J is for Jaxon, the Fearless Sock Avenger!

Say hello to my little friend, Jaxon
Jaxon is my sweetness who became part of my life July 3, 1992. I had just lost my Tatiana who was a Tortie Persian - black and orange with big copper eyes. I was so sad to lose my "TeeDee" and could never replace her but I knew if I didn't get a new cat soon, I might never be able to.

I wanted to find the absolute antithesis of my TeeDee who was female and dark with copper eyes. So I got it in my head I wanted a boy who was white or light in color with big blue eyes! Since I love the look of the Persian type cats (round, flat face, short stocky body ) I decided I wanted either a Persian or a Himalayan. (this was also a time when I actually HAD a disposable income :::sigh:::)

So I opened the Sun Sentinel and began my search. There were no light colored Persian males available but a few local breeders had male Flame Point Himalayans. A Flame Point Himmy has an almost white faintly apricot, fur with red "points" - ears, nose, paws and tail. And all Himmys have blue eyes. See?

I had 3 local breeders lined up to see that weekend. It wasn't the best time to be cat shopping because it was the Fourth of July holiday weekend but these three agreed to see me. I visited the first two and altho the kittens were adorable, there was no spark between us.

Feeling disappointed and so lonely without my TeeDee I arrived at the last breeder on the list. A lovely, spirited Englishwoman answered the door and told me that I had arrived at the Thruppence Cattery aka, her living room :)

There were 5 adult cats, all who seemed content, and there were 10 kittens running everywhere. Only 2 of the 10 were Himmys, a female seal point and a flame point male, the rest were tuxedo Persians.

All but the two Himmys were herded into another room while I was invited to get to know this brother and sister. I fell in love with the little flame point male so I sat on the floor to get to know him. Unfortunately, the feeling didn't seem mutual!

Oh, he would come over, give me a sniff and stick around for a quick pat but then take off for more sibling play! In fact, his sister seemed more interested in becoming a part of the FK household than he was! But my heart was set on that "white" male.

I expressed my concerns to the breeder, stating that he didn't seem to like me much! She kindly told me I could take him home for a week and if it wasn't a perfect match, I could bring him back! Now that seemed like a plan to me!

We packed "him" into the small cardboard box I had brought and off we went to our new home. Once we got into the car this tiny furball decided to show me just how strong his lungs were because the racket coming from that tiny body inside that tiny box was HUGE! He meow'ed so loudly incessantly mournfully that I just couldn't take it! I opened the box and let "him" out....

And what did he do, this kitten who didn't seem to like me all that much? He climbed up onto my left shoulder and licked my face the whole way home! That was the day I met my familiar....Thruppence Furball Jaxon (his registered name).

My Jaxon remained a "kisser" his whole life! He would meow until I leaned back so he could walk up my chest and plant his kitty kisses on my face! Ever since he was a small kitten he would sleep on my night table and every 2 hours or so, when HE needed a little attention, he would hop on the bed and start licking my face...believe me, it's is IMPOSSIBLE to sleep thru a sandpaper tongue bath!

When I came back to knitting about 4 years ago, Jaxon was introduced to all things fiber for the first time and it became his mission to sleep on every piece of knitting that ever got washed at Chez FKD!

No matter where I would put the garment to dry, Jaxon would find it! In my bathtub, Jaxon! Kitchen countertop, Jaxon! On top of my computer desk, Jaxon! He never slept in these places on other occasions but when wet wool was involved, his nose went into overdrive and he would find that yarn no matter how precarious the perch!

My Jaxon had a special affinity for socks! I could hardly get him to budge to see if the socks were dry! He "defended" his socks so adamantly, I began calling him my Fearless Sock Avenger! He especially loved to have his picture taken with his socks!
I lost my precious Sock Avenger, Jaxon a year ago last February and I miss him every single day like a physical ache. I know my Jaxon is avenging all the socks the angels knit in kitty heaven.

Luckily a certain Florida Orange came into my life 11 days after I lost my hunnyboy and my P-Man helped bring my smile back to my heart and brings me joy every single day!

I just wish Jaxon and Pumpkin could have met, they would have been such good friends.