"The animals have no voice but ours..."

When the Vacation Ends...

July 1, 2008
Jennifer Vanderau


So you know the worst part about taking vacations? Coming back home.

No, seriously. Think about it. The beach mentality is something that you just can’t have in the regular work-a-day world. I got up whenever I wanted (sometimes so late I shouldn’t mention it here); lazed around ON THE BEACH, for heaven sake; did some shopping; ate food my doctor would cringe at; and generally was quite sloth-like for six days.

Who in their right mind would ever want that to end?

And sadly, we’ve reached the moment in our tale where I become rather pathetic. I’ve made mention of my pathetic nature before, but this one might just be the topper.

So, at one point in the middle of my do-nothing-all-day-long fest, I moseyed into a store solely for the purpose of indulging our pets. Homemade dog and cat treats, outfits of every size shape and color, dog beds, cat collars, oh it was just amazing.

People would bring their animals in and try on various outfits. I’m telling you, if you haven’t seen a Pug in pink camouflage you haven’t truly lived. I swear the dog looked up at me with an expression that asked, “What do you think?” It was beyond adorable.

Naturally, they had toys and accessories for cats as well, in a myriad of varieties and colors. They even had little statues of cats and kittens in various positions of repose and play.

Well, as I stood in front of the display of the little porcelain feline figurines, scratching at my sunburn (man, I’m gonna get in trouble with mom for admitting that one), something came over me. It was the first real feeling other than lethargy that I’d had in days.

I missed my monsters. Like really missed them. Like standing in the middle of a store, able to smell the ocean through the open front door, nearly in tears because all I wanted to do at that very moment was snuggle one of my cats, missed them.

You have to admit, that’s a little crazy, right?

It’s strange, but I guess you don’t really know how much of an impact a creature has on your life until they aren’t in it for a while. I mean, sure, there have been moments when I’ll stay over night with the parents, especially when my brother comes home for Christmas, and I like to come home and see my babies, but this was so much more than that.

I was a few states away from them and I hadn’t seen them in a while and suddenly I just wanted to bury my nose in their fur and hold on for a bit. Now, I usually do that at least once a night and I guess I’d just gotten used to that second of serenity that I find when I spend time with them.

The kicker to this little story is that when I actually did get home, my next to youngest (and he’s the real cuddle bug of the bunch) heard me saying hello to everyone and must have been asleep, because he came half running, half stretching, half wobbling into the room to greet me. It was like, “Mom! You’re home!! Hang on I gotta wake up, but I want to get to you real fast!”

I have to admit, I actually choked up. Apparently my little boy had missed me as much as I had missed him. Knowing that made me feel, just…loved, I guess. And those are the kind of feelings I think we all should treasure when we get them.

I talk about my cats here a lot (sometimes I worry I’m getting like Kathy Lee Gifford with Cody and Cassidy) because they mean a lot to me, but I’m not sure I ever truly realized how much those feeling can manifest into something so strong when I’m not around them every day.

I know I’ve said I don’t know what I’d do without them, but now it’s like I *really* don’t know what I’d do without them, you know?

Apparently, those moments we spend together each day, no matter how long or short, have wormed their way into my heart. It’s amazing how our pets can do that without our really being aware, isn’t it?

I hope the animal-lovers reading these words understand what I’m saying and I don’t come across as just another “crazy cat lady.” Oh, who am I kidding? Everyone knows I’m crazy. So, I love my cats and I’m not afraid to admit it.

Maybe that’s what vacations are really for anyway. A moment to have a good time, but also a chance to realize that as Dorothy taught us so many years ago, there really is “no place like home.” 

*****

Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, Inc.
2325 Country Road Chambersburg, PA 17202
(P) 717- 263-5791 · (F) 717- 263-2042  cvasadmin@innernet.net

We have been providing humane services for animals in need, and assisting adoptable pets in a second chance of love and companionship at our current building, since 1995.