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The Tangents Feline Family



Lou Sá
Chinese for quick sand as Lou Sá is
super quick with rich sandy colors.


Calhoun

Calhoun and Lou Sá both rescues
courtesy of SF Animal Care and Control.
Klimey's Grand Farewell
July 3, 2003 - July 10, 2019

Klimey was the love of my life. She made a resounding impact from day one. 

It took a year for me to be ready to be reattached after losing Subi after 16 1/2 wonderful years. I knew I wanted an orange tabby in honor of Sam, the regal feline from my childhood.


King Sam: Aug 28, 1964 - Dec 5, 1976

I was determined to save an orange tabby on death row. The call came from Manteca which at the time was a kill shelter. A photo of "Petey Pumpkinhead" (we trimmed it to Petey-Weedy) arrived with him behind bars, looking miserable.

I rescued Petey the day before he was to be put down.

Klimey's Audition

My partner Clara and I had no preconceptions for the 2nd kitty. We went to SF’s Animal Care and Control. There was one cat unlike the others. A turtoiseshell was sitting in the corner of her cage without a hard sell. Cookie-Wookie and Clara locked eyes. Clara knew she was the one. Their bond was immediate and enduring.

As we turned to leave, a ruckus broke out. The sound came from a kitty screaming while climbing the side of her cage. She looked at us while scaling the ceiling as if a chipanzee, alternately hanging and moving about all the while meowing in a scolding manner. It was as if she was calling “foul! You didn’t even give me an audition.” She was right. We hadn’t paid her any attention. She earned an audition. ACC had an audition room for this very purpose.

Upon entering the room she motored around at break neck speed. Around and around she raced. I then swooped her up and she was as limp and relaxed as can be, relishing the attention. I put her down and she ignited once again. I picked her up and around she went. She zoomed nearby and her body went limp with delight as I massaged her. We did this over and over.

That was the beginning of an unbreakable bond. We named her Klimey for her climbing exploits. She was the quintessential people cat and never turned down an inviting lap. Klimey always welcomed me when I came home, lived on my lap when I worked, slept on my chest evey night and scurried to the bathroom to absorb lap time when I was you know what. Klimey was my shadow. 

Fast forward to 2018. Klimey started losing weight at an alarming rate. The vets could not diagnose the cause. She had moderate kidney disease but it seemed under control. There were no other worrisome symptoms. She ate well, was active and her personality was as congenial as ever.

Everything changed June 9-11, 2019 when temperatures in SF soared into the 90's. Klimey stopped eating. She was severely dehydrated. I rushed her to Mission Pet Hospital not realizing she was on death's door. Two days of IV brought  hope. She regained her appetite for a couple weeks but gradually lost interest. She essentially lived on subcutaneous fluids which is for rehydration, not nutrition. Everyday she was alive was a blessing.

On July 10 I carried her to a favorite spot in our backyard and held her in my arms. I scratched her chin and she gazed lovingly at me as she arched her neck. Her look is frozen in my mind. It may have been Klimey's way of saying goodbye or thanks for a lifetime of companionship or both. She seemed at peace.

Suddenly she shook violently. The seizure lasted what seemed like minutes. I cradled her and brought her inside. She walked in circles. I picked her up and raced to Mission Pet. As I neared, she had another seizure - not as violent or long as the first.

They did a blood test. Klimey's kidneys had shut down. I was told the best we could hope for if given IV, would be perhaps a few more days or a week. But Klimey would likely suffer. Kidney failure deaths are ugly. Cats can have multiple seizures over days before passing.

I learned from my mom's passing that you do what is best for for the person dying, not the survivors. Klimey would not want to live this way anymore.

She was euthanized around 3:30p July 10.

Klimey's Grand Farewell

This follows the most magical Klimey weekend imaginable. I could write or talk for hours on end about it. Suffice to say we had guitarist Stefano Barone for two Tangents parties, Friday and Sunday, July 5th and 7th. Klimey was sleeping in mostly remote corners of the house those last few days, a giant red flag.

But when Stefano did his Friday soundcheck, Klimey walked over to Stefano's friend Elizabeth. Klimey barely had strength to walk without losing her balance. She stood up and pawed Elizabeth's legs, soliciting a lap.


Klimey with Elizabeth 

It filled me with joy.

I lost track of Klimey over the next few hours. I assume she was sleeping in a hidden corner somewhere.

At 8p the concert is about to begin. Just as I finish the intro, Klimey emerges from the audience and walks center stage directly in front of Stefano. She poses for a while as if to formally welcome Stefano.

