Third Time's a Charm!

Well, I had to write another little post today to celebrate a major accomplishment. I have spoken before about the registration process which I have to go through following arrival into India with a new visa and how painful and frustrating it is. You have to brave the traffic to go to the Police Commissioner's Office, then brave the bureaucracy, then be sent away because you don't have some form that they never even told you that you need in the first place. I have never completed this process in fewer than four trips to the FRO (nor has any other foreigner that I have spoken to about this particular form of torture so it is not just some deficiency on my part, I promise), something is always wrong with my paperwork in some ridiculous way or another and I always leave angry and frustrated. Today was the third time that I have embarked on the registration process and I was hopeful, though not too hopeful lest my spirits be crushed, that I might get registered in the minimum two trips to the FRO after my significant amount of experience. I went armed with more paper than you'll find at a printer's shop and I emerged victorious! I had all of the paperwork that I needed, all of the passport photos that were required, the correct number of copies, and everything filled out correctly (to the disappointment and dismay of the smug government officials who relish turning away inexperienced foreigners). Tomorrow afternoon I can go and pick up my brand-new registration certificate and that will be the last time that I ever have to deal with that horrible, awful place. Hah! Suck it Bangalore Police Commissioner's Office, I WIN!

Up in Smoke

We never intended to expand our family; we have been quite happy with our lives the way they are. But as often happens, fate seems to have a different plan for us. When we picked up Mira and Chaya from Yasmine and JP last week they mentioned a friend of theirs, Pami, was looking for a home for one of her Persian cats. Pami is a breeder of Persians and one of her beauties, Smoky, was having a hard time being accepted by her 17 other cats. Poor Smoky has had a tough life. She was involved in an accident several years ago which nearly led to her death but resulted only in the amputation of one of her hind legs. Due to her disability she was partially spayed, meaning that her uterus was removed but her ovaries were left in order to attempt to prevent excess weight gain that is sometimes associated with sterilization (I and Pami, in hindsight of course, believe that this was a mistake as poor Smoky suffers through her heat, but is unable to conceive). Either due to her disability or her sterilization she is not accepted by Pami's other cats who tease her mercilessly. Smoky was placed in the care of an elderly lady who loved and spoiled her until her own infirmity caused her to relocated to the US, leaving Smoky back in the care of Pami.

After hearing Smoky's story Eric and I made the decision to bring her to our house to try to integrate her into our family with the hopes that Mira and Chaya will be more accepting of Smoky. I was initially worried not only about Mira and Chaya's reaction to Smoky, but of my own. I hoped that I would be able to feel for her what I feel for Mira and Chaya, who have been with us for over a year since they were only four week old kittens. On Saturday we picked up Smoky from Pami and were greeted by a gorgeous grey lady. She kept to herself but seemed friendly enough. We packed her up in a basket and set out for the one hour auto ride home, braced for a long hard ride (Chaya hates travel and wails throughout the trip so we were prepared for the worst). To our surprise, Smoky was quiet as a mouse and sat calmly in the basket until we reached our apartment. She is such a good and sweet girl. We are keeping her separated from the girls and for the first 36 hours we just let them smell and hear each other, but not make visual contact (though there is not much to hear from Smoky except for her purring like a Porche). There has been some hissing and throat growling though the door, but I guess that is to be expected. This morning we made formal introductions which went as well as can be expected, Mira and Chaya were on edge wondering what in the h-ll we are doing to them, slinking around and getting a look at this new creature and Smoky paid them little attention. It was as though she was thinking, "Hey, what's the big deal? I'm here now, it's my house too so get used to it already!" Smoky is a quiet and sweet girl but I am quickly getting the impression that it by no means suggests that she is timid or scared. I am falling for her and her adorable face and constant purring, and I hope that Mira and Chaya do too! Wish us luck because if she is not accepted then we will have to take her back to Pami, and that would just break my heart. Just look at those gorgeous eyes!