Carolyn Holm

Dear Mom,
I love it in the evening when we all hang out in the living room after dinner.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It’s very cozy, isn’t it? 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
We are all together. You and Dad reading, and the three of us with you.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s when we have a quorum.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
A quorum? Am I supposed to know what quorum is?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Don’t worry about it. It just means the pack is all here. And it’s nice to have some quiet time without Pack Politics.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Sometimes the cats cause trouble, though. Like sleeping in the bed under the coffee table. That’s my bed.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I think Puffin does it because he knows it unsettles you. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Winston does it too.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
He would love to share the bed with you. But you hop out as soon as he gets in. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I don’t share my bed.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
But it’s plenty big! It would be a nice snuggle!
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I don’t share my bed.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Okay. At least you all get along. With shifting alliances of course. But that’s politics.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Shifting alliances?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Sometimes you and Winston are hanging together, and Puffin is off somewhere with his back to everyone. Sometimes the cats are playing together and you are the odd one out. Sometimes each of you is in your own corner, napping. And then there is the jockeying in the kitchen at mealtime: Who will be fed first? Politics. It’s all politics.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Sometimes Puffin hisses at me.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Don’t pay any attention to him when he does that. Just go play with Winston. Play Bitey-Whacky. You both love that game.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
And the Door Crack Game! Where Winston is behind the door and bats at me through the crack! And the Sofa Game, where Winston is on top of the sofa and bats at my head! And the Race Through the Living Room game, when Winston gallops around the house and I try to catch up!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Those are all good games. But you don’t play with Puffin. Maybe one day you will.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
We sniff each other. He even does a friendly head-butt now and then. But I don’t know if I want to play with him. He’s rough. When you go to bed, the cats play and it gets wild.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I’ve heard those night games. Body slams and thundering up and down the stairs. And the occasional scream when Puffin scores a claw hit. You are probably wise to stay away from that stuff.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I bark every time the cats get near my food. That’s good enough for now.
XOXO Poppy

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