Last week I was in misery.  My Shadow died.  This week I have found new joy, and it has a name:  Kivuli.  This is Swahili for Shadow, and it is the name for the kitten I got from the Humane Society on Tuesday.  One week to the day after Shadow’s death.  Kivuli was taken in as a stray on the day Shadow died, and her estimated birthdate is August 24.  Shadow’s estimated birthday was in September; this estimate was Sam’s and mine with little basis.  They could share a birthdate, although it’s impossible to say.  The dates are close, in any case.

So my life has taken a strong positive upswing in the last couple of days.  Kiv and our surviving cat, Myst, had a vet appointment yesterday which went well.  Most animals coming out of the Humane Society leave with URI (Upper Respiratory Infection or Understated Rabbit Instigation, take your pick) but thus far my new kitten appears to be free of this unpleasant disease.  This is especially important with Myst, as he is advancing in years.  He’s not that much younger than Shadow was, with a (known, not guessed) birthdate in January.  URI would be a serious for him.

Meanwhile, my technical issues at home have been resolved.  I caught up on my webcomic reading this morning and later hope to three-box in EverQuest.  Nevermind what the issue was, suffice to say it’s resolved and I will work hard to ensure it does not repeat.

More Positivity:  I get to see Shoes on Friday!  She is coming to the Springs for reasons she has not shared with me, but I get to see her Friday afternoon and evening.  We will play some video games and then I will treat her and Sam to dinner at Olive Garden.  Not my favorite restaurant but only because of my bizarre, bland palate.  I have eaten there before and will find something tasty, I am sure.  Anyway, I am looking very forward to her visit!

One a final positive note–keeping it short today so I can get to the playing I haven’t been able to do in a week–Sam did something Encouraging on Tuesday.  It was a small gesture, but when she called the Humane Society to ask about Kivuli, she referred to me as Boyfriend instead of Roommate as she usually does.  It’s a small thing, but encouraging nonetheless.  It doesn’t mean we’ve crossed from Complicated to Significant Others, but it’s a small step in that direction.

I expect tomorrow’s poem will be a mixture of joy and pain.  I was going to write an ode to Shadow last week.  That doesn’t feel right, now, so I’ll probably write a farewell to her and a welcome to Kivuli.  I hope you like it.  See you then.