G’s Homecoming!
I was up til 2am last night looking at Miss G sleep. She was evidently exhausted cos she allowed me to squeeze her paws, stroke her head, and basically ‘bother’ her the whole time she laid on the carpet under the table with her eyes closed. I wondered if she was lying there thinking about her 12 day adventure. I wondered if she made good or bad memories. And then I wondered if I had gone delirious with joy cos maybe cats don’t think or have memories.
But of course they must have some sort of memory, because how else to explain her appearance outside our front gate yesterday? My sister in law(Yvonne) and I were having a chat when we heard an impossible to ignore persistent meowing. I didn’t think it was G cos it didn’t sound like her but Yvonne said that animals sound different in distress so we went out to investigate. (I recognise this sounds almost like I wouldn’t be bothered if it was a stray cat but I’ll have to admit that G is the only first cat I have real feelings for.) We couldn’t see any cat cos it was dark out and the meowing was coming from under a car.
Finally, Yvonne determined that the meowing was from the drain under the car, and one of the wheels was directly on the grille covering it. I didn’t dare to even think that it might be G because really, what are the chances? Yvonne was already calling “G? Is that you? G?”
Still too dark to see.
I was going to head in the house for a flashlight but decided to walk further down to another drain opening. I rapped on the metal grille and against hope, tentatively said “G?” *rap rap rap* “G?”
The meowing stopped at the other drain opening and Yvonne said “She’s heading your direction!” Yvonne hurried over to where I was, assessed the drain and with herculean strength, lifted the big metal grille covering the drain, on its hinges.
Then I saw a little head come out from the dark. A little black and white head first, followed by a scrawny and dirty body. The disbelief and the (soft and careful) shrieking hit us both about the same time. “It’s G! IT’S G!!!”
G seemed scared and stayed just out of my reach. (Btw, that reach is very limited because of the beach ball under my top 
) My logical brain told me she might bolt and run anytime from fear, but I just KNEW she wouldn’t and that she was ready to come home. When I eventually picked her up, she offered zero resistance.
What struck me when I picked her up was how light she had become (heart pain!!) , and then the heady feeling of disbelief and joy. Despite the urge to hug and kiss her immediately, the anal clear minded side of me said she needed a bath first because she’s evidently been in very unclean places.
And hug and kiss her I did afterwards. Lots! I’m sure she didn’t go “yuck” because she woke me up at 5am, meowing for more love or maybe it was just separation anxiety…. She even stood on her hind legs and did this kneading motion with her front paws on my chest. Something she used to do when she was a kitten and hasn’t done in a long time. I really think she missed me too 
I’m not sure I’ll be waxing lyrical if she continues waking me up through the night from now – I don’t think I’ll have a lack of disturbed sleep once Renee arrives but for now, because it’s G’s homecoming, because I can’t believe that she’s actually home, it’s ok.
Thank You, God.
