Mita

A good few years ago I started my first Mexican vacation in Punta Mita, a small resort town about 26 miles North of Puerto Vallarta.

I stayed at a local hotel that was nothing fancy but it was not too bad. My travel companion could speak Spanish so getting around town was a lot easier than my subsequent solo trips.

I've read that Punta Mita has undergone a lot of development since my visit.

AnyHowze, I got to thinking about Punta Mita not because I miss the place or my travel companion.

Nope. My most treasured memory is of a kitten that hung around my hotel. She was perhaps the friendliest cat I have ever known.

She followed me around the hotel for the entire week. The owner did not claim the kitten, in fact, no-one even knew how she came to live at the hotel.

I grew so attached to her that I started to plot ways to sneak her across the US border.

I began calling her Mita and she would respond.

In the mornings I'd open the doors to our large living space and Mita would be there to play and, of course, eat the goodies we offered.

I left Punta Mita without Mita. My heart was heavy but I was consoled by the fact that she had a home and lots of other folks to befriend.

Last night I made it back from a long weekend in Kimberley and the usual angst about being here started to set in.

My colleague who lives adjacent to me stopped by and started mumbling about a kitten that was close to death and wandering around our common areas.

When he left I walked him home and cast an eye around.

He said he was worried that someone might drive over her and he wanted to leave some milk out but did not know where to do so.

At about that moment I heard this faint meow and I turned to see this very small fur ball walking over to me.

Now I know that Ferrel cats, even kittens, will not allow you to pick them up. Well that has been my experience.

Nonetheless, I bent over and said "come here little one" and she walked right into my hands.

My colleague said, "now you have a new friend so take her to your house."

I carried the fur ball over to my townhouse and gave her milk and tuna fish. She was hungry.

If you did not know you would think that the kitten and I knew each other well.

She settled into my place and settled into me.

Sometime really early this morning I opened my eyes and watched her fast asleep on my chest.

My heart beat probably reminded her of her moms. She barely stirred all night even when I got up.

Before leaving for work I carried her downstairs, she is too small for the stairs, and she ate again and even went into the garden to do her business.

She reminds me of Mita from Punta Mita and I have started to call her Mita too.

She follows me around the house and right now I expect she is curled up somewhere on my couch.

In a way Mita has come home. :)

Onward!