Bonaire – Passing Through

We have left Gossip Island and the kitties could not be happier! We are going to miss them, but they seem to love the forest island. This has me thinking about the interesting situation that led us to adopting Corby.

But Friday night, birthday party, and a bar over the ocean! Sounds like the kind of night that will ending cuddling a small kitten eh?

His first night at home, we made him a bed out of a cereal box and an old shirt

It was the night of September 17, 2011, and the birthday party was for our good friend Nico. The plan was to hang out at our awesome apartment before heading to the bar to meet up with friends. Our place was, well… small and plain. It was also cheap, three blocks from the waterfront, and a ten minute walk into town. That night we began walking to the bar just before midnight, but as we approached the waterfront we heard a strange sound. Is some strange bird dying? Wait, what is that dog messing with? We chased the dog away to find a tiny brown kitten. I didn’t even blink as my cat saving instinct set in! I scooped up the baby and insisted on carrying it home immediately. I cupped it’s tiny body in my hands, and brought him home for the first time. Our neighbor Femke was still up and gave us some food for the little baby. He was scared, tired, and undeniably adorable.

Baby Corby with Tio Nico

We had been consuming adult beverages when the subject of naming the kitten came up. “It’s just for fun. It’s not like we are going to keep him!” Corbin..no, Corby! -because the name sounded cool (The next day Nick reminded me that Corby was a hotel guest I’d met the day before), Braveheart–because he was so brave against the scary doggie, Rico-in honor of Nico’s birthday since we didn’t celebrate, Zipper-because its cute and he’s cute And that’s how our cat got his name: Corby Braveheart Rico VonZipper Beasley Curtis. (The Von just sound right for a Dutch Island). I knew we couldn’t keep him. I have an insatiable need for travel, and I’d heard cats aren’t much into that. The next day I went knocking on doors to find the owner, because maybe the kitten had accidently gotten away? And maybe the owners were looking for him! The first door I knock on was answered by an elderly Dutch man. I inquired about the kitten and he responded “I heard that cat when I was going to bed around eight, but I didn’t go see it.” I was stunned! How can anyone hear a poor innocent animal calling out for help and ignore it?

Baby Corby

We decided to keep him for just a few days. Thats always how it starts right? We grew fond of him while he took naps on our laps, and stole bits of sausage from our dinner plates. I met a couple of medical students on day four that wanted a cat, and I sadly said goodbye to Corby. I came home the next day to Femke holding the kitten saying they brought it back because their landlord said no. The cat came back the very next day! We took it as a sign. The next year we adopted a sister for him and named her Dushi, which in Papiamentu, the local language of Bonaire, means sweetie. Thanks for the pets Bonaire, but we were just passing through!