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On February 3, 1999 four of our cyberfriends: Tally, Lisaviolet, Fran, and Tik Tok, from the Acme Cat's Window Bulletin Board got together and sent out an e-mail that ended up uniting over 80 people to bring us one of (if not THE) biggest surprises of our life!
On February 2 of that year, Jeff and I lost our cat Kelli to cancer. We had just lost our sweet Biffy less than 5 weeks prior to that, on New Years Eve, the one year anniversary of the tragic death of our cat, Mr. Fluffy. These wonderful people, that we have never met, got together and started a Bulletin Board, so they could have an internet "Party", and put together a huge HUG for us. The "hug" consisted of countless cards, pictures, letters, poems, and gifts that filled our home, and our hearts, with love.
On February 23, I was sitting at the computer and had just finished doing a post at the Acme BB explaining why, and apologizing for, being away from the Bulletin Board for the past 5 days. I had been sick for a couple of weeks, and missed my friends terribly. I was in my pajamas with my bathrobe on, when someone knocked on the door. I ran upstairs to have Jeff answer the door, since I didn�t want anyone to see me in this condition.
Jeff opened the door, and saw the FedEx guy walking back to his truck. He had left one BIG box on the steps, and was starting to unload a second one, just as big as the first. Jeff called to me and asked, "are you expecting anything?' I said "no", and was shocked at the size of the box that he was dragging through the front door. Jeff looked at the label and saw it was from "Acme Friends". He said to me, "its from Acme!", and my jaw just dropped. Then he saw they were marked as boxes 1 and 2 ... of 3! The FedEx guy was going back for the 3rd one!! I was completely stunned, and couldn�t belive this was happening. Jeff had tears in his eyes as he said �This is from the Acme BB!! These are ALL your FRIENDS, Diane!!! You see, Diane, people really DO care about you!!" I had been feeling very down and depressed since Biffy�s and Kelli�s illness and loss.
Jeff saw the word "Caboose" on the last box, then saw "Engine" and "Box Car" on the other two, and realized it was sent like a train. Jeff started to open the Engine (which was marked �Open me First"), and I ran to the computer to post something like, "OH MY GOD, I can�t believe this!" Then I quickly called Tally, who was unfortunately out to lunch.
We started unpacking all the boxes, and Jeff ran upstairs, grabbed his digital camera and started taking pictures. I realized I was still in my pajamas (Yikes!!!), and ran upstairs to throw on some clothes, but didn�t bother to put on any makeup.
We continued unpacking the boxes, and hearts and streamers were being scattered all over my living room floor. All the cats except for Minni scattered, and we started on one of - if not THE - most wonderful experiences of our lives.
Tally called about an hour into this adventure, and I told her about everything I had opened so far, and how overwhelmed I was. We spoke for a while, until she told me that I was just "babbling"! I was so excited, I could barely put into words everything I was feeling.
I was sitting there on the living room floor for almost 6 hours opening cards and gifts. I was doing it very slowly, reading some of the cards and poems 2 and 3 times. I wanted to *feel* this outpouring of love. The other cats all stayed away until I opened a package of Teddy�s organic catnip!! Then I heard the pitter-patter of little kitty feet heading our way. Gray C., Sweet Baby, Sweet Baby's Mama, and Sandy came running. I quickly grabbed the catnip, and put it in a dresser upstairs or it would have disappeared right then and there! They all started trying to "help" us open the packages after that..
Tally called back again, and told me to post something. I told her it would be something *sappy*, because I was so moved by all this.
The poems were so beautiful, and so was the artwork. I loved all the letters, and pictures of everyone, and their "kids". I opened boxes with stuffed animals, pins, cat toys, books, magnets... geez, there was just so much, I was so overwhelmed.
My house was filled with hundreds of little hearts. They were all over the floor, and us. It was a challenge to get to them all before Sweet Baby did. He'll eat anything off the carpet, but a pill (of course). Jeff and I don't have very good Birthdays, or holidays. We rarely get gifts. We don't celebrate too much anymore. I'm so NOT used to this much love, and caring and thoughtfulness. I've never seen (let alone had) so many gifts in my life; not even at our wedding. This was something that I'll never forget.
The people from the Acme BB have become our "family". Most of our "biological" family doesn't even know that we lost Kelli, or Biffy. The ones that do, don't seem to be able to understand how we *feel* when we lose our babies. Most of the people from this BB know them so well. The letters and poems show that. That means more to me than anyone could ever know.
I�ve been feeling pretty low these past few months. It's so good to know that there are people out there that understand how we feel, and are good enough, and kind enough, to put themselves out to share that with us.
I went to bed that night exhausted, but feeling very loved. The next day, I washed my hair, put on some make-up, and then Jeff and I re-read the cards and notes *again*, and I cried all the make-up off. They were all so touching. So, my eyes were all red and puffy, and I wouldn�t let Jeff near me with the camera that night.
I enjoyed this more than you'll ever know. So did Jeff. It gave us hope, and made us smile. That's something that we haven't done for a while. This "train" really lifted our spirits, and gave us something to look forward to.
A few days went by, and I felt guilty for disappearing. I was *still* sick.. I finally went to the doctor the following Sunday, and got some medication for that nasty infection.
We finished opening *all* the gifts. I was **so** touched by every one of them!! As I saw each name, and who each package or letter was from, I smiled. Then I either laughed, or cried at what was inside. I can't describe how wonderful this was, and how special each gift and note was and always will be to us.
We tried to take pictures of everything. I hope the camera did them justice. Hopefully this way we can share them all with you.
