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When Judy named her “Annabelle,” she didn’t make the connection to “Little Orphan Annie” but we realized later a certain appropriateness… Here’s the deal.

Our next door neighbor, Lisa Carpenter, has a long and commendable history, especially as a teenager, of rescuing stray critters. In this case, a young kitty on property close to us. After cleaning her up and checking around for concerned owners, she offered her to us, and we thought, why not? (Well, we thought we thought, why not, but it was hard to resist her.)

Our last cat companion, a wonderful Siamese named Louie, was also rescued and was with us for twenty-one years and his loss was hard on us. Still, we’d thought off and on for the last couple of years about getting another cat, yet finding one who “measured up” had been difficult and we’d stopped trying. Then this youngster arrives on our doorstep … is there something different about taking in a stray? We think there is, so here we go again.

We got her on Saturday, August 4, and took her to meet Tim Obermiller at the Animal Clinic on the following Monday. They gave us a complete package for adoptive kittens, weighed her ( one pound, six ounces,) guessed her age at six weeks, started shots, worm medication, treatment for ear mites, etc. (That’s the first difference about taking in a stray … some extra hassle and expense.) Concerned about some missing hair, we went back to the Animal Clinic on the thirteenth where Brad Jones, who had taken such good and generous care of Louie, confirmed ring worm and started her on daily, messy medication and baths every five days. Lousy timing, since our granddaughters were coming that weekend, but we established a no-touching policy that was successfully enforced.

None of this treatment, which we suspect has not been fun for her, has stopped Annie, or “Kitty Girl,” as Judy often calls her, from showing off; she’s into everything and attacks anything that moves or may be thought by the inscrutable mind of cat to possibly or eventually move. She cuddles and purrs, not on demand, but at least on occasion, and has the full bag of cute kitty tricks along with impeccable personal hygiene. Then there’s “the look” (yeah, something like this) often followed by the idea of mewing, if not the actual sound.

Judy has done her share for local businesses, returning home with innumerable toys, (squeaky and non-squeaky) scratching posts, balls (all small enough to roll under the couch) and other feline miscellany which Annabelle will play with, but she still thinks bare toes are just fine, thank you very much.

So, are we glad she’s become part of our household, hang the expense?

Unequivocally, yes; hesitantly, yes.

About the author: Jack Sandeen

Born in Casper, Wyoming, Jack came to Hastings College in 1959 and married Judy Raymond in 1963. Jack enjoyed a long career with various area manufacturers including New Holland, Ag-Tronic, Inc. and Thermo-King. He retired in 2003. Son Eric and his family live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Daughter Amy lives in Hastings and is the executive director of Prairie Loft. His active retired life includes numerous volunteer activities, woodworking, classes at Hastings College, photography, gardening, reading and cooking.