This is the story of my first pet, my best friend, and my handsome ball of orange and white fluff, Gypsy Rose Potato Slug Blanchard Church Puddle Face, Gyps for short. 6 years ago before I purchased a home in the lovely Belknap Area, I lived alone in an apartment in Heritage Hill. I was going through some sort of phase where I decided to alienate myself from most people for whatever reason. I can’t recall why but this is not my story. I was invited to a Memorial Day party and as much as I didn’t want to go I thought to myself, why the heck not? The party was cool and there was a huge spread of delicious food and drinks. The hosts have always taken care of the neighborhood stray cats. Were talking about feeding and putting out tote shelters with blankets in the winter and I have always admired them for that. I myself have never really been a fan of animals. I had never had one of my own and certainly wasn’t in the market for any flea bag. Well the people asked if I would take one of the I think 8 cats at that time that they were caring for. “Hell No!” I think was my response the first time. That’s where I met this
teenage tyrant with short bright orange and white hair weaving in and out of people trying for scraps and nudging his face on ankles and legs just itching for attention. I was asked again to take a cat and I couldn’t resist.
Reluctantly, I agreed to take on the responsibility of having a cat. I borrowed a carrier and brought him to my apartment.What a shock for the cat. He went from free to roam where ever to a one bedroom apt on the second floor. Luckily, I had a balcony so he could go out and check out the view. Now, for a name. I had just finished the Hulu series, “The Act.” A true story about Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Quite an interesting life she had and I really liked the name Gypsy for I also watched a documentary on real Gypsy culture.
He was one of a kind. Well, the owners of the apartment decided it was time to renovate, and once I totaled up how much money I have paid to rent the place I knew what had to be done. “Pack your shit Gyps, Were buying a house.”
I’m not sure if you, appreciated reader, have ever endured the torture of house hunting but I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Staying on topic, we were able to find the perfect fixer upper which was in a patch of woods in the middle of a major downtown city! This had a three season porch that viewed the woods, perfect for Gyps! In June of 2000, we settled into our first home in the beautiful neighborhood of Belknap Lookout in Grand Rapids, Mi.
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