K2K9.com

FILKIN

How I came up with the name, Filkin...

(excerpts from emails written in September, 1988)

To: gale

Subject: you little filkin
Status: O

Last year we had FILKIN and MILKIN.

This year we have a customer named SPILKIN.

I'm NOT kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To: gale
Subject: ... and what about ...
Status: O
WILKENS!

To: gale
Subject: Re: you little filkin
Status: O

HEY! I've got five kittens at home... maybe I should
name them FILKIN, MILKIN, WILKIN, SPILKIN, and NOD.

** unfortunately, I do not have gale's replies**

To: gale
Subject: Re: ... and what about ...
Status: O

Great minds think alike! I put the "and NOD" in BEFORE
I read your second reply!!!

**And, when the kittens were weaned**

To: gil
Subject: kitties

I put an ad in the paper for my kittens,
and they've all been taken except for two.
I'm keeping one.

I mentioned this to Abby, and we talked, and
she said I could give out the phone number at
Farmers' if I get any calls after all my kitties
are gone. So, I'm gonna do that, OK???

**17 years later***

originally written: December 15, 2005

Filkin the cat passed away today, at our home at the age of 17, due to kidney failure.

Remarkably, I was present at Filkin's birth, in August of 1988, and at her death this morning.

With the exception of a few "vacations" when Filkin would disappear, sometimes for weeks at a time, we were together for all of her 17 years.

Filkin's most memorable "vacation" happened when I moved myself and the cats to Long View Farm in May of 1990. Filkin and her mother, Love Kitty, disappeared for six months (I believe in protest!) only to return to the Farm when winter arrived, wanting a warm place to sleep! I had grieved their "deaths' on that, and on many other, occasions, only to be surprised when they'd turn up hungry and cold. Love Kitty, tragically, was hit by a car on our dead-end, dirt-road on June 21, 1996.

Filkin was born in the bathroom of the house across the street from where Gil and I live now. She arrived in our world when I lived at that little cottage alone (see www.k2k9.com/song/winter.cfm).

Those of you who worked at ALSG in the 80's may remember a teacher client by the last name of Filkins. Mr. Filkins took large groups of students overseas with ALSG every year. Someone once remarked, some time in 1989, in regard to his traveling group "The Filkins?! It sounds like a litter of kittens!" A couple of weeks later, Love Kitty gave birth to a litter of six identical gray tiger kittens. I gave away five, and kept one, naming her Filkin, of course.

Over the years, many of you have helped take care of Filkin during my numerous vacations and business trips. I thank you so much for that help, and hope that the attached photo of Filkin and her dog, Hobie (taken just two days ago), will brighten your day.

Filkin was a treasured member of our menagerie of pets, and will be missed and remembered every day.

Love and best wishes during this holiday season,