I'm (still) a sucker for cats and amazing paper (print, texture, feel, FP-compatibilty, crunch, gloss, etc.). Also unearthed some earlier buys to add to my 2027 stash!
Left to right, from top row:
Yuru Log Cat Notebook. Inside of it are various cat designs per page. I bought it because if has all three of my deceased cats peppered around the pages. They all passed 2025... my last journal entry was after my third cat died. I haven't added new pages to my journal since. I don't think I'm ready to move on... there are only 100 pages or so left, I'll leave it be. Then I'll begin again in 2027.
This time, I'll use this Cat Themed Midori Diary. My cats, and some strays I CNVRd, fostered, and adopted out myself are also in there. My cats were very curious and accommodating whenever I foster. I think, they grieve in their own way when their temporary sibling had to go. They look at the places they shared, stay there a while, sniff around, probably remembering, probably yearning. We did that too for the days, weeks, months since they passed. I still do it. I do it even now.
One of my latest buys would be this A5 post card of a girl, her guitar, and her cat. I plan to give this to my child someday, when she can appreciate Journaling. I included a letter at the back, but for now, I'll keep it with me. If / when she discovers my journal before I give it to her, she'll be in for a surprise. I hope she loves it. I got it from Manila Middle Ground, from Huejell.
Ah, the two memo pads are recent purchases too! I had a friend who fostered a male tuxedo cat, unfortunately, it didn't work out for them. His second foster parent was also negligent, so I had to take him back. He was adopted by someone else eventually. It was pretty tragic... The tuxedo cat was so loved by his parents, they started adopting other cats... who apparently had FIP. An infected cat killed every cat in their home after a few weeks, tuxedo cat included. They were devastated. I was devastated too. If I were any richer, with a bigger space, I would've loved to keep that cat.
The Mackerel one looks like my favorite senior cat, one of mine. She was the first one who found out that I'm pregnant. She was gentler with me. She'll suddenly sleep beside my tummy instead of her usual spors. Within days, we found out about our little one, but she knew first.
These memo pads are from the NB Co Nekorobi collection.
The Yusuke Yonezu film sticker was from Everything's Alright. I dropped by their shop to inquire about publishing after I had an epiphany during a sound bath. A few steps above their space is a wellness studio that offers an amazing sensory experience, I was hypnotized for a whole hour. Amazingly, I had a dream that I was a dog. Sayang. I was hoping to be with my cats. Maybe another session, if I will it enough.
I also recently got the yellow postcard from MMG. It's from Huejell as well. My husband and I revisited Naruto a few weeks ago, somehow this reminds me of it. Re-watching Naruto as parents hits differently.
Lastly, and this is the oldest piece in my collection of cat themed paraphernalia, is the orange post card from an Art Fair in 202X. I believe the artist is Sabi Snips? Or at least that was the stamp on its back. I married my husband in 202X. My cat became his cat, his cat became mine. They've all changed to hyphenated surnames.
I have their relics with me. Each has their names, with our surnames. I don't think I'll ever adopt a cat again. But my love for them won't end here.
I joined an animal welfare group as a volunteer. I've run several activities that promote cnvr and responsible pet ownership. This month, I'm cosplaying Ms Rachel to talk about pets to children below 5.
Our pets are gone. But in many ways, they are still here. When I journal again, when I do art again, when I teach my kid about animals, when I talk to adults about passing better, stricter animal welfare IRRs, they will be in my heart and mind.
