It’s a good thing New Year’s Eve comes just once every 12 months — I don’t want to have to wear this thing again anytime soon! I’m glad I talked my human into doing a post that looks back at the year, because in a lot of ways, 2014 made her very unhappy. But after looking through a year’s worth of posts from Sparkle and me, she realized that maybe it wasn’t so bad after all… and there was a lot of good! So let’s look back, one more time…
Our first stop makes my human both happy and sad. In January, she went to the San Diego Cat Show to share a booth with a couple of other humans from the Cat Writers Association, and Zeki the Cool Cat. Sparkle told her story here. It was a fun weekend, and my human sold quite a few of Sparkle’s books and cards. But it makes her sad because Zeki is no longer with us. She became sick and died right around the same time Sparkle did. Zeki was a big loss for me because I would have really liked to have met her one day.
Later on, in May, my human went to BlogPaws at Lake Las Vegas and hung out with many popular kitties, including the Katnip Lounge kitties and Coco the Couture Cat! I’m hoping that maybe I will get the opportunity to meet Coco at some point! She is one of my idols.
In June, Sparkle celebrated Cat World Domination Day, and her birthday. Nobody had any idea it was going to be her last. And she did not tell anybody, but she actually had to go to the vet on her birthday. She was not well, and you can kind of see it in some of the photos, even if my human didn’t at the time. I do want you to know that even though Sparkle is gone, we will still have Cat World Domination Day on June 24 every year. My birthday is March 19, so that will be a different party.
The first time you saw me was in late July, but my human had no idea she was bringing me home! She was visiting with my breeder at a cat show, which happened to be my first one. She thought I was adorable, but at the time my breeder thought she was going to keep me. While my human was at the cat show, she bought Sparkle an awesome cat bed. Boodie uses it the most now.
In early August, Sparkle helped my human pick out a bunch of her own cat toys to give to the kitties at the Cat House on the Kings. Maybe she realized she would not be needing them for much longer. In any case, it was an amazing visit and my human left several bags of toys for the kitties there.
Unfortunately, one of Sparkle’s last memories of her home was the retaining wall being torn down (the new wall being built was one of my first). Because of that humongous wall, and the furnace dying a few months later, the humans didn’t have Christmas this year.
Sparkle died on August 21, 2014. This was her goodbye post.
I had my first official blog post a week later. I still can’t believe how young and inexperienced I was! And I had so much responsibility — the first thing I had to do was organize Sparkle’s memorial.
I was off doing things right away! My first trip (other than getting spayed) was to Petco.
A couple of weeks later, I went to the L.A. Feline Film Festival!
I even went to Las Vegas to compete in a cat show! Hotel rooms are awesome.
But along with all the fun, there have been a lot of big responsibilities. Sparkle won Best Cat Blog in the Petties, and I had to accept the award on her behalf.
My human decided that MeowWorld was too far for my first plane trip, so she went without me. But she had lots of fun, Sparkle won a Muse Medallion for the blog, and I got a bunch of awesome swag for a giveaway.
Even with all the cat shows and fun giveaways, I have to say my favorite thing I have done so far was organize the Santa Kitty Toy Hop and host the linky! It was so amazing to see cat bloggers all over the world help out kitties at their local shelters for the holidays.
See? In spite of what my human thought, 2014 wasn’t so bad after all! And I bet 2015 will be lots better.
2022 Somali Cat Calendar Starring Summer Samba
See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
This post made us both sad and happy. We didn’t realize just how much we still miss Sparkle. But we are so happy to know you and follow your adventures. May you, Mom Janiss, Binga and Boodie have a blessed 2015! XOCK, Kitties Blue
What a sad and happy year all wrapped in to one! I bet 2015 is going to be wonderful! Happy New Year!
Nose taps and head butts,
CJ and Mia
Mum says we are always in debt to Sparkle, for her help and her support. Thank you for taking the blog on Summer and we hope Mum has no crazy walls this year.
Harvey, Miranda and Silvver
It is VERY good to reminisce and to take stock of the things for which we should consider ourselves blessed. We think humans don’t do this enough. We will forever miss Sparkle, but are so very glad you’re with us now, Summer!
What a bittersweet year it was! We are confident that 2015 will be MUCH BETTER for every one! Happy Happy New Year!
I’m sorry for your human’s losses, Summer 🙁 Here’s to a pawsome new year of 2015!
yes it been up and down last year but 2015 is going to be pawsome Summer,Happy New year,xx Speedy
Ah yes, such a bittersweet year for your human, Summer !
Wish you a Happy Happy New 2015 🙂
XOXO
Ah yes, such a bittersweet year for your human, Summer…purrs to her. We still miss Sparkle but you Summer are such a sweet kitty that you bring us all smiles and we know you must be helping to heal your human’s heart. Your Santa Kitty Toy Hop was awesome and we loved participating in it. We wish you all a 2015 that is really good to you, we hope it is filled with light, love, peace, prosperity and possibility…Happy New Year! Thanks for your friendship!
Indeed, what a year. We all miss Sparkle but, Summer you are more than fit to fill her pawprints and we are delighted to know you. You enrich the blogosphere just as she did.
Too many went to the Bridge last year. we hope it stops being so darn greedy this year.
We’d call it a bittersweet year, Summer. Some really sad things happened, but some really good and uplifting things also transpired. We like your attitude and ability to see the good things. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Happy New Year, dear friends. Here’s hoping that the coming year is filled with light, happiness and health. 🙂
It certainly has been an up and down year for you. We miss Sparkle. You have done well at creating a niche for Summer. We like the way you wrote about the year in this post and in your newsletter. We look forward to whatever 2015 holds.
Every year has its joys and sorrows. It’s sad that Sparkle had to leave us, but we’re glad that you joined your new forever family and decided to continue spreading joy to all your readers. Happy New Year Summer & Binga, & Boodie.
Happy New Year! *wags* – Gilligan from WagsAhoy.com
Happy New Year, Summer! And to your human, too. Very nice post–although I must say you do not look happy in that NYE getup.
Summer, I hope you’re giving your human lots of kisses. It’s hard looking back at what we’ve lost, but seeing the power of the good people and cats of the blogosphere to comfort and support each other gives hope for the future.
Happy New Year!
Wow! What a year!!! So bitter sweet, losing Sparkle and getting yous!!!
Me thinks that 2015 will be a great one!!!
Happy New Year to yous and yours from us and ours!
Kisses
Nellie
I love your New Year’s outfit 🙂 Sparkle will always be missed, but it is nice to have you to brighten everyone’s day.Looking forward to many years of your blogging posts.
It has been a bittersweet year for most of us. The new year hold a lot of hope that the sweet part of 2014 will only get sweeter. Hopefully the bitterness can be left behind. Don’t forget to give your human a lot of purrs Summer! I hope you have the most wonderful New Year!