A closeup portrait of Delain, looking directly at the camera, with that sweet and innocent face – the face that makes it all worthwhile. She is the light of my life, my world, my being. No matter how badly (or sadly) I feel, one gaze from this face and all my ills seem to fade away and are replaced with immeasurable joy. For those of you who have never had a cat, take it from me – our animals are the product of how they are raised and by WHOM they are raised. I am a very touchy-feely person myself – I greet almost everyone with a smile and a hug, and after living with me for going on 4 years (Delain’s birthday is April 18 – she will be 4), Delain has become pretty much the same as I am. She is always very curious, very timid and a little hesitant when first meeting someone new, but once she gives you the OK, she is your best friend. She is incredibly affectionate, overwhelmingly loving and friendly, and honestly, I have never ever seen her mad or upset, and if she CAN hiss, I wouldnt know, because in 4 years, she has NEVER showed ill-will towards anyone.
Someone on RB made a comment once beneath a photo of her, and I paraphrase: “When I die, I want to come back as one of Scott’s cats.” Its true though (and thank you to the person who said that – you know who you are). I dont look at Delain as a cat (I mean, I know she is a cat, but….) I see her as a person. I see her as a little lady. AND I see her as my very best friend in the entire world, and that is how I raised her and that is how I see her, and once familiar with her, that is how my friends treat her. I love this little girl as if she was my daughter and I couldnt imagine my life without her.

(and yes, she is a bit overweight – I took the title from a line that is often said by Eric Cartman on Southpark – I know she is a big girl, but per her vet, she is in PERFECT health and is on a very strict diet – I feed her the very best food I can afford (Newman’s Own-3/4 c each day divided into three 1/4 c servings), I brush her at least twice a day (once with the shedding brush and then with her favorite air-brush), and she gets 2-3 treats every day (Dingo’s Anchovy fillets), not to mention HUGE amounts of love and affection from me.)