9/23: Exquisite

Salud,

I am an exquisite feline, but at times, even I can surprise myself. Ze execution of ze squirrel in August was a culmination of years of training. Something ze Silly One does not properly appreciate yet; he is soft in ze heart and in ze gut.

It is my 5th birthday marking a significant milestone. Since my squirrel accomplishment, I've cleaned myself and reflected on how I came to be me.

Nature has been good to me. My first memories are those of salty breezes and Spanish moss. Like my ancestor ze mighty jaguar, I am most alive on ze open plains with dirt between my toes.

Believe it or not, for ze first 6 months of my life I was forbidden to be outside unattended. Although my humans always kept a watchful eye, I consistently challenged them with my youthful finesse and guile. I take much joy in recalling ze heights I forced them to retrieve me from.

Naive humans. They never knew that Lé Toots Ze Kitten had so swiftly defined her own path of training.

My supreme vigilance derives from long months as a kitten scanning ze surroundings from window sills. Every stationary object was memorized in order to navigate my environment upon release.

In my heart, I always knew my destiny would include ze freedom I enjoy today. Nevertheless, it took time to earn it. Ze memory of wearing a birthday hat on my 1st birthday still haunts me. My humans indirectly taught me robust patience and, for that, Beans should be thankful.

I do fondly recall ze fresh joy of those first 6 months in which there was amusement to be had indoors. My yellow blanket provided both entertainment and comfort during my youth. I miss that cotton spaghetti but, alas, I gifted it to Beans during his infancy in my household.

Of all ze memories of my youth, I will never forget ze quality of that deep sleep. Not only was I exercising all day but I was also learning and building ze foundation of what was to come. In truth, I admit, I often fell asleep during those early days on Window Sill Guard Duty. Don't tell Beans!

Annual events are a useful tool. They offer time to consider lessons learned from ze past and how better to apply them in ze future.

I find it difficult to imagine getting any wiser. And yet, I am still reaching new milestones so there is indeed always room for improvement. Both for ze sake of my future goals and for Beans, Ze Silly One. After all, someone has to set Beans down ze fruitful path that I've traveled.

For I am Lé Toots and I am 5 years old.

Au revoir,

Lé Toots