our little family

Marta and I got a kitten together yesterday because it was the next logical step in our master plan to make ourselves completely unappealing to men so that we can die alone, together, as crazy old maids. Yes, we are aware of the 'cat lady' stigma and we went ahead anyway. The thing that killed me about the whole thing was something the lady giving away the kitten said to us as we left.

Back story:

Both of us being aware of the possibility of never finding acceptable men to reproduce with, and both of us wanting children someday, we've actually discussed- with a good deal of nervous laughter- the idea of adopting children together someday. We don't really mean it, and generally we talk this way when things are get particularly discouraging/lonely in the romantic department. I think we just like to keep this idea on our mental table to keep us from getting too disheartened. It's not ultimately that cheering though, and so when we get to the part of the conversation where I blurt out, "Tommy's got two mommies!" we both usually burst into tears. It should come as no surprise that this sort of talk has gotten us stern talking-tos and unsolicited dating advice from our mothers.

So last night, we drove to this cat lady's house to get a kitten because a friend of a friend got one from her a few weeks ago, and Marta hasn't stopped talking about it since. I should add that connecting with this woman was no small ordeal: Marta had to keep stopping by the Tedeschi's where she works and asking for "the woman with the kittens." Anyway. We show up at this woman's house last night for a kitten and even as we are turning in the driveway, we know we have the right place because between the mailbox and the doorstep we see three cats. Story short, we go in and pick out a little brown and gray tiger male kitten whom Cat Lady and her husband (because she had one, and he seemed to like felines too) affectionately called "bright eyes." We decide to take him, Mr and Mrs Cat Lady tear up about losing him and then- oh AND THEN!- Mrs. Cat Lady strokes our kitten's head and says to him: "...these are going to be your new mommies, Bright Eyes."

!!! Marta and I look at each other and she shoots me a look of "don't you dare' because she knows I want to say something that would embarrass her like "Well, we're not TOGETHER" or "Oh no, it's starting" or "Tommy's got TWO mommies!"

I behave myself and save my weeping and awkward jokes for the way home.

So we, yes WE, have a kitten. He is currently nameless but we have some ideas. The list so far is "Woody Allen, Fielding Mellish (you have to be a real Woody Allen fan to know that one), Miles, Wilbur, Marvin, and Waldo. Anna has suggested Spaceship. We're open to other ideas.