My phone buzzes with an incoming message, and I smile when I see Jordan’s name.
Jordan:Hey, thanks. I’m glad I asked. A few people warned me about it, so I set it outside. I set all of them outside, actually, until I can research more. I’ll give the white one to a neighbor. It’s probably a good thing, anyway, as I don’t really have room for any more plants. Ha. Tell me again why I adopted them?
I grin as I reply back.You sound like me. Adopting all the leafy strays. But who can resist all the pretties, amiright?
Jordan replies:And naming them as we go.
I belt out a laugh.Ha! Yep. Samesies! Beautiful cat, by the way. I’m a sucker for the long-haired ones.
I attach a picture of my girl, in all her long-hair tuxedo glory.
Jordan replies:Aww, what a cutie. What’s their name?
Me:Lily. And don’t be fooled. She only looks that pretty when she wants food. Usually she ignores me.
Jordan:LOL, sounds about right. Clematis acts like I’ve betrayed her if I’m even five minutes late filling her bowl.
Me:Right? God, they’re so needy.
Jordan:But worth it.
Me:Absolutely worth it. How old is your kitty?
Jordan:Six years. Yours?
Me:Nine. Starting to show it too. She’s jumping less and less—which isn’t a bad thing. But I have to give her glucosamine gel every morning now.
Jordan:Ah, poor baby.
Me:Hopefully she’ll be around for a while. She’s my little travel buddy.
Jordan:Travel buddy?
Me:I’m a travel nurse, so I bounce between cities every six to nine months. Lily travels and stays in the hotels with me.
Jordan sends a shocked emoji before adding:For real? She travels with you?
Me:LOL. yeah. I even have a harness to take her out on walks. She loves it.
Jordan:Wait, now I’m curious. How does the litter box work in a hotel room?
Me:It’s not that hard. I travel with an enclosed box, and it stays in the bathroom if possible. She’s not that messy, thankfully, but still… you know cats. It’s definitely not a glamorous thing. Price of companionship, I guess.
Jordan:Shedoesn’t try to leave the room when room service comes in?
Me:No, she’s trained not to without the harness.
Jordan:Damn. My mind is blown. How do you train a cat? I thought they trained us?
Me:LOL
Jordan:No, seriously. You should go in Guinness Book of World Records or something. And, please, don’t tell Clematis about all this. She’ll think I’m abusing her by not taking her anywhere.
I belt out a laugh before looking around to see if anyone noticed.
Nope, still empty.
Me:Pretty name, btw.
