K&L's PT Tour - (Last) Chapter 4; Visiting Cataholic (*8 pix*)
To review the previous chapters:
K&L's PT Tour - Chapter 1; Visiting CatCrazyLady (*12 pix*)
K&L's PT Tour - Chapter 2; Visiting Jen and Catnapper (*12 pix*)
K&L's PT Tour - Chapter 3; Visiting Sirrahbed (*8 pix*)
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K&L's PT Tour - (Last) Chapter 4; Visiting Cataholic (Johanna)
As we leave Sirrahbed's (Deb and Dennis') lovely home, following a visit that was as delightful as it was short, the sun is low on the horizon. Fittingly, its near the end of the last day of our PT road trip. Before we head home, there's one final PT visit - Cataholic!
By now we were significantly behind our (optimistic) schedule. We pulled up in front of Cataholic's Cincinnati home in the early evening. Never-the-less, Johanna and Jonah (on her arm) greeted our motley brood with warm enthusiasm that we, in our lateness, didn't deserve.
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Almost immediately, Johanna allowed the girls to hold Jonah. The poor guy was probably overwhelmed by being passed around and bounced on different laps, but he never let his displeasure be known; very impressive considering it was probably nearing his bed time.
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I think it was at this point that Jonah started to tire of being held:
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Most of Johanna's cats were also welcoming. Lisa and I have long been partial to tuxedo cats, especially long hairs. We got our 'fix' during this visit! This guy ('not sure which state he was named after) can obviously find comfort in any position, but seemed to favor the table top next to the computer. Though the shot looks as if he was in the midst of moving, he actually lay like this forever.
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Here's old Texas. We didn't notice him until just before we left. Johanna told us he was not well, but he didn't seem to mind a few petting strokes and camera flashes.
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The only time we saw him move much was when he got up for a drink:
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Too soon, it became time for us to leave. We're pretty sure the lateness of our visit was an imposition on Johanna and Jonah's evening routine, but they only showed us warm hospitality and wonderful conversation. They, and their cats, are yet another PT family we were fortunate enough to get to know on a face-to-face basis.
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K&L's PT Tour - Epilog:
We left Cataholic's home just at dusk. It made the drive through downtown Cincinnati very pretty - the contrast of an attractively lighted sky-line against the backdrop of a barely blue sky that was filled with orange and purple clouds.
As we crossed the Ohio river into northern Kentucky I think we were all starting to feel end-of-vacation melancholy. (It may also have been caused by our discovering the absolute world's worst McDonalds AND Burger King - across the street from each other - in Florence, Ky.)
The following day, we turn in the semi-beloved SUV and check our bags at the Louisville airport. The flight from Louisville to Chicago was delayed by 2 1/2 hours (to find a co-pilot!?!) but we still arrive in Phoenix in the early evening (and are surprised to also find ALL of our luggage).
Our return home was bitter-sweet. All of the house cats had been lovingly cared for by our house/pet-sitter, and were well. As were the park cats. However, my buddy Porch was no longer with us, and the day after we returned, we had to say goodbye to sweet Hazel. As sorriful as those losses have been, they did not diminish the happiness of a wonderfully successful vacation.
Of course, there were low points and complications, which you expect on such an endeavor. But, the girls proved to be even better travellers than we thought they would be. Lisa didn't nag me any more than normal. And, according to everyone else, even I wasn't, usually, as grumpy as expected.
There were so many facets to the trip. Visiting with family, sightseeing, dining, shopping, a wedding... But the PTer visits added a refreshing aspect that really made the vacation an overwhelming success. Our DEEPEST THANKS go out to Lisa and Joe (Catcrazylady), Jenluckenbach (Jen and Charlie) and Catnapper (Kim), Sirrahbed (Deb and Dennis), and Cataholic (Johanna). You folks touched our hearts and helped us, and our girls, experience a vacation we will never forget - quite a wonderful gift that!
We'd also like to thank everyone of you who have followed along with us here, via Pet Talk. Your kind words and thoughts were a significant contribution to the overall success of the experience.
We hope to have started a trend of PTer vacations. If any of you find your way to Phoenix, we'd like to share our home and cats with you in the neighborly fashion we have been shown.
Warmest Regards,
K&L
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