Isake Smith & Lily
Lily was adopted with her brother James from Animal Haven in the summer of 2011. Unbeknownst to me, they both had Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, which presented as kennel cough and developed into pneumonia. Unfortunately, James did not respond to the antibacterials and died very shortly after. I spent the first few weeks of owning Lily waking up in the night and holding her to see if she was breathing. Lily occasionally has FVR flare ups, which result in her leaving green kitty snot in unfortunate places, like my pillows or current crochet projects.
Lily is a menace and a princess. She is pretty social and expects to be greeted by anyone who comes in. For the first 9 months of her life, I lived with roommates, family, or a partner, so Lily was rarely alone. This is probably why she treats every place she has ever lived as her own personal palace. She chews on cords, catches anything small that moves and leaves them as gifts, and will attack your ankles if she perceives you as slighting her somehow.
Lily also knows when you are sad and will come to sit on your chest while you cry. Many of my former roommates have told me that late in the midnight hour when they thought they were all alone, Lily showed up to comfort them, even if she had bitten them earlier that day. Given her estimated age when she was adopted, she's an Aires, which tracks.
“Lily keeps me grounded in the real world when it’s easy to get lost in what-ifs and fear. No matter how dark the depressive episode is or how much I don’t feel like taking care of myself, I know that I have to show up for Lily. ”
Lily bites. That's what I tell people when they meet her. She's cuddly as hell and will sit on your lap if she decides she likes you, but she also will bite you if you pet her wrong, pet her for too long, or pick up the water bowl when she wants to be fed. My mom learned that last one the hard way and will show you the scar she got for it. Lily and my mom are still on shaky terms.
Lily's favorite toy is a rainbow shoelace. She will hop in any paper bag or box as soon as it is empty. Her favorite cords to chew on are the most expensive ones, like the charger for a Mac or smartwatch. She gets along with dogs who leave her alone but really does not get along with other cats.
Lily gets breakfast in the morning, and if she isn't fed by 10 am she will get in bed and wake me up by yelling. During the day she naps. Her favorite places to do that are on the bed (especially if there is clean laundry on it) in the closet, or on the couch. During the pandemic, she developed the habit of demanding a snack at 6pm, and I honestly can't remember how that started, but it's how I know it's time to close the laptop for the day. She has dinner around 7pm, which is always a noisy affair. She is a super messy eater, and there are always flecks of wet cat food all over after she's done. Around midnight she gets the zoomies, and if I am up I play with her. Then she sleeps in the bed with me, usually directly in front of the door, which I like to think of as her guarding me.
Lily is the most stable relationship I’ve ever had. No matter what, she’s at home waiting with her very large eyes and demands for cuddles. Lily keeps me grounded in the real world when it's easy to get lost in what-ifs and fear. No matter how dark the depressive episode is or how much I don't feel like taking care of myself, I know that I have to show up for Lily.
Lily Evans-Smith. First of her name. Found behind a dumpster. Survivor of FVR and pneumonia at 10 weeks old. Maker of many biscuits. Biter of ankles, fingers, and anything else that she can reach. She will steal chicken bones. She will cuddle you aggressively. She will roll around on the floor in catnip. She will sit on your chest and purr at you if you're sad. She's the best cat. My constant companion. She's saved my life a dozen times.
It's her world, I just live in it.
Isake (pronounced e-SHO-kay) is a native Brooklynite, and compares everywhere she goes to the heart and soul of this city. Her background is in education, facilitation, curriculum development, and change management. She uses these skills and a critical appreciative inquiry framework to understand what diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice mean for different types of organizations, and how she can co-create actionable pathways towards an equitable and sustainable workplace. Essentially, she’s a JEDI master. Isake’s always interested in talking about Star Trek AND Star Wars, Hermione Granger, cats, the highs and lows of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and crochet patterns.