Welcome in the Norwegian-family of CORONA BOREALE
A series of telephone calls. A clear and smiling voice is answering. It is November, 2003. I’m looking for a she-kitten, whatever her pedigree maybe. My cat-ladie died. The Ladie. My she-cat was a symbol, she was the real mistress of my house, she was used to go around my flat aggressively armed with a little-bazooka helmet and battle-colours on her nice muzzle, and she often had a long private conversation with me. But she died in October. I thought initially not to replace her, but one month later I changed my mind and I was looking for a new little kitten. Unsuccessful investigations, because it was not a good time for litters, dash it! I clung to the Net, looked up on all the sites.
Associations and private breeders were under fire. Nothing! I extended my research, I gave up with the search of a common tabby cat, with me since I was a baby. But her colour had to be tabby, anyway! That was that! The clear voice answering is that of Maria Grazia. I saw a small baby among many pictures; I wonder if I will be lucky. No, that baby has already a new owner, however the smiling voice says that there is another small tabby-baby, do you want to see her picture? Oh yes, certainly, I answer. So, I receive the photo of this little tabby-baby with big-green eyes, Gelsomina. Her name reminds me a character of a Fellini’s movie! I look at her. I look at her again and again. Her glance reminds me that of my Ladie, the glance of a little sweet and real pest. She’s mine! Gelsomina talks with her eyes.
They are sharp sabres when she’s angry, they are green lakes when she examines me, they are half-open and with a sidelong glance when she’s happy, they are round and serious when she’s hungry, they dilate when she wants to play or to ambush. She talks with me too, but with short and well defined conversations. We grasp one each other immediately. Gelsomina’s adolescence was rich of hobbies, she enjoyed being a joiner, a smith and a tailor too. In fact she liked very much to eat wood, metal or iron objects, clothes, laces, fringes (my mufflers, for example, are now without fringes... a brand new look made by Gelsomina!).
She simply missed nothing to chew with those sharp teeth of hers! But now she’s a big-lady and, as the saying goes: learn a trade and it will stand you in good stead. So, today she has changed all her little bricolage interests with new very enjoing hobby! She’s playing the role of mother with the newcomer! I’d never suspected such her maternal instinct, but it came out as Amarant Gabriel joined the company. My little Gabriel moved into my house in June. When he arrived he was quite shy and rebel, so to hide himself quite a lot under the bed. Stubborn, keeping still, without food, water, nor sand. Even Gelsomina was not able to resist long in her ambush to that small red “hamster” hidden in the darkest corner of the bedroom! Finally Gabriel gave it up because he was hungry, I don’t know how much he has eaten since that moment. He’s still eating today as much as two cats. His favourite hobby is still today to take flight. But now it is a joke…. at last! In short, Gabriel and Gelsomina became inseparable till from the second day.They play, run after each other, they hug, they really hug!, they lick each other and they try to steal each other toys and food. It is a funny show to see them playing together.
They are unique even when they produce the most terrible disasters; it is quite impossible to scold them. I don’t know why but I can’t avoid smiling or laughing. What to think, for example, about Gabriel, when he courageously decided to move around the rim of the bathtub, and I was inside, so that he fell down in the water when trying to catch the foam!?!? Except for springing out in few nanoseconds, spreading all over the bathroom and the living room? Still today I can see him, with all the flocky fur dripping wet. A very strange and peculiar “show”. But even in that particular situation what a cheek! As nothing happened, very seriously and with a strong dignity, after a moment of perplexity, he started to wipe himself. But there could be many many other little stories to be cited, because every day we had ring-a-ring-a-roses, somersaults, cuddles, jokes. Now time is gone; Gabriel is today my very lovely macho-male, he takes care of the newcomers and he is now the daddy of many babies, and he is the very special personal trainer of his babies. Also Gelsomina is an extraordinary mummy but at the same time, when possible she tries to behave as the dominant-tiger of the house… what a character!! Now in my family there are many new entries: Xaverina from Bruxelles, a nice blue-cream lady. She is also a very nice mummy of four marvellous babies, Madame Butterfly, my crazy-red-german-lady, she has a very strong look and an extraordinary character. And my sweet “cake” Leilani (Lani), my little-silver-baby, coming also from Germany… But a special gift for my friend Ornella arrived too: Blackie! She is a fantastic black-tortie baby. The look of Blackie is wonderful. Now, well... ehm... I’m very proud of my happy family!! Now my life is changed a little: I’m a real small breeder (by chance). It seems to me an adventure which started by chance with a charming voice, two special eyes and the prophecy made by Maria Grazia (just like a witch) that a baby, taken as a pet, would have not been enough for me.
