We picked up a new family member yesterday from the Humane Society.  She is a bundle of jumping joy; all 2 months old now.  What to name her?  She came with the name Dandie which is okay but I can only make this work with the longer form of Dandelion but is she that? I do have that urge to blow on her hair to see if it dissipates into the sky; it moves but stays attached.

Other names coming to mind are Cali (California poppy) and Tiger Lily.  I had started with Lily Rose but somehow she is not that.  Also, Disney comes to mind as no Disney vacation this year due to health issues that require us home centralized and there is the cost factor.  A mere fee to the Humane Society fits the budget much better than vacation plans with another reason to stay home.

She has long multi colored brown, gray, red and white hair.  She is quite beautiful already with crystal blue eyes.  She has a white belly and feet like a tiger.

So, I am researching the reasons I can or cannot live with various names and if they apply.  Tiger Lily is sounding like the most logical if logic should play into a name given to a cat.  Dude was named before he bounced out at me at the pet store and stole my heart with a glance.  His little black and white tuxedo self with wild white whiskers and eye brow hairs sold me that he was the one.  This kitty captured our hearts with her spunk and beauty and general fluffiness.  She is also very sweet and busy but settles in after a time.  Like in our arms or on your shoulder…she’s a sweetie.

So, Cali after our home state; California Poppy is the State Flower…and a favorite so “Cali” brings us home in ways that we cannot go.  Cali would be a sweet reminder in our home in North Carolina of our home far away; does not go any deeper than that and I did hear “California Girls” randomly as we were bringing her home.

Tiger Lily on the other hand goes very deep.  Tiger Lily in the Disney sense is the Indian Princess in Peter Pan.  Peter Pan (Joshua’s red hair and general mischievous personality) and Tink (Jessie’s favorite Disney character) and Neverland (where children never grow up) are part of our Disney life.  Tiger Lily fits.

Lily was a name I was considering but she does not seem necessarily like a “Lily” but “Tiger Lily” maybe because tigers match her coloring.  And tigers are really cool cats.  A little research on tigers versus lions reveals that tigers are a bit fiercer than lions in battle.  Now we love lions (Aslan – the Great Lion) and their communal habitations but even lions turn on each other in the feeding frenzy.  Tigers are strong and solitary which may be a healthy reminder each day within this house that we need to keep relying on our creator (God) for our survival even when we feel a bit isolated from the comfort of some of the prides.

For all these reasons, my vote in this moment goes to Tiger Lily…a special note that helps is that Prozac’s manufacturer is Eli Lilly…two “L’s” and represents a huge negative for this family so Tiger Lily goes with the flower which is excellent because a favorite saint, Maria Goretti, in a vision presented lilies to the man who killed her which changed his heart for the good.  Yes…lilies are a lovely symbol of forgiveness and redemption for all and a great reminder in the bouncy kitten form for us…hey…remember Tigger from Winnie the Pooh…and Jessie just started calling her TLC for her initials…Tiger Lily Crespi and Tender Loving Care…purrfect!