I kept a list of what we received. I was blown away by the thoughtfulness, and generosity of this "Train".
The pictures that were sent to us were great. I got a "sneak peek" at some of my friends. The notes, and letters and poems were so touching. I put all the pictures, and the smaller cards in an album that Peggy sent. You should see how gorgeous it is. The larger cards I bundled up, and saved in my drawer.
I can't thank everyone enough for doing something so special for us. I really needed something like this in my life right now. I'll never forget this, or your generosity.
Here�s a list of all the lovely things we received:
Kitty magnet: 2 cats on pedestal
�Never Forget� plaque, pet blanket, cat toy: feather on a string
Pix, guardian angel cat pin, magnet, cat with PC mouse writing paper
Red cat afghan
�One Day at a Time� embroidery
Cat toy: fuzzy mice and pix
Beautiful stuffed calico kitty with kitty bracelet
Post cards from Wash., Beanie baby (white bear) �Valentino�, earrings handmade hair sticks handmade
Cat toy (2 cat balls)
Candles and candlestick holders
Mice ornament, truffles, pictures
Beautiful photo album
�You are purr-fect� pillow, stickers, notepad, scented candle, angel pin, heart penny
�Kitty lovin� is Good Lovin� � lamp
Stuffed kitty with moveable arms and legs
Cats with green eyes pin (w/ hanging tails)
Pewter cat photo frame
Jelly beans
Fuzzy mice, cat toys, tarter control pounce, Garfield trivet, beautiful picture collage, scrimshaw keychain, and a nice letter.
Suncatcher (looks like Fluffy), magnets, photos, angel pin
Recorded cassette tape
CATNIP!!!!!
�Kitty in window� diarama, and a poem
Home-printed glossy photo card, �A Cat� book, 2 cat buttons, kitty bank
Cat pin, bookmark, pix
A-Z of Cat Health book,
Cat toys (2 cat balls), little stuffed �You�re Special� porcupine, �Kitty Buddy� picture frame
�The Secret Life of Cats� book, fuzzy mouse
Pix, 2 cat toy balls
Cat stories book, cat picture frame (cat grabbing frame from behind) (cute!)
Beanie baby: cat �Chip�
Kitty bottle apron and pot holder set
�Do Cats Need Shrinks?� book, home-printed card with Fluffy, Biffy, and Kelli�s pix
Glass suncatchers, pix, �A Cat� book
�My Furry Child� snapshot album
Pictures, poem
4 lovely poems (1 for us, 1 for each baby)
5 beautiful poems on beautiful paper
Fluffy�s poem, one long beautiful poem on pretty paper
2 very cute cat pins (1 pewter, 1 copper kitties on fence)
Cats at computer pin (�memo: buy cat food!�)
Picture, postcard, 2 pewter pins (tie tack type)
Pix
More pix of kitties, and other bb friends
Cat magnet note pad
Cat stickers
Little cat pop-up book
Artwork of Kelli, Fluffy, Biffy, notecard with our pic on it (jeff n diane)
Card with all their fur in it!
4 lovely poems for us
Wildtalk mouse pad
Poem and tatted kitty
�Celebrating Memories of Loved Ones� booklet, cat magnet, pix
�Be Strong� magnet
Ceramic kitty-top candle holder
Kliban cat calendar, cat photo frame, cat mirror (with sweet saying on the wrapper: �something beautiful on both sides�), kitty
Christmas tree ornament, mouse cat toy with pom-poms, pix, kitty magnet: �the only thing self-cleaning in this house is the cat�!
Beanie baby cat - �Pounce�, black fuzzy Ty cat �Licorice�, pewter bookkeeper, kitty angel bookmark, SPI handcrafted kitty angel with bowl, book �When You Lose Someone You Love�, guardian angel cat pin
3 kitties on T-shirt
Funny card, pix, siver kitty photo frame w/ pic in it
Book w/ cat faces �Journal�, and bookplates and bookmark w/ poem she wrote about the �Train�
�Cat Heaven� book
Lovely note and pix, cat charm, beautiful gold pic frame �Cat on Sill�
Silver picture frame (for Biffy�s pic) and sweet note
Angel Kitty (orange) to hang �Give him his wings�
Printed note w/ pix, �Snip� kitty Beannie Baby
Note and letter, and a small book - �The Well-Versed Cat�
Small book, �The Artistic Cat� in small kitty bag
Book �Cat Stories� and bookmark (sleeping kitties), kitty with glasses note
Leather Journal w/ 2 notes, t-shirt saying �One Can Never Have Too Many Cats�, Kitty stationery, kitty in hammock mouse pad
Large framed poem �Stray Cats Prayer� by Francis Witham
Big black sitting kitty (Sandicast), calico magnet, small kitty w/ moveable arms and legs w/ dress w/ fish on it, pic and nice note
4 hand made boxes w/ toys and buttons and trinkets in them; stampers, catnip and catmint seed and 2 cat scarves, beautiful photo album w/ frame, pix
Cat w/ �mouse� notecards and nice note w/ Gandhi quote and pix
Toy snake and mice and 2 year planner, Mulled Cranberry Drink mix and notes, and lovely poem in card and postcards of Canada
�Dragon Tears� Letter and pix, round wood box w/ Dragon Tears and necklace (1 for each of our �lost babies�)
Smiling kitty, w/ card w/ all their cats pics on it
2 Vanilla candles and kitty candle holder, columbine seeds
�Whiskers� Ty kitty and bookmark
See the Poems, Letters, and Gifs
Read the abridged version of the "Party"
Return to Jeff and Diane's Cat House
