Animal

This entry is not related to my journey but that of a wonderful cat we called Gizmo Gilroy.

Yesterday, all day, my mind was back in Virginia. I did not know why, but I kept thinking I should call my parents. I put it off, and put it off. It was probably a good thing. I had much studying to do and could speak to them today, or tomorrow. Now I think I know why my mind was back in Virginia. I found out last night via a tearful phone call from my husband, Tim, that our cat Gizmo made his journey across the bridge. I type this with my best effort to hold back the tears. On one hand it is almost a blessing to be removed from the familiarity of surroundings when you lose something you love. On the other hand, being alone when you are hurting from loss simply stinks. Period. This was my biggest fear when I decided to leave for such a long period of time. Something happening to someone I love back home.

Gizmo, the Big Galoot, Fuzzbutt, Big Boy, Giz the Piz, Gizimodio. He had many names and gave us many years of love, joy and comfort. We almost lost in in 2001 to liver disease, but with our constant vigilance, great vet care, and his staunch perseverance he pulled through. Thankfully he remained to give us another 7 years of joy. He was a pain at times. He hated Willow, he fought with his mother Frodo, he had litter box issues, but all of those seem so insignificant now that he is gone. Gizmo use to love nuzzling in my hair after I had washed it. He had a passion for food, especially yogurt. He could lick a yogurt cup clean if you let him. One of his favorite games was chasing a fat rubber band. But the thing that defines Gizmo most of all, was his obsession with the bathtub tap. Yes, he was obsessed. Beyond obsessed. He loved drinking water from the bath tap and would head that way often looking up at you as he went as if asking "can I have some? Can I?"

When we moved to Virginia my parents were kind enough to let Gizmo live with them since our living space was rather small and Gizmo terrorized Willow. Gizmo then became my fathers buddy. He would sit on my dad's lap for hours. Follow my dad when he got up thinking he was going to give him bathtub water. My dad loved talking to Gizmo. I hurt as much for my dad in this loss as I do myself. I'm 5000 miles away, but I can feel the quiet loneliness in their home. Last night as I sat on my balcony crying I looked down on the street and saw a gray and white cat saunter across the sidewalk. No, it wasn't an identical cat to Gizmo, but the fact that it was gray and white gave me a little comfort. I felt Gizmo's spirit with me last night. I felt a peace for a while. I imagine I will cry at times. It is hard to lose such a faithful friend. I was there when Gizmo was born, I should have been there when he left. But I wasn't and maybe he wanted it that way. Safe journey Big Boy. I love you.

I've been busy today getting packed for my trip to Samos and Turkiye. I'm so excited! I'll be sure to keep you updated on that when I have internet. I think my hotel in Samos has internet but I don't expect much for 20 Euro a night.

Today after I did some shopping (did I ever tell you I love H&M? Great basics for little cost) I met Cordelia Madden who volunteers with a group called Nine Lives Greece. We have been trying get together for almost a month now but our schedules never seemed to work. Nine Lives Greece feeds and provides care several colonies of cats in Athens. Tonight we walked to Plaka so I could meet the Plaka colony that they care for. Cordelia told me that she has been told the average Athens cat has a life span of 18 months. It's a sad situation, but Nine Lives is doing the best they can to give these cats a better live. Once I have returned from my trip I am going to be feeding the Plaka cats at least once a week so they can have a night off. I hope to also help catch the cats so they can be spayed or neutered. These are beautiful creatures and deserve all the help they can get. If I can make a difference in one cats life, then I've done good. Too bad I couldn't take them all home with me! (don't tempt me)

Sorry if some of the photos are not up to par. I didn't have my Nikon with me. That is going to be another project with Nine Lives, doing some photography of the cats. If they will stay still long enough!

This one reminded me of Cricket in her younger more slender days....

http://www.ninelivesgreece.com

Yasus!

It's another cool, overcast, breezy day here in the city of Athens. It is quite a contrast from the oppressive heat we had the first week I was here. I like it. It makes for better sleeping. I also don't like to sweat. I do need to buy warm clothes because I did not bring any with me. I'll save that for a weekday afternoon I suppose since most shops aside from tourist traps are closed on Sundays here. I may go for a walk later, after I've studied some more Greek. I'm stuck on one question I have to answer in a complete sentence. Foreign languages make my head spin sometimes. Just think, Linda Blair in Athens. That's me.

The real purpose of this post, however, was to let you know that I did my research and thanks to my moderate knowledge of birds I identified the bird from the Temple of Poseidon.

It is a Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca). I knew it looked like a partridge, or pheasant, and I was right!

Not much else to add today. I just wanted to tell you about the bird just to show you I am doing something besides finding all the weird sites in Athens.

Adio!