Tyvle
[I've asked my two-leggers, Kitty & Arthur, to post this message on my behalf... my teeny claws keep getting stuck in-between the letters on their keyboard] **********************************************************************************
June 2002
To My Many Dear Friends and Well-Wishers,
This is to bring you up to date so that you will know what's happened to the young cayTEN-about-town whom you once knew as "Alf." No, I haven't misspelled canine, but let's face it, our breed is somewhat advanced beyond that species. Patti has agreed to change my name in the REHOMED section of this site to reflect the name by which I've been known for nearly four years now. It is "Tyvle" which is 15th Century Middle High German for "Little Devil." At first, I couldn't decide whether or not the new moniker was intended to be an insult but, when I hear the love in the voices of those who call me by that name, I know better. Since the early winter of 1998, I've been ensconced in a large home in Olde Towne, Portsmouth VA with a slug of a miniature poodle named Cyrano (also known as Lumpy) who has successfully resisted my attempts to teach him anything worthwhile. For instance, he barks like a stupid mutt instead of howling like a cross between a Swiss yodeler and a constipated coyote as I do. Further, he ascends the stairs using all four paws instead of daintily holding one paw in the air as is our gentle wont. Fortunately, he does do his best to provide warmth when I feel like curling up for a nap. There are also two cats around who come and go according to their own time-table and pretty much ignore the general camaraderie of the home. Their names are Ariel and Fifi... or are they Fifi and Ariel... aw well, who cares? The only other denizens of the area are that pair of two-leggers whose main purpose is to feed and pamper me. The feeding part has been OK... so far. The pampering aspect has taken some exhaustive training on my part. The one called Kitty has finally learned to provide "offering-her-lap" duties on command but as for Arthur, my problems are not yet fully resolved. He has taken to tossing away one of his favorite stuffed toys, constantly! Every time I bring it back to him he throws it again. This often goes on for hours at a time. Where does he find the energy! My work in trying to break him of that annoying behavior is certainly cut out for me. If it turns out to be instinctive on his part, I may never succeed but it remains a good lesson for me about homo sapien eccentricities... unique to the breed. Each winter a group of about a dozen of our cousins and I gather for a holiday party in Virginia Beach at the home of a great two-legger named Gladys. She really knows how to put out a spread for us! On these occasions I also get to see my foster Mom, Candy. I'll always be indebted to her and to those who helped her get me here. I do hope that those cousins with whom I lived briefly before settling down in this permanent establishment are thriving well and are as safe and happy as is my present lot. Warm greetings, also, to all those two-leggers who were so important in helping with my relocation. Look for a dashing new picture of me to replace that old photo in the REHOMED file.
Best wishes to all,
Tyvle