A Goodbye

They hired a new front desk hooman today. The one that was there for a long time is leaving and never even bothered to ask me if I would allow that. She had left once before for a brief time but then she came back to me. I first met this hooman in a year called 2019. She came through the front door, and I was not too sure about her. I interviewed her anyway and she made the cut. I have gotten used to her and it makes me sad that she will depart soon. I have to train a whole new front desk hooman. I will have to find a name for her. The one who is leaving me will forever be called “the front desk hooman”. So, I will have to come up with some witty name for my new friend.

In honor of my front desk hooman, I would like to share some memories with you:

On her first day here at the clinic, the front desk hooman was very quiet and seemed nervous. I came up and rubbed against her leg. She started talking to me and petting me right away. I knew we were going to be fast friends.

At the time she was hired, there was a pesky other cat that I had to share the clinic with. His name was Sylvester. Sylvester was a grumpy old man, and I was younger and full of fun. He used to sit on the front desk hooman’s shelf over her printer. This was a much-coveted spot. Sylvester never let me up there. Every now and then he would jump down, and I would wait for him to saunter by. I would jump around the corner and give him a swift whack on the head and run away. We never saw eye to eye, him and I. He just left me one day. When I was sure he was gone and was not coming back, I took the coveted spot. Man, it was great! I got so much love and attention. I never knew it could be like this! Every now and then I would venture to the strange land over the counter. This was before the thrones were up there. The front desk hooman would try and try to get me. I would run and hide under the bench, and she would crawl around on the floor trying to snatch me up. I could slither away from her and get in the tightest spots. She would yell at me and tell me I was not allowed out there. Eventually, I would smoothly evade her and run past her and back into the exam area. This was our game. I am not so sure she liked it but I sure did.

I loved to test the front desk hooman’s patience. In the morning, I would see her vehicle pull in the parking lot. I would run as fast as I could and would plant myself in her chair. Some days she would pick me up and move me right away. I would protest loudly at this. Other days she would try and fit on the chair with me. This was comical. She would tell people that she did not feel like “poking the bear” this morning. Whatever that means! I would stretch myself out further and further until she barely fit on that seat. I also used to test her patience by sitting right on her mouse pad or notebook when she was trying to work. I have even stolen her pens and bit holes in her paper.  Good times!

One time, I decided I was playing hide and seek on a Saturday. The front desk hooman used to come in on some weekends to give me my wetsies. This particular time I decided to hide in a shower stall in the bathroom. The front desk hooman sat down on the chair and I popped out from behind the curtain and meowed. This hooman made a noise I had never heard before and I do not think I ever will again. Apparently, she was not aware that we were in a game of hide and seek.

I will really miss my friend the front desk hooman. I am older now and her fur has gotten grayer over the years. It is time for a new chapter, and I have to let her go. Goodbyes are hard…even for a three-legged diva like me.