Cats and Prayers

Dear Family and Friends,

My friend Izumi is one of the most creative persons I know. So, being with her is always full of the unexpected. That means times are interesting when we are together.

Actually, Izumi and I are so busy that we don’t meet all that often. But this past week we met twice. Once was for her stray cats and once was for a home Buddhist ceremony.

Izumi loves feline creatures. She feeds any strays that come begging. And once a much-too-small kitten was born in the entranceway of her home. Izumi felt so sorry for the sickly newborn that she brought it, the mother, and the healthy sister inside to take care of them. 

She called an NGO specializing in stray cats. They gave her large cages because Izumi’s own cat was jealous and ready to fight the new comers.

Eventually, the baby got so sick that Izumi contacted a vet specializing in stray cats. In his clinic, he has one large room designed especially for his charges. There are places for them to climb and to hide. They are well fed and left to roam as they will. 

Izumi’s three cats were terrified when they were put in this clinic. They hid in corners, ran wildly around the room and rolled back their ears in fright if a person came too close. They also refused to eat. So, the doctor told Izumi it was her duty to come play with the cats. And even then, if they did not get better in a month, he would return them to her.

So, one evening, Izumi and I went to the clinic. Only one cat, not Izumi’s, was lively. The others sat quietly and watched in a rather bored fashion. 

Only Izumi’s were afraid. The teeny kitten was tucked behind her mother and totally refused to move. The mother was in super alert mode, while her other daughter hovered on the other side of the room.

Izumi and I sang and coaxed. Not much progress in two hours, but we tried. As we were leaving, the doctor said he would give the baby kitten back to Izumi at the end of the week if she still refused to leave her mother’s side.

On Saturday Izumi had arranged for a special ceremony to be held in her uncle’s house. He had died several years before, with no heirs. After many discussions, the family decided to demolish the house and sell the land. But before that work began, Izumi insisted they hold a “House Closing Ceremony”.

It took a few days to prepare, plus to get the priest to agree to come. But eventually, the dates were set. Izumi thought everything was going well. But that morning, the doctor called and said he wanted her to come immediately and get the smallest kitty.

“But I can’t!”“You have to!”

In this hierarchal culture, you do not say no to a doctor. Thankfully, another friend was helping. She agreed to go for the rejected little one while Izumi and I continued preparing for the ceremony.

Later, during the service, everything was going smoothly as the priest chanted and we prayed. 

But Izumi had forgotten to turn off her phone. It suddenly began to ring. Izumi grabbed it and left the ceremony. The call was from the NGO woman. She had a key to Izumi’s home and found that the stray had gotten out of its box and was nowhere to be found. Izumi was frantic, but returned, pretending to be calm, and finished the ceremony with us.

Izumi’s spouse, Yoshiki, will be out with his buddies one night after Christmas. Izumi did not want to be alone, so asked me to spend the night. She also asked me to cat sit while she and Yoshiki were away for the New Year. Being as fond of Izumi as I am, of course, I agreed to both requests.

I wonder what will occur when I am with Izumi’s cats on my own. Anything seems possible. But knowing her uncle’s blessed home is nearby makes it seem easier to accept whatever comes.

Love,

Anne