I leaned on my childhood dogs (pictured ft. teen me with acne) a lot growing up for companionship and emotional support. The pets Iā€™ve had in my adult life have all been with me at differing stages of my life and have grounded me and given me a sense of purpose in taking care of them even when I had nothing else and felt like I was doing everything wrong in life. My dog Benny is teaching me to be patient and how to handle frustration and take care of the needs of a very sensitive emotional creature lolā€¦ My cat Bunny is very shy and odd due to illness she suffered as a kitten that led her to be quarantined, which can be frustrating to me sometimes because I kind of wish she would be more like the two cuddly gregarious cats Iā€™ve had who I lost before their time. But I looked at it from another point of view yesterday and had the thought that maybe I bonded with my other cats instantly because they werenā€™t going to be with me for very long, but my life with Bunny is going to be something that unfolds over the span of many years so our bond is going to take more time to develop and maybe someday itā€™ll be just as strong if not stronger. I think thatā€™s beautiful šŸ„¹
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Oct 20, 2024

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I adopted my cat almost 3 years ago after going my whole life thinking I wasnā€™t a cat person. After watching my dear friends take care of their dorm cat (Beef!) I fell in love. I never quite understood cats- I always saw them through my child eyes as being elusive and standoffish. After solidifying my friendship with Beef I realized how strong the bond between cat and (wo)man can be- because itā€™s earned. My precious Duchess was the crustiest cat at the shelter but when she opened her big sapphire eyes I knew we were a destined pair. Duchess has sat with me through two heartbreaks, the hardest year of my life, multiple moves, long car rides, and many, many, sleepless nights. To say sheā€™s my best friend isnā€™t totally correct- I feel she is truly a part of the fabric of my being. She has helped me trust myself to care for another living being, loved me on my most rotten days, and cuddled me when Iā€™m sad (even though she pretends she hates it). I never knew such a small creature could change my entire world. On the loneliest days she licks my hand with her scratchy tongue and lays her head on my legs and I suddenly the darkness isnā€™t so dark. Thank you Duchess, my sweet girl, my forever love.
Feb 6, 2025
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I have (and have had) many pets since I was a wee girl- newts, bunnies, terriers, gerbils, frogs, iguanas, fish, hedgehogs, and Iā€™ve loved each of them with all Iā€™ve got. But over the last few years, Iā€™ve found my truest passion is raising kittens (donā€™t tell my dogs, who seem 100% sure the cats are just disruptive indignities I must suffer to get back to them.) Kittens are natureā€™s anti-depressant, the best reality show youā€™re not watching and a totally inspiring example of the mindfuck that is evolution. I mean, these little creeps have been designed by a Higher Power to look adorably lost, impossibly needyā€¦ and then BAM theyā€™re opening all your doors and eating all your salad and looking down at you from the bookshelf like youā€™re the help in a Downton Abbey sequel. Plus, on a soppy note, a teensy rescue kitten is the example of tenacity we all need- they donā€™t give up as they go from fetal bird confusion to diabolical emperor. Any opportunity to foster, raise and/or unleash kittens on their next willing fin-dom arrangement is one of my higher callings. At the moment, two young ā€˜ens are staring at me from a cactus shaped condo in the corner of our bedroom. Another eight year old adoptee/Garfield doppelganger is on a reduced calorie diet upstairs so that he can maintain his heart health and travel in something smaller than the laundry hamper. Look at us! Weā€™re a chic literary salon but Iā€™m the only one who can read (I think. I have one cat who can probably read, she just does it at night when Iā€™m not looking.)
Jan 3, 2023
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My first cat that I ever had as an adult; she sat on the doorstep outside of my building one day and followed me into my apartment and that was it. The ultimate velcro cat and she came declawed which I would never do to an animal but it worked out really well for my rabbit and my beautiful vintage furniture. I lost her to lymphoma three years ago and it felt like the end of my adolescence because she had been there for all of it. I think I really prefer the personality of long-haired cats but donā€™t tell my cat Bunnyā€¦
Jan 18, 2025

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ā€œLife shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.ā€ ā€” AnaĆÆs Nin This is uncharacteristically raw and personal, even for me, and pretty heavy! I know many of you have seen me posting through it and I feel safe to talk about it openly now that Iā€™ve safely landed at the start of my new life. Itā€™s honestly even a little bit embarrassing but I think itā€™s important to share. Iā€™ve never publicly mentioned it on here, but I have a husband; as of Friday, weā€™d have been together for 11 years, and weā€™ve been married for 3 years as of 2/22. I realize now that I wanted to explore what I looked like outside of my relationship with him because I had lost that. This is why PI.FYI has been so meaningful to me as a space to express myself and connect with peopleā€”to rediscover my voice. I had been living a lie this entire time, to others but worst of all to myself. Heā€™s been verbally and emotionally abusive, physically but without touching me, to the point that every day I spent with him I was in danger. Iā€™ve been shrinking myself and walking on eggshells to avoid making him insecure and provoking his casual put-downs and fits of rage, while hanging on for dear life to the threads of good I could see. Iā€™ve wanted so badly to leave, more than anything, but I felt like there was no way out and that this was just something I would need to endure indefinitelyā€”but someone who is so very dear to me helped me see that I have wings to fly, not by acting as my savior but by reminding me of my own power. The emotional safety they built and the gentle care they showed me made me feel like I could open up to them. With their encouragement I was brave enough to tell the truth to my friends, my family, my boss, and they have received me with warm, loving and open arms and rallied to support and protect me. The financial andĀ  logistical aspects were the most intimidating to me and itā€™s going to be tough for a while but Iā€™m going to be better than okay! Now Iā€™m opening up to you. This isnā€™t the only abuse Iā€™ve suffered in my life, and my old therapist told me she believed it was my mission to share my strength and light with others to inspire them and show them that change is possible. I hope that by sharing this, I can reach even just one person who is going through something similar and show that they are not alone, and they are not weak. People with certain backgrounds may be more vulnerable to abuse, but it can happen to anyone. It thrives in darkness, shame, and isolationā€”and breaking that silence is the first step toward freedom. Leaving is the scariest thing I have ever done but I have so many angels around me, and I am endlessly grateful. Thank you for being here with me šŸ’Œ
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My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebodyā€”be it a relative or one of my best friendsā€”was to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too šŸ’Œ
Feb 23, 2025