Getting Back...

...to the new normal, I guess.  Things here are settling into the new routine.  LadyRanger and I have mostly stopped expecting to see Ivy come toddling around the corner.  The bare-ness of some of her places is still sad, though.  I suppose we'll feel like this until we don't feel like this any more.  On the up side, we've done some picture-crawls, and have had a wonderful time remembering Ivy's time with us. 

Maddie, while I wouldn't go so far as to say she really misses Ivy, does seem a bit unsettled by her absence.  I'm pretty sure Maddie knew Ivy was sick and I suppose that she knows Ivy isn't coming back.  What she makes of her restored only-cat status I can only guess.  She's slowly been camping all of Ivy's former places.  Sometimes at night she goes into Ivy's room (which we would always keep closed so that she wouldn't bother the old tuxie)(and to keep cat-opera from awakening us in the wee hours) and we hear Maddie giving us the all-clear? the where-is-she? the I'm-on-the-couch! call.  Maddie's been nervous and jumpy, too.  I wish we could explain this to her.

 Hmmmmm...something's different...something's changed...I just can't put my paw on it...

 Did Mrs. get new shoes?  <sniff> Nope.  Maybe she changed her hair?   Hmmm...

 Did Mr. get any new socks??  Nope, doesn't look like it....

 Looks like the front yard is still there....hmmmm.....

 Dust bunnies all acounted for....

 Tail still furry?  Check!

 I just cannot figure this ou...AHHH!!  What was that!  It sounded like a tuxie!!  Oh...whew!  Just NPR....okay....calm down...deep breaths....

 Bag it.  I'll figure this out later.  Time for some quality zzz's

This is really what appears to be happening with Maddie.  She's getting less jumpy as time goes on, but it may be a while.  I don't think it was helped by the fact that she's had kitty-pink-eye and we took her to the vet.  Could only have added to the stress.  We've been giving her drops twice a day (and she's been a gem about that.  Hasn't drawn blood once.) and her eye is clearing up. 

I suppose we're all getting used to the new normal.

We haven't seen Manny since his one photo session.  I suppose he's establishing his teritory elsewhere.  I wonder why?

 Dude.  Just keep walkin'.  Don't even look back...

Ah.  Thought so.

Comments

[Michelle]

I am so sorry for your loss. I always kept an eye out for your weekly updates, hoping Ivy and healthy and happy. I've been mostly offline the last month or so because of surgery, and I didn't realize you had already had to say good-bye. She was a lovely cat and she will be missed. Please know you all are in my thoughts.

[Scooby, Shaggy & Scout]

I believe cats are very sentient beings. She knows, and is trying to carry on as best she can just like you two are.

[Egypt & The Musketeers]

It takes awhile to adjust to the new normal, even in a multi-cat household.