I am in love.

No, really. I am in love. It was love at first sight - her eyes are a color that, when I try to describe them, makes me sound like I'm writing a Mary Sue. Sometimes emerald, sometimes luminous gold, sometimes BOTH in a way that makes both colors all the more lovely. She is so sweet, so loving, always right there at the door to greet me. I met her yesterday. Her name is Nostalgia.

*happy sigh*

So yeah, I started volunteering at the local animal shelter yesterday. XD I fell for Nostalgia right away - she has such huge eyes against perfectly black fur, and oh, such a sweet little face! So much love. I didn't really believe I'd ever love a cat again, but it's true - capacity for love isn't diminished, it isn't a pie to be portioned out. I love this cat so much, even if I do want to cry for Neti again. It's been... a long time since Neti was taken away. I'll never stop loving her, and I'll never stop mourning her loss. But that doesn't stop my heart from falling for Nostalgia.

I know what I'm getting into. She is young, about 8 months, and has at least a decade in front of her, hopefully two. Her front legs are significantly shorter than her back, which puts her at risk for a variety of things. I've already started researching pet insurance - one day she will break a leg, and I want to be prepared for that day. She may have chest compression issues. And she has no tail - there may be spinal problems, I'm not sure. I haven't been able to corner the people at the shelter who know these things. The shelter is closed due to ringworm, though, so I'm not worried abut her getting adopted under my nose.

I spent some time cuddling her today, despite the risk of contamination (she doesn't actively have ringworm, but she might be carrying it anyway). Here are the things I have learned:
She bats through the cage but never, never uses her claws.
She gives licks and love-bites but is very gentle and listens when I tell her no.
She wants desperately to be held but respects when she has to go back in the cage.
Her position of preference is across both shoulders, peering out with her head along my jaw.
She dismounts gracefully, without hurting me, and all I have to do is turn her towards the cage and tilt slightly.
I LOVE HER SO MUCH. And every time we touch noses I think she's ready to love me too.

I want to pet her until she falls asleep. I want to show her to everyone. I want to take pictures of her. I want to play with her and spoil her with feathers and toys. I want to make ramps to the furniture and windows so she doesn't have to jump down from anything. I want to stretch out in sunbeams with her. I want to spend the next ten or twenty years of my life doting on her. I want to buy her comfy beds to curl up in. I want to find out if she'll take to a leash, or maybe be okay with one of those silly purse-carriers, because I want her with me every minute of every day. I want to call for her when I walk in the door and see her beautiful face.

The word "nostalgia" means emerald eyes and black fur to me now. She's so amazing. I am so hopelessly in love. XD Time to start pricing cat supplies...

Oh and also I'm going to go get my car inspected and then I can buy plane tickets to visit spacehussy CAN I GET A HELL YEAH!!! oh gosh so excited~ Man, with all this talk of EXPENSIVE STUFF you'd think I had money or something. XD Nah, just planning and saving. These things will wipe out my savings, but that's okay. That's what it's there for.

NOSTALGIA. Oh I am so hopelessly in love.