Jolie


We all have at least one pet in our lifetimes that truly touches our hearts and always has a special place there. My special love was Jolie.

It was a warm, sunny Sunday morning in April 1990. My Mom, Dad, and I had just gotten out of the car at church and a few people were standing there pointing at a car and talking. They told us they had seen a little kitten playing around the car. I got out and was able to coax the adorable little kitten out from under the car. She was friendly and nestled comfortably in my arms. She already had my heart! She was a beautiful light colored Calico, white, light grey, and a peach that was almost pink. She had large golden eyes and she couldn't, for some reason, meow. She made a pitiful attempt at it, but it came out as a strangled sounding cry. I begged my parents to let me keep her, and as they sat there debating tears came to my eyes. I had to have this kitten; I already felt a special bond with her. Finally, after a few agonizing minutes they agreed. (My family has never been one to turn away strays - that's why we've always had 8-12 cats at a time!)

She was great on the car ride home, and when we got home I set her down in front of a bowl of milk and walked off to go to the bathroom for a minute. All of a sudden I hear this strange cry from behind me and as I turn around I see this little kitten crying and running after me! That was it, she had completely captured my heart!

A few days later we settled on Jolie for her name. It fit her perfectly for she was very pretty (which is jolie in French). She was a joy, even as she got older. She was the most person loving cat I've ever seen. She loved to be petted and if she saw someone she thought would pet her, she would throw herself to the ground and roll around on her back 'til you rubbed her stomach. Her favorite thing was to give "noogies". If I would say, "Jolie, give me a noogie," she would rub her head all over my face. Once she got so carried away she rammed her head into my nose! Ouch! She was a very loving cat. It felt so great to know she loved me so much. If she heard my voice she would throw herself down (to be petted) and start purring.

A few of her other favorite things were Pringles (she could hear a can pop open a mile away and we would eat them together), and finding shoe boxes way to small for her to fit into and squeezing herself in them and falling asleep.

In 1991, Jolie had five of the most gorgeous kittens you have ever seen. I was with her through her entire labor and cried through the whole thing. These kittens were like my own children, but unfortunately their little lives were not long for this world. Click hereto read about Jolie's Kittens.

After I moved out and some more inside cats joined our family (Noni & Noah), Jolie quit coming inside. After awhile she even quit coming to the house much anymore. Right before I moved to Cali, I went by my house to get my things. She was sitting outside, looking the most beautiful I've ever seen her. Her aging had made her fuller and her coat shinier than ever. Her light baby colors had darkened, but were still so pretty. I went and hugged and kissed her, had a few "noogies" for old times sake and explained to her that I was leaving and didn't know when I would see her again. It was so hard to leave her; I cried the entire time.

I lived in California for 6 months. When I came back in early June my family told me that no one had seen her since Easter weekend (which was on March 30th this year). They hadn't wanted to tell me because they knew how upset I would be. I went out many nights and called her name, but she never came home. I do believe I will never see my "little noogie" again and I'm crying now even as I write this! I hope that she is well and alive somewhere, that maybe some family took her in and is giving her all the attention she needs. I shall never be able to hear her name without feeling a pull at my heart. I will never forget her and will forever love her.

Jolie
April 1990 ~ March 1997





This beautiful award was presented to me by Shelley at Gypsy & Ziggy's HomePage. Many heartfelt thanks to Shelley and the "Kids". Click on the award to goto Jolie's Memorial page on Shelley's site.

"Shanna, Please accept this award on behalf of all of us for entering Jolie in our contest. This award is in rememberance of her. We have put up a memorial for her...it is linked from Roscoe's page." Shelley and "kids"

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