Happy Birthday, Sansa!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t believe that we’ve been together almost 2 years..
When Sansa came into my life, in August 2012, she was a few months old, and I was living alone in the very-very-suburbs of Japan. I was a bit lonely, and I’d been wanting a cat for a while, but hadn’t planned on getting one so soon. She just sort of happened. I was at a friends’ house, and they mentioned that the stray cats that live near them and were always giving birth had had kittens a while back. A friend of theirs had taken two girls, but she was having to go back to the US quite suddenly and didn’t want to take them for some reason.
One had already found a home. The other, a little white kitty called “Yuki,” (Japanese for snow), still needed somewhere to go. I guess that it was fate, because I offered to take Yuki, and a few days later, Yuki was coming home with me on the train. She was scared, and kept meowing, breaking my heart into pieces. Eventually, though, we made it home, and I let her free in my new apartment.
It was awkward for me. I’d grown up around cats, but I’d been living alone for years now, and my patience for the hyperness of a kitten was a little bit strained. But when Yuki crawled right into my lap after a few minutes and curled into a tiny little ball, I was instantly in love.
She decided that the middle of the night was the best time to explore her new apartment, and I barely got any sleep. I awoke annoyed at her…. until I shifted, and realized that she was curled up into the crook between my shoulder and throat.
It took time for us to adjust to each other, but now Sansa (It took me a while to decide on her new name. Yuki was so unimaginative. I named her after the Game of Thrones princess who is at first frustrating, and then I grew to love… much like she had been).
Sansa has been my true companion through thick and thin for the last almost-two years.
And no, I’m not sure of her exact birthday. But April 1st was an anniversary with the person whom I had dated that had turned violent, and it was a sad, sad day. No day to laugh or tell jokes. So, instead of letting it be a bitter memory, I decided that Sansa’s birthday would be April 1st. I’ve reclaimed the day, and it’s now a joyous day, that I celebrate the more precious life to me. That very one who is curled up on my lap at this very moment.
<3
I’m going to leave it at that, but to celebrate, I’m going to share a ton of my favorite pictures of her. Sansa, I love, love, love you, more than life itself. You rescued me. You saved me. <3
I hope that we have many, many more years together. I Love You, Sansa Stark Lano. <3333333333
And tomorrow, it’s back to more Living Tall in Japan! But I had to celebrate her highness on my blog. Today is her day, and it will always be. I’d love to see pictures and hear about your precious little ones, if you’d be so generous as to share! <3
Jamie Lynn Lano
Hi! This is Jamie Lynn Lano! I am a Washington State (USA) native who: ☆ Holds a Bachelors of the Arts in Media Arts & Animation from AiPx. ☆ Worked as an assistant mangaka in Japan for Konomi Takeshi on The Prince of Tennis. ☆ Was an essay columnist for Asahi Weekly from 2008-2013. ☆ Was the star of Asahi Pop'n Press on Asahi TV (Japan) from 2009-2013 ☆ Was a write for Metropolis magazine in 2010. ☆ Has kept a blog foreeeeeeeeever! First and Current blogs.
11 Comments
KC
aww, what a cute post! <3 seems like she's always sleeping!!
I think it's really sweet that you decided to make her bday april 1st to get over a bad memory!
I'd also really love to get a cat, but my apartment is too small and i'm sure my neighbours would hear the miaowing and complain… and i'm also terribly allergic… T_T
Jamie Lynn Lano
Awww, that’s too bad. If they’re allowed, and you had a way over the allergies, I’d say definitely get one! I have found that most neighbors in Japan are so loud and don’t care that you can hear their tv and music at all hours, so getting a cat isn’t even close to payback. 😉
zoomingjapan
Happy Birthday, cutie!
Too bad I couldn’t meet her back then! ^^;
Jamie Lynn Lano
It’s okay! You can meet her if you ever end up coming to my house in the tropics. 🙂
zoomingjapan
Yay!! ^___^
Jessika
Awe I like the patterns on her face. Is her name in anyway related to Game of Thrones?
Jamie Lynn Lano
It is! I named her after the spoiled princess herself!
Aurora
Sansa is so cute *-*
Here are my babies (I don’t know how to upload a picture here >.< so use the links please)
Dylan http://imageshack.com/a/img31/4662/pvdp.jpg
Chiquitin http://imageshack.com/a/img856/484/0fja.jpg
Nico http://imageshack.com/a/img812/2472/cdh4.jpg
Bruno http://imageshack.com/a/img716/5650/omzn.jpg
Dylan is my first pet and he's still with me, I just love him. He keeps me company in the sad moments.
Chiquitin was stray, we picked him almost 6 years ago, he died becuse he was already too old but he was the best dog ever.
Nico and Bruno were my babies, they are no longer here anymore. Both were really sick since they were born but I loved them so much the few months they were with me.
I just love animals, they love you unconditionally. It breaks my heart when I see them in the streets but I can't save all of them.
Jamie Lynn Lano
*hugs* Oh man, I know what you mean. I have had cats in the past, most of which have passed on, all of whom I miss terribly. Especially when I find a photo of them, and spend time remembering how much we loved each other. My heart breaks, too, when I see animals about, or even moreso when I see photos that people post of them from shelters. At least on the street, they have a chance, but in so many shelters, they just euthanize (murder) so many wonderful animals. I can’t care for many personally, but I hope to get at least one friend for Sansa in Hawaii, and then also volunteer if I can find a no-kill shelter.
Your dogs are all so beautiful! That’s my favorite thing about animals– regardless of who you are, if you treat them well, they will love you unconditionally.
Victoria
Cuteness overload!!!! Seeing all these picutes of Sansa makes me want to get a pet too! *^~^*
Jamie Lynn Lano
If you’re up for the responsibility (I wasn’t, but I grew into it quickly), then they’re definitely worth it!!! I have to plan now for where I want to travel and when, instead of just getting up and going, which is a pain, but let’s face it– most of my time is spent at home, and Sansa is my constant companion who unconditionally loves me. She’s definitely worth it.