Carolyn Holm

Dear Mom,
Am I a Viking?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You are clearly a Spitz, which was indeed originally a Nordic breed. The Viking dogs were your people, but I’m not sure any Viking would recognize you.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Why not???????
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You are a gentle spirit, sweetie. I’m sure the Viking dogs were a pretty wild and wooly bunch, like the other branches of your Spitz family. Look at today’s sled dogs for instance. That’s a tough bunch! And I read that there is actually a Finnish Spitz, small like you, but used for hunting bears. I have a really hard time picturing you in a bear hunt.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I can be wolfish!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Probably we should keep the emphasis here on the “ish”. But I’m not sure you want to be associated with Vikings. They accomplished a lot, but they were known for plunder and mayhem and slaves.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
You said once that your people were Vikings!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That they were. It’s something you and I have in common. However, while they may be my people, I try to remain clear-eyed about their mark on the world.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
You also say sometimes that your people are cats. I am confused by that. What about dogs? What about me?
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Cats may be my people, but I love you, sweetie. You know that. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That’s a relief!!!!! So, Puffin says his people are aristocratic. He’s a purebred French Tuxedo.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Is he bringing that up again? That’s funny. Tuxedo is a color, for heaven’s sake. He’s the least “purebred” of the lot of you. He’s a DSH. That’s a general category. Domestic Short Hair. If a short-haired cat doesn’t have any recognizable antecedents, he gets lumped into DSH. Poor Puffin. He so wants to be an aristocrat.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Still, he’s French?????? I thought he came from Los Angeles!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
You’re right. He was a tiny kitten when he was found wandering around the streets of South Central Los Angeles. Maybe he was born into a French family when he was a baby? Who knows? South Central is known for Spanish speakers, not French, but LA is a diverse city.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Winston says his people are Pumas.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
He says that because we like to call him our Puma. But he knows he’s a Meezer. Just like Mia.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I thought Mia was Siamese! 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
She was. Meezer is an affectionate nickname for Siamese. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
But they look different!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Their coloring is slightly different because Mia was a Lynx Point Siamese and Winston is Seal Point. A very dark Seal Point. He looks like he was left in the toaster too long.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
So, the Meezers are aristocrats. And I’m a Spitz aristocrat. But Puffin’s people are French but pretty much non-descript.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s harsh, sweetie. Puffin has more than made up for his humble origins with his formal tuxedo attire.
Love, Carolyn

–

Get a new post every week!  Subscribe to get this weekly blog delivered every Friday to your In Box. If you are reading this in an email, go to blog.carolynholm.com to find the subscription box at the top. (And if you’ve already subscribed, multiple paws are raised to salute you!)