From 6fa3d6d03c4f0731cf388166bacebbf2e062fd1c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Blaise Thompson Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2021 16:42:51 -0500 Subject: refactor with actual building --- memories/untzag/index.md | 172 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 172 insertions(+) create mode 100644 memories/untzag/index.md (limited to 'memories/untzag/index.md') diff --git a/memories/untzag/index.md b/memories/untzag/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ba4cf6 --- /dev/null +++ b/memories/untzag/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,172 @@ +title: Untzag Thompson +start: 2004-09-13 +end: 2014-10-21 + +

+In Fall 2004 we saw a notice about a local family who were giving away kittens at our vet’s office. +So we drove to their rural home in West Branch and picked one out (2004-09-13). +Blaise picked out Untzag. +They also had large dogs who helped care for the kittens so she was never afraid of dogs. +On the way home, she rode free in the back seat and seemed to really want to see out the window. +Blaise gave her the name Untzag which means little tiger in Armenian. +Our list of options were: Zoulal (pure), Ardashes (joy), Zora (small), Giliga (small), Untzag (tiger), Hoky (spirt), Azadouhi (free), and Aghaton (good). +Folks always liked her name. +

+ +Untzag sitting on a wooden shelf. +Untzag sitting on a wooden shelf, her first day at 827 Brown.
+
+ +Untzag in the grass. +Untzag outside, her first day at 827 Brown.
+ +

+Early in her life a twig got in her eye area. +Blaise discovered it and we immediately took her to the vet where it was taken care of. +Other than that, she physically fit all her life. +She could jump up onto Blaise’s sleigh bed, or onto the pile of clean towels in the bathroom open storage area. +She also like to get onto the garage roof and come into the house via the deck door. +She would sit on the East wall of the deck, which is quite narrow, with seemingly no fear of heights +

+ +

+We tried to keep her in our yard so she wouldn’t bother our neighbor Dorothy and to protect her from traffic on Governor, but she could not be contained. +One reason we did not have her wear a collar is because we thought it might be dangerous to her if she got caught on a fence she was climbing on in some unknown place. +

+ +

+Her first Thanksgiving we took her on a walk on the Mormon Trek trail and saw that she was a good little hiker. +She wanted to keep up with Vehrzheen. +We periodically included her on walks in the woods during which she wore a harness and leash. +

+ +

+At one point we snuck her into the Mercer swim area so Blaise’s swim team members could enjoy her as a kitten. +

+ +

+Sometime after Betty died Nancy inherited the sculpture by Bufano. +We took a good photo of her sitting by the cat mold. +By her posture she seemed to be telling us that she was more precious than any sculptor’s model. +

+ +Untzag next to Bufano sculpture. + +Untzag next to Bufano sculpture. + +

+When she was little she used to like to hide by the day lilies in the front and jump out at by-passers. +She would also lie down on the sidewalk and let some strangers pet her on her tummy. +She felt free to enjoy the park across the street and the neighbors in 815 Brown. +She liked to be on their porch and recently she even felt free to enjoy their nice clean new cars. +If a window or door was open she felt free to go inside +

+ +

+In 2006 she went to the shelter because the pound was picking up our neighbor cat (Slim) for being outside without supervision. +We think Untzag was trying to protect Slim from being taken. +There were several cats which looked like Untzag at the pound but she was the only one with a tail which had a white tip. +

+ +

+At one point when Nancy was sick Untzag put her nose on Nancy's feet as she was retching over the toilet bowl. +Once when Nancy made a trip to the Mercy ER in the night for what we thought was a heart attack she was so happy to see that Untzag was waiting (about a 3 hr wait) on the steps of a home on Lucas so that we could walk home together. +Sometimes when someone was not feeling well she could just come and share body warmth and closeness. +She would also knead your body with her front legs. +

+ +

+Untzag liked to keep David company at the computer by sitting on his lap. +Sometimes he played videos of birds for her on the computer. +Even though he called her a pest and tired of the fact that she brought in fleas, she knew he has a heart of gold and a nice warm lap. +

+ +Untzag sitting on David's lap. + +

+She was not good about having puzzles laying around in an unfinished state. +She liked to mess up the pieces or even take them apart. +

+ +

+Untzag was featured in Blaise's High School graduation photo! +

+ +Blaise's graduation photo. + +

+Untzag was always very welcoming of other animals. +She played with the Vislas for whom we provided foster care. +Recently we rescued a cockatiel from the park, whom she tolerated as well. +She also always wanted to be friends with Vehrzheen even though Vehrzheen thought of her as prey. +Sometimes Nancy would give Untzag three small treats and she would eat only one or two, leaving the remainder for Vehrzheen. +Even while Vehrzheen was failing fast, Untzag spent time with her to comfort her. +Our most recent photo of Untzag was taken 2014-10-14, a day when Untzag spent many hours next to Vehrzheen on the bed. +

+ +Untzag and Vehrzheen on David's bed. + +

+She did hunt birds and baby rabbits. +She did not care for rabbit eyeballs as she would lay them by the partially eaten body somewhere where we could admire her hunting success. +She also used to bring mice and chipmunks into the house to “play” with. +I think she also had some dealings with snakes. +Blaise remembers one time when Untzag left a living snake in his backpack. +

+ +

+Untzag was not much for games. +However she did enjoy chasing the small item at the end of the child’s fishing pole which David thought of. +She cooked up a game of her own to play with me when Nancy was in the bathtub. +If Nancy had her comb on the edge of the tub, she would like to bat it into the tub from the outside of the tub. +Nancy's task was to replace it on the edge and move it slowly so that she could bat it down again. +Neither of us were supposed to see the other. +

+ +

+Untzag travelled with us on many trips – Wisconsin, Maine, the Southern tip of LA, etc. However she did not like not being able to go outside at nights. +Once, in WI, we thought we had lost her as she had escaped from the Kozeluh’s home. +Since it was our last day of vacation, we thought we would have to leave for IA without her, and asked neighbors to watch for her. +However, just before we had to leave, we found her in the surrounding vegetation. +On some trips to WI she shopped at Foster and Smith which welcomes pet as well as human shoppers. +

+ + +Untzag at bates. +Untzag at Bates. + +

+The last time that Blaise saw Untzag was a visit from Graduate School, 2014-09-08. +Untzag was kind enough to "say goodbye" as Blaise got in the car. +

+ +Untzag in the driveway. + +

+2014-10-21 21:45, Untzag was struck by car on Governor. +Despite efforts by Nancy, we never got to recover her body. +

+ +

+Rest in peace, Untzag. +

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