Twenty (or so) years ago, when I was teaching high school, a couple of the girls in my class arrived at my apartment door.

At the time I didn’t have much by way of furniture etc. My couch was a million years old, broken and an ugly gray (I had gotten it at a garage sale), I had a little 18 inch portable black and white t.v., a couple of record cabinets and a decent stereo system.

The girls were surprised. They told me they were expecting one of those "plant and cat ladies". (It scares me to think how old they must have thought I was, when in reality I was only about four years older than they were>)

Well, it has recently dawned on me that I have become that "cat and plant" lady.

I have realized my worst fears.

I am looking forward to spring and the plants that I can put on the balcony to add color to my life (even though I’ve been a very neglectful gardener for the last couple of years).

I’m sure that this is (at least in part) a big reaction to the endless cold and snow that we seem to be having this winter. I get so tired of the gray days that don’t seem to end.

I am also cat obsessed.

I never had a pet until I was about 33, and I loved that kitty enormously. But I seem to be obsessed with these two new additions to my life.

I never planned to have more than one cat, but I now can’t imagine having just one and would be happy to take in a couple more if I had a bigger place.

I am totally enamored of these cats and have taken to jotting down all the cute things that they do. (Well, I think that they’re cute!)

For example, Bravo (also called "the baby boy") has this thing for the bathroom sink. He waits for me to invite him to hop up, and then waits for me to sit on the toilet. I’ll ask him for kisses and he bows his head so I can kiss the top of it. He then waits for me to fill the sink with water so he can have a drink.

He is also obsessed with me after I take a shower. He sits outside the bathroom door (or sometimes in the sink) to wait for me to get out of the shower. Once I emerge he gets up on the sink and paces back and forth, rubbing against my damp body. He will do this for as long as I’m willing to stand there.

Weird cat. He’s so into water that I should have named him sonar.

Broadway is so huge that there are times that he reminds me of a bear cub. I’m not used to cats with short stubby legs, but this is Broadway. He too, hops up on the sink, but I think that it has more to do with not liking all the attention that Bravo is getting and that he wants to get in on the act.

He is the smooshiest cat I’ve ever seen. Solid, but smooshy.

He will touch his nose to mine when I ask for kisses. He waits for me to leave my seat on the couch so that he can take it over, knowing that when I get back I’ll pick him up and he can stay in my arms. He likes to be cradled like a baby and will purr and purr as long as I have him.

I always worry that they’ll be concerned if I don’t get home on time (of course I did this with Encore too) and try to tell them when I plan to get in. (As if they understand.)

I find it totally gratifying that they are waiting near the door for me to come in, or come streaking to me if I come in when they aren’t expecting it.

See I have become one of those "weird plant and cat ladies".