Love the Time

Today I cried for the first time since I left for South Africa. My dad called at what was about 7:30am at home, and I knew something was up when he was so worried about me hearing him. He let me know that yesterday morning Smokey passed away. It’s so hard to believe I can’t be home because Smokey was my baby, my beautiful grey cat named after the best mountains ever. She always slept with me and I loved her, so did everyone else that ever came over. I was scared that my parents were going to tell me something had happened to my grandmother, which would have been even harder of course. That put things into perspective, but didn’t make losing Smokey any easier. She may have just been a cat but she was the best cat ever! It was one of the first times I really wanted to be home and was sad not to be. I have been so happy here and this just turned the day around. I had just had sushi with Hannah Lyon who is studying here for the year and I was with Kaitlin and Cindy, two really good friends I have made. I was glad that there were some close friends around just to be there. Smokey was like a friend, even if she was just a cat and for the first time in a long time I have just been upset.

In just the past few hours I have put into perspective some of the emotions I have had in the past few years. I have realized that recently I cry less and that getting upset doesn’t come as often as it did just a few years ago. I guess I have been able to find some comfort in things I wasn’t able to before. When I got back to my room I played my itunes and Love the Time by David Bailey came on. What a perfect song, because I was thinking about how much I loved having Smokey around and how I always looked forward to getting home to have a sleeping buddy.

Love the time it takes to watch the sun rise
Love the time the thunder splits the air
Love the time the snow covers the rooftops
Love the time we have to share
-david m. bailey

The other Arcadia students got me sunflowers when they were out. They are too sweet. It is nice to be creating family here already. Maria asked if I wanted an elephant she has seen at the store and I had been looking for one since I forgot my bear at home so I figured it was the perfect day to get a little something like that so introducing my new elephant (not that I need another). He will have a name after the night I am sure.

Smokey lived a good life and she will be missed, but tonight I shall celebrate her awesome and long cat life of 16 years!