It's All Relative

...and Found

After 2 days, 150 fliers and 1 phone call from my HOA for illegal posting, Niko has been recovered.

Now, I am not going to sit here and tell you that this was like losing a child. Such a tragedy is probably uncomparable. However, I am positive I have been feeling something quite similar the past 36 hours.

Last night I could not sleep. I felt so panicked and sick. This morning, I took another walk around the neightborhood calling for him. At work, I was a wreck. I decided to spend my lunch break driving all the way across town to the animal shelter to see if maybe he'd been brought in. On the way over, I got a phone call from the HOA, telling me I wasn't allowed to post fliers in the neighborhood. That sent me over my emotional edge and I take full responsiblity for what I said to that woman on the phone. But I will not apologize. What was I supposed to do lady?! I'm so sure, my cat is missing and you are telling me I can't put a few fliers up to help me find him? Have you no soul???

Anyway, you can understand why I am now anti-HOA.

When I walked into the shelter and began describing Niko, I immediately began sobbing...and I couldn't stop. The man was really nice and led me to the back where they keep the cats they recover. Niko was not there.

I went back to work feeling so hopeless and so helpless. I got a couple phone calls throughout the day saying they might have Niko, but after a few questions, they turned into false hopes.

On the way home from work however, I received another phone call from a nice Italian man who said he had Niko. I asked him where he lived and it was two houses down from me. After what seemed like the longest trip back home, I stopped by his house, knocked on the door and sure enough, there was Niko, staring back at me from this guys arms. Believe it when I say that I have never been so happy, so relieved to see anything or anyone in my entire life.

Apparently Niko wandered into this man's garage the same morning we lost him. After he saw the flier tonight, he called and now Niko is safe and sound.

I walked into my house and my mom said it looked like the end of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I was crying, clinging to my cat. All that was missing was the rain. And maybe "Fred"

All I have to say is, prayers are priceless.

(Screw you Rhodes Ranch HOA. That flier got my cat back)