He is amazed knowing how weak she is. Then Klimey moves stage right and snuggles next to the speaker. She stayed there the entire first set - over an hour. Klimey mostly looked out to the audience with her ears perking about. Occasionally when Stefano struck a certain harmonic, Klimey would shift her body and stare down Stefano.


Klimey with best seat in the house

During the second set Klimey sampled the most vibey laps in the audience. When the song "System Up" was performed, Klimey emerged from lap land and walked straight to Stefano. Somehow this entrancing song with the perfect title, galvanized whatever remnants of vitality Klimey had. In the space of a few hours Stefano and Klimey developed a deep bond.

The next day was Saturday. Klimey hardly ate and was back to a lethargic baseline.

When Stefano returned Sunday I had hardly seen Klimey all day. She was in the remote corner of the living room hiding behind a big chair and also under tables in my bedroom. I was gravely concerned the end was near.

I told Stefano if he could conjure one more night of Klimey magic he would be forever sewn into my heart. Stefano was confident Klimey would show.

The first set comes and goes without me spotting Klimey. During intermission I meet my good friend Ryk. He is beaming as he tells me Klimey chose his lap throughout the whole first set. I was thrilled that Klimey had returned to audience lap land.

The moment of truth awaits in the 2nd set. Stefano plays "System Up" and minds are blown as Klimey once again emerges out of nowhere and approaches Stefano as the song is played.

At the end of the evening Stefano goes to Klimey. She is sleeping on her favorite chair. He rubs her head and Klimey responds lovingly to this feline charmer.



Stefano's forthcoming cd is called "Alive". His last words to Klimey were "Stay Alive".

Klimey came alive in front of the Tangents audience, purred on by Stefano's spellbinding grooves and  harmonics.

It was her grand farewell.

On July 11 Klimey transitioned to feline heaven to the soundtrack of Stefano Barone's "System Up."

We buried Klimey in our backyard in the same plot as Petey and Cookie.


              Klimey                                     Petey

The end of an era.
Tangents Greece Music Tour Happening Now!

October 4-21, 2024

Email: tangentsgreecetour(at)gmail.com
to be in the loop for future tours

Check out the Overview
and itinerary.
 
Click For Full 2023 Tangents Greece Music Tour Testimonials

Testimonial Snippets:

Liz Gjelten, SF  "The Tangents Greece Music Tour blew away my anti-tour bias."

Ewald and Stasha Detjens, Berkeley  "Dore is a force of nature, a modern Apollo of music."

Virginia Browning, Berkeley  "The music was ALL just gorgeous to me – healing, nurturing, exciting, beyond words."

Jeanie Daskais, Forestville  "This is a unique and unparalleled opportunity to hear the finest music, performed by the most accomplished musicians, in intimate settings with local audiences."

Chris Northcutt, SF "Do whatever it takes to make this experience happen for you!."

Karen Felker, Sebastopol  "It was an extraordinary experience beyond anything I could have imagined.." 

Virginia Leskowski, Oakland  "This tour produced delightful surprises everyday."

Vicky Julian, SF "My mind is still reeling with the wonderfulness of the whole thing."
                                                 
Marlene Rice, Salt Spring island, British Columbia  "Dore made sure we immersed ourselves as much as possible to be with the Greek people.."

Mo Shooer, SF "What made it all come together was Dore’s connections and affection for the musicians..."   

Jill Halloran, Cupertino  "Transcended my expectations" 

Steve Loukas, Oakland  "Dore’s anthro dive into the arcane but worth Greek/Balkan music delights us!"




Daulute Trio featuring multi-instrumentalist George Zacharioudakis on the askomandoura (traditional Cretan bagpipe) performing in an intimate jazz bar in Chania, Crete. during the recently completed Tangents Greece Music Tour. (photo by Dore)



Sokratis Sinopoulos put on a duo performance with pianist Yann Keerim to kick off the first of 11 concerts within 17 nights during the October 2023 Tangents Greece Music Tour. (photo by Dore )
Petey Memorial
Petey
HE NEVER MADE IT TO THE IGLOO
April 12, 2012

Rescued from a kill shelter in Manteca, Petey Pumpkinhead III entered our lives 7 years ago. Abused by a previous owner he was skittish and nippish. That changed with love, affection and attention.

He was a majestic furry orange tabby. His coat emitted a perpetually lovely fragrance. He had the sexiest strut with an ever present erect tail and endearing behind.

Petey had simple needs. Belly rