After their beloved companion, Misé, passed away the day after Christmas, Alex and Ronan were devastated. They feared they may not be able to open their hearts to another cat. Their vet advised them to wait for a sign, which would most likely come when they least expected it. Here is the story, as told by Alex, of how Sweet Pea and Jammie became permanent members of the O'Gorman family.

"While Ronan and I were out for a walk during a vacation in Ireland, a small grey cat caught our attention. He seemed to be waving at us from behind an iron fence. Ronan turned to me and said "There it is, there's the sign." We couldn't wait to to get back home to begin our search for a new kitten.

Our local ASPCA had only two kittens available for adoption. They were in separate cages, on opposite sides of the room. Ronan was given the gray kitten to hold, and I was given the ginger-colored one. Ronan's kitten purred immediately, placed his paws on Ronan's face, and covered his nose with kisses. My little fellow was trembling and crying. "Put them together in the same cage, we'll adopt them both," I said. When we returned two days later to take them home after they'd been neutered, our new kids were snuggling and grooming each other like they'd been best friends since Day One.

Their names came easily. Jammie Dodger was named after a wonderful Irish shortbread cookie with a jam-filled center. Sweet Pea was named after Billy Strayhorn, the great jazz pianist/songwriter upon whom Duke Ellington bestowed the same nickname. Their monikers suit them perfectly.

Sweet Pea is really not of this earth. We think he was exiled by aliens following a laboratory feline-constructing experiment gone awry. Sweet Pea trills like a bird, squats like a frog, and appears to have no bones. His eyes are more like those of an owl, he has feet like a rabbit, and his fur resembles the pelt of a cashmere goat.

Jammie is solid muscle. He's a deep thinker and frets frequently, but would love to put all his worries on the back burner and nap all day by your side if it were possible. In another lifetime, he was most likely an ornithologist. Jammie's record for vertical leaps is constantly being bested, which is why he sometimes answers to "Air Jammie!" (Are those really white fur paws, or is he wearing Nikes?)

Sweet Pea is the YIN, Jammie is the Yang. We found them, they found each other, and now we are all together as a family. Thank goodness for the wisdom of our veterinarian!"

June 6, 2004 - A SAD UPDATE:

A month ago, dear little Sweet Pea passed away suddenly due to what the vet suspects was either a stroke or a heart attack. According to Alex, he just seemed to go to sleep with out making any noise. He was only two years old. Everyone who knew this sweet little fellow is devastated by his passing.