I normally don't post on the weekends as I don't currently have internet at home but this couldn't wait. I came into the office special to say thank you all from the bottoms of all of our hearts for your prayers and that fabulous TDK white light. We had Shadow back by 8:30 last night but what a story that is.
When I got home from work and the usuall run around, Shadow was still MIA. Michael was completely shot. His tears for Shadow flowed like a river as he never REALLY realized just how much Shadow ment to him and his sister Candy. Anyway, he and I talked for a while and I tried to console him and continually remind him that Shadow WILL come back but nothing seemed to help. I suggested that we take a walk and look again and he was good with that. That made the 5th time since 2 am the night before he went looking. Oh yes, did I ever mention that Michael is legally BLIND!! That didn't matter to him, he just wanted his baby back. Anyway, we walked down our back alley looking and had no luck. When we turned the corner I spotted a woman out sweeping in front of her house and I recognized her as a woman that I spoke with the last time I was searching for a MIA baby. We stopped to talk to her and no, she had not seen him but she would keep and eye out and spread the word to the rest of the neighbors on that end of the street. As we talked with her she then said, "Isn't that the cat back there?" I turned quickly and I spotted a cat that looked mostly black with white (shadows play funny tricks don't they) but I figured it was close enough to take a better look. We thanked her and quickly went to the wood pile he disappeared behind. I had Michael wait at one end of the pile and told him to just stay there in case I can flush the cat to him. I went to the other side of the pile and I couldn't see him. Michael kept calling Shadow's name so while I couldn't see him, I could hear him. I found a way to get further into the pile and found a small opening. I bent down to get a better view and waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness when I saw him! I spoke softly to him and called him to me. When he finally realized who I was he slowly walked to me so I could touch him. I pet him gently and he came out a little more. As soon as he was out far enough that I could grab him by the scruff of the neck, I did. I picked him up and held him tight. I yelled for Michael that I had him. Michael cried even more from relief when I brought him out to him. We quickly walked home. As soon as we made it to our yard, Shadow got excited and I had to hold him a little tighter but he was just so happy to know that he would soon be home.
When Shadow got upstairs, you would think he would want food first, Nope....all he wanted was for his daddy to hold him!! Shadow is so very happy to be home and his parents, who felt like wrung out dishrags all day, couldn't be happier. The tears are still flowing today but at least they are happy tears. Shadow is fine, no worse for wear. I don't think Shadow jumped out that window, I think he thought he could perch on the ledge and he miss judged the space and FELL out the window because Shadow is a VERY happy kitty and wouldn't want any other home than the one he found with us.
Before I came in here to post, I stopped at a local florist for a small present for the sweet woman with the "Eagle eye" who spotted him. If it weren't for her, he would probably still be out there.
Thanks again to all of your, our TDK family is the BEST!
