Baylee

I first saw Baylee through a dirty window at the villa in Qatar where our church services were held. Her yellow eyes connected with mine and I instantly knew we had a future together. When I tried to coax her toward me, she rubbed her thin white body against my leg, but was gone before I could return the affection. I thought maybe I had imagined the connection with this stray kitty, but when my friend told me that she and her family had rescued this orphan cat, and that they couldn't keep her because of her daughter's allergies, I knew I had to officially meet her.

She was all kindness and cuddles when we were introduced. Her fur felt like whispered feathers as I stroked her in my lap, and she looked at me with hesitant expectation. She soon joined our family and was "welcomed" by our menagerie of pets. We named her Baylee Boo because she was as white as a ghost and hid like one too. I spent a lot of time trying to ease her into her new life with us, but just as she was getting somewhat relaxed and settled in, off she went to the vet to get spayed. Her stay at the vet forced a case of kennel cough on her and forced me to be nursemaid. I quickly learned that our pure white angel cat was not as sweet as I had thought. She bit through my thumbnail when I tried to get her to swallow her much needed medicine. Even after another trip to the vet where I was tutored by an "expert" on how to dose this cat, it was clear that no one, not the vet, not I the self-proclaimed "Cat Whisperer", was going to tame this sad kitty.

I tried to tell myself that Baylee was damaged from a tortured past of terrible owners, breeders, or children. I tried to LOVE her into being a secure, happy pet, but nothing worked, and I mean nothing. Demons from the past seemed to haunt her and keep her from completely trusting me. I still remember the day that I realized I had failed. After working with Baylee for over a year, and constantly reassuring her that she was safe, loved, and at home, while trying to brush her, she clawed and bit me so desperately I knew that we were going to have to call a truce. She wasn't going to be the lap cat I wanted her to be. Her appearance signaled everyone who saw her that she was angelic and warm. Even her initial meeting of strangers was all sweet and friendly, but then in a schizophrenic snap, she would turn into a devil.

So I went to my corner and she went to hers. She eventually accepted a little love and cuddles from Brett early in the mornings when he would get ready for work, but even on those occasions, she would have a quick change of personality, ending the love fest as quickly as it started. Even though Baylee adjusted to life with us, her wanderlust never went away. Whenever the front door opened, she was there in a flash, ready to run for freedom. No matter how many times she left our comfortably air-conditioned villa and suffered from hunger, thirst, and heat, she would gain her strength back only to try to run again.

When we came home from Qatar in 2012, Baylee made the long trip with us and became an official American cat. She endured the long 28 hour flight and seemed to adapt well to yet another new environment. But she couldn't stay away from the door! The world outside seemed even more inviting to her with all the green grass, plentiful trees, and outdoor sounds. After being home for about a month, Baylee slipped out the front door when company came and we couldn't find her anywhere. We called for her, walking the neighborhood with sad footsteps. We put up signs with her beautiful picture and hoped someone would call. We visited the animal shelter to make sure she wasn't stuck in the corner of some smelly cage, scared to death. She wasn't there, but we left our information with those in charge and it paid off. It was about three weeks later that a neighbor called us and said that she had a white cat who was hanging out in her window well. It was Baylee. She was all skin and bones when we got her home, but she had survived three long weeks on her own AND in the middle of fireworks July. She didn't go near the door for at least a month after that little "vacation", but the door still held her captive. Last night she slipped out undetected yet again, for the last time.

Brett found Baylee this morning on our front parking strip, stiff and cold, the victim of an apparent collision with an unforgiving car. It broke my heart to watch as Brett picked her up and carried her home once more. Even though she and I had kept a wide berth over the last few years, she was family and I knew her heart. Fighting and running had saved her life time and time again, but now she was finally enjoying peace that she had never known before; the peace only heaven can bring. We will miss the playful, beautiful Baylee who reluctantly became part of our family and taught us how to love no matter what. Enjoy those extra birdies and bugs up there, Bay Bay. We will always love you.

After her July "vacation" she was thin and dirty but surprisingly grateful to be home. Her gratitude was even vocal as she ate her food.

Abbey wrote this poem today:

BAYLEE

The white cat was her name.

She never skipped a beat

or let a hand be unplayed with.

She started with a yawn,

and ended with a silent bow

that only other creatures can understand.

Living a life of running,

May her paws be rested and well,

That she will chase and jump

At those birds that

Her sisters had scampered after.

Oh white cat,

May you swat and play with the big man's hand

And brush against angels' feet,

For you can be kind to all.

