My Soul Mate
By Kate, age 18, New Hampshire
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
They say everyone has a soul mate in the world. Some go through life never meeting theirs; others simply wonder how they will know who their soul mate is. I'm lucky to say that I've met mine, and I knew she was it the moment we first met - the day I took her home at 8 weeks.
Who said your soul mate had to be human?!
Jessie has been with me for a wonderful six years, and I wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything. She was born on July 3, 2003, and the moment I received that faithful call from my then-boyfriend, I knew it was fate. For on that day, it was my 12th birthday. What a better gift than the gift of kittens - one soon to be your very own?
I was so excited that he was letting me take one of them, and even more thrilled that they were born on the same day as me! He described the little kittens to me every day as they played and grew, until it was finally time for me to pick one out. I'd had my heart set on the female - the only girl out of four little kittens. She was the only black kitten, the others a more gray, and she was supposedly the runt.
The day I brought her home can only be described as the day you bring home a newborn baby, and though I've never actually had this experience, I knew that bringing home this new member of our family was the same thing. My family and I laughed as she wobbled around the house, exploring her new surroundings. We awed at her little mews and cuddled her in our arms.
I'm not quite sure how I came up with the name Jessie. I originally wanted to name her Ruby - the July birth stone, but it seemed too...childish. I didn't want a name like Fluffy or Whiskers, but I did like Ruby. I played around with different names before thinking of Jessie - and it fit. I just knew that was what I wanted to call her - Jessica Ruby - I just HAD to have Ruby!
For six years I've watched her wobble and grow into a mature, spastic cat, and even now, she's still my little baby. When I come home from college, she sleeps with me at night, and when I'm relaxing on the couch, she sleeps on my lap. All my friends know her as the fat cat, currently at 18 pounds and on a diet. (She doesn't even eat that much!) But I wouldn't have her any other way. And for a fat, lazy cat, she sure can run fast when she wants to!
This July, we will celebrate our birthday together like we always do - I wouldn't have it any other way. I know she is the love of my life, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. We've grown together for six years and will only continue to grow together. I don't know what I would do without her - she truly is my soul mate.
