2665 MILES, 12 STATES, 3 CATS, 5 DAYS

June 18, 2019, DAY 5

The next morning was another breakfast buffet, biggest one yet.  After a waffle and some eggs we were on the road again.  I really think at this point the cats were giving up, resigned to that fact this was probably their life.  Very little noise was coming from the back of the car.  Today we only had five hours of driving.  A piece of cake compared to the last four days.

We traveled through Ohio, West Virginia for a short while and finally into Pennsylvania.  There was a certain elation to be felt in the car as we were nearing our final destination.  Reginald took us the back roads which may have been slower but was much more interesting to view.  Around curves, up a down hills and valleys we motored, gazing out at the landscape.  Time seemed to slow down as it does when you’re so close you take feel it but far enough away that it seems forever.  Finally, finally we arrive in Washington, Pennsylvania.

We made it and were a little surprised with ourselves.  In the beginning we felt nothing but confidence that we would make it.  In all the adventures we have taken we always feel pretty sure we can make it.  I don’t know why it never occurs to us that what we undertake might turn out to be a disaster.  But it doesn’t.  Not until disaster strikes or we reach the end of the adventure do we stop and pause a moment to digest the undertaking we just did.  It was the same feeling on day five.  Wow, we crossed thousands of miles with three cats, sometimes only hanging on by a thread.  Never under estimate determined women.  They will always surprise you … and themselves.

Now a little back story about the best friend and her plans.  Her mother’s house was empty, just waiting for her to move in.  She decided that while she was gone she would have the carpet torn up and the beautiful hardwood floors refinished as well as having the interior painted, woodwork refinished and the front door painted.  (Ironically she chose a red color named “No Drama Red”.  What transpired destroyed that sentiment.)

We arrived at the Maple Road house with hopes.  Before leaving the best friend informed her painter/floor refinisher she would be returning on the 18th and needed it all to be finished as she would be bringing three cats.  Can you tell what’s coming next?  Right, the floors were not done, the door was not painted and there was still a little interior painting to be finished.

Now the floors had been stripped of carpet, sanded and stained but that stain was still tacky and left rust coloring on whatever surface touched it.  Keep in mind one of the cats was pure white.  Think on that scenario.  White cat, fresh stain, recipe for disaster.

To keep this as short as possible I will explain the following: She asked when the floor would be done.  The painter answered he didn’t know we would be back this soon.  She answer, oh yes you did.  Back and forth this went ending with him assuring her that the polyurethane would be put on the next day.

She had no choice but to stuff the cats in the basement along with the box and food.  We proceeded upstairs to the only bed in the place.  Come to find out the only furniture to be had was the double bed upstairs and three folding chairs downstairs.  Yep, that’s it,  All of the other stuff was in a storage facility across town.  And it couldn’t be delivered until the floors were finished.

So that night we retrieved the cats from the basement, climbed the stairs and tucked ourselves into a double bed.  Oh, and the upstairs toilet had been shut off so in order to perform my middle of the night necessities I had to go downstairs, cross over the sticky, rust colored flooring to the main bath.  In the dark.  In bare feet because I forgot to put on my shoes.   Back upstairs, back in bed.

And that is the anticlimax to an epic trip across America.  As the best friend’s mom told us, “Lord help us all.”  And isn’t there a whole lot of truth in that.   THE END.

2665 MILES 12 STATES TWO CRAZY WOMEN AND 5 DAYS

I think I really should write an entry from the cats point of view.  This is as follows…..

Day one – Olive, Eleanor and I (Smitty Kitty) have lived happily in Portland on a quiet street on Mount Tabor, living a life of ease.  When all of a sudden our mom picks us up one by one, squirts some nasty tasting liquid in our mouths and shoves us in a dog pen.  What humiliating experience is this?  What have we done that we are so cruelly treated?  What is going on?  I quickly think of these things until I start to feel relaxed, slightly woozy and stop caring.  They load us In the back of the car, with boxes, bags and blankets packed around us so we can’t see out and off we go.

Hours pass and I’m holed up in a cage with my two crazy sisters.  Eleanor and I decide to use the small one, Olive, as a mattress.  Alls fair in love and war.

We finally come to a stop and for some unexplained reason are picked up, still in the dog pen and escorted into a strange room,  The door to the cage is opened and we are allowed to get out.  What the heck?  Where are we and how did we get here?  Mom is with us as well as that red-headed friend.  They tuck into bed, we climb on top and that ends the first day.

Second day, drugged again, caged again and transported to the back of the car.  The engine starts and off we go.  Where are we going?  Hours and hours of sleeping, waking, and trying to get someones attention.  But that liquid has made me a little bit goofy and my cries only come out as small yowls.  The sisters are no different.  Another strange room, another bed.

Day three, same song.  I’m starting to fight the drugs, man.  I clench my jaw together so tightly I start to get a headache.  When I finally think I beat the system, I try to say something and that red-head shoots the stuff clear to the back of my throat.  I have no choice but too swallow.  I’m beginning to hate her.  As I slip into a semi drugged state I think back to home, sweet, sweet home.  Will I ever see it again?

Day four.  I am beginning to loose all will to live,  Despair has set in.  I consult my sisters and they feel the same.  We are too drugged to say anything.  Our only hope is that this is but a dream.  I am starting to accept my fate and actually look forward to the drugs.  How long can this possibly go on?  I consult the others and we agree, we hate both of the equally.

Day five and I find myself wondering when I can get some more of that Gabapentin, as they call it.  I am afraid I have become dependent on it.  

Five hours later we turn into a driveway and are lifted out.  Mom says it’s our new home.  I don’t think so.  I want to go home.  But, it would be nice to be able to roam around something bigger than a single room.  Excitement grabs me as I anticipate our release.  And then the proverbial door slams shut and we are locked in a dark concrete basement.  Oh, no you didn’t just do that.  Are you kidding me?  

Depression grabs a hold of me and I long for the day of drugs and hotel rooms.  Please, oh please, just one more hit.  I’ll be good, I promise.  Just a little liquid on my tongue.  Yowl.

I just heard a rumor that the red-head will be flying home in a couple of days,  Now, how am I going to get on that plane with her.  I really don’t care about the sisters.  It’s every cat for himself.