When the wind rises,
And the snowflakes fall,
May you be in our spirits,
And prance through the snow.
And you my dear white cat,
Will conquer all.

Al Wakra: Qatar's Dog Beach

The last "cooler" spring days are already gone here in Qatar and we are reaching temperatures in the 100s already.  Luckily, we spent the last few Saturdays at the beach, and now I realize that those beach visits are over for the season.  The beach in the Doha summer is just miserable.  I guess there are people who get up before dawn and get down there before the sun rays melt the sand into lava, but even then, stepping into the Gulf is dunking your body into a salty sauna with the added bonus of seaweed.

 There's a dog in there somewhere - see the periscope tail?

Al Wakra Beach is known as the dog beach here in Qatar.  I guess all those people who do not like dogs invading their sandy picnics know that Al Wakra is not the place for them.  As a result, the beach is filled with dog lovers.  Our little Dixie gets lots of attention wherever she goes and especially at the beach.  People watch her swim and are in disbelief that she is brave enough to jump in and follow us out to a sand bar.  Her long white hair looks like angel wings as she paddles through the water and she is so proud of herself when she gets to dry land again.

 Dixie was trying to rub off the salt with the sand.

 It didn't work so well!

The attention Dixie gets is sometimes unnerving.  I have had Qatari men drive their SUVs filled with children (sometimes hanging on the outside too) over to my chair just to look at our little white fluff ball.  It only gets uncomfortable when I try to say hello and they just stare at us like zoo visitors.  It is also uncomfortable when the children get out and I take the dog over to them.  They run away screaming.  For some reason, Arabic children seem fascinated, and at the same time, terrified of dogs.  I offer to help them pet Dixie or let her lick their little hands, but all they do is smile and then run away screaming.  Sometimes they will try and poke a stick at her or they get a few yards away and bark at her.  They are scared but also thrilled to be so close to a dog - A DOG!  I have heard that dogs are unclean in the eyes of some Muslims and they won't touch canines, so maybe that is the reason for the scared apprehension, but this is just so strange.

A few weeks ago we saw yet another car get stuck in the sandy water as the tide came in.  Well, in this case, the man driving the little truck had just loaded up his children (yes, they were some of the screaming ones I described above) and he drove through the water to wash off his tires, or something dumb like that.  Well of course he got stuck.  We watched him struggle for awhile, but then Brett walked over to offer moral support.  Because of his neck and back problems, Brett couldn't offer any physical help, so he decided to do the next best thing and go get the help that was needed.  He recruited two different sets of men.  Some Pakistani gentlemen were just driving by when all this was happening, so they got out to assist.  It looked pretty comical to see these men, in their traditional "pajamas", at the bumper of this truck pushing with all their might.  Then Brett went over to a group of some very jovial men from Sri Lanka and asked for their help.

The result was impressive!  They all picked up the back of the truck and lifted it out of the wet sand like it was a row boat.  The car owner quickly drove out of his predicament while all the men were giving high fives to Brett.  Now that is something I won't forget.  Even better was when the men from Sri Lanka were walking back to their spot on the beach, they walked right in front of me and Abbey.  Their wide smiles showed off how proud they were to have helped an Arabic man get out of a tight spot.  I couldn't understand their words, but their joy was obvious, especially when one of the shirtless men did a series of cartwheels for us and jumped up with a gymnast-like finish.  Our applause is exactly what they were craving and cheered for each other when we gave it.

Whenever the summer demon heat returns to Doha I ask myself why we didn't spend more time at the beach in the winter and spring.  We just can't get enough of the cool breezes and the salty air and remember one of the great things about living here.

Fun With Cats

What do YOU do to combat jet lag?  Me?  Well, I just stay in my pjs way too long in the morning, put the cats up high in the bedrooom cabinet (it's their favorite thing) and then do a photo shoot.  A nap usually follows that exhausting exercise.  Ci Ci was compassionate enough to share her favorite hideout with the new fluff ball on the block.  Apparently Baylee had a neck issue from sleeping wrong the night before, or maybe I just looked better to her at an angle.  Believe me, I have felt at odd angles for a week and a half now with this jet lag.  Does anyone have any good tips for getting over a ten hour time difference? 

Doggie Discipline

Yes, this is the new technique in dog training that is all the rage.  Smudge and Freckles are especially rowdy whenever we have family prayer and scripture study, so Brett came up with this clever sit/hold that makes them feel loved while at the same time keeps them from wrestling and flailing themselves all over the office.  It is strange but effective.  :)