two or three weeks ago, to the point of having to leave school early.

Your husband's reaction to what he thought was another cat is pretty funny.

"There's my wife, the crazy cat lady, always picking up random cats."

How old is your daughter?

Heather said...

Aww! I love your kitties. If only they didn't make me sneeze!

Ben and Bennie said...

Now I'm starving. Can I talk you and Bea into another three hour trip to Holden Beach to keep me company this weekend? I promise some free art!

Maggie, Dammit said...

That? Is FUNNY.

Anonymous said...

"he sighed heavily, thinking I had brought home another stray. The dork."

You are fucking mean

"I mean really - who the hell can't tell the difference between carrying one cat and two? It's not like they're tiny kittens - these are some meat-packing males, ya'll!"

Perhaps a man with very large arms?

Arizaphale said...

Priceless! It's a wonder anything gets done at 6.30am as far as I'm concerned.
My cat once meowed himself hoarse over one 15 minute trip home from the cattery after we'd been away. Think he was trying to tell me something?