Denial’s a funny thing. You’d think, at 51 years old, I’d know that just proclaiming something doesn’t make it true.
“Esmee’s face looks like that because she had food caked on it pretty much for the first 10 days she was with us. It got irritated, but it’ll heal,” I said with misplaced confidence.
And when it spread, I said “Well, that’s odd. I’ll just wash her face and maybe that’ll help. Maybe she was allergic to something on the (unscented, sensitive-skin) baby wipes I was wiping her face with.”
“BUT IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE RINGWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORM,” I wailed.
And yet.
Hello, you ringworm-ridden sweetheart.
(I was going to the vet Tuesday anyway, and brought Esmee and Amelie with me so the vet could do a look-see and I could get a professional opinion, and hey – don’t you wish you were my vet? “Please tell me this isn’t ringworm,” I said to the vet. “PLEASE?” The vet agreed that her face didn’t look like ringworm, BUT when she saw that there was a spot on Esmee’s paw, she decided that it probably was. I could have opted for a culture test, and very well may once the ringworm is gone, just to be safe, but we got sidetracked by an exam of Amelie and both forgot.)
Amelie’s got a bit of it around her nose, too. Which is what made me admit that it wasn’t “irritation.”
Last summer with the Mainers was such a nightmare that I so DID NOT WANT ringworm again, nope, no that’s okay, no that’s fine, I’ll just bury my head in the sand and pretend it’s not ringworm.
Yet here we are.
This year is going to be different, because for one I refuse to go nuts the way I did last year. I bathed them every other day, I put topical stuff on them three times a day, I scrubbed the foster room every day, I did SO MUCH laundry, and you know what? I’m not doing it again. I spent so much time doing that that I didn’t get to spend any time just enjoying them. So this time I’m going to keep in mind that ringworm has never killed anyone (note: it’s a fungus, not an actual worm, in case you didn’t know that), it’s an annoyance, and I’ll treat the spots as they pop up and do some reasonable cleaning and laundry, but that’s it.
THAT. IS. IT.
(Weird thing: no signs of ringworm on Margeaux or Jacques. What does it meeeean? Even if they just tossed Margeaux and the kittens together the day I got them (and they didn’t), I’ve had them for just over three weeks, and I should be seeing signs of ringworm on them, shouldn’t I? Are some cats immune? Could I request that ALL cats be immune from here on out, please?)
That’s a Face of Nope if I’ve ever seen one.
That, on the other hand, is a pretty happy Mama.
“Not a darn one of these is mine, but whatever.”
“The milk bar was packed, so we’re pouting and taking a nap.” (Left to right: Antoine, Francois & Madeline)
Katriane’s kittens, taking over the milk bar (and Amelie right in the middle!)
Esmee’s little face of concentration… OH, that girl!
She’s a mess, but I love her.
Amelie’s looking less like an alien and more like a kitten these days.
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The cats are loving the pot o’ nip lately, can you tell? Newt’s a fan.
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Previously
2018: “WHAT DOIN’, LADY?!”
2017: This-Universe Robyn often seems to think that THINKING of doing something is the same as actually doing it.
2016: “HI, Unca Stefan! Hi!”
2015: #Skelton has a skeptical. “I does not NEED to be tutored, lady, I am already super smart!”
2014: I love the whiskers in the sun, and also love Dennis’s face, all “WHAT IN TARNATION IS GOING ON?!”
2013: “He’s sucking the life out of me, lady.”
2012: “That little stomping brat always steals all the attention and I DON’T LIKE IT!”
2011: “OH MY STARS! Doesn’t ANYONE ever vacuum this room? Look at this mess!”
2010: No entry.
2009: No entry.
2008: Warning: May cause cavities due to the sheer utter adorable cuteness.
2007: One of these things is not like the others,.
2006: No entry.
2005: Edgar would just like to sleep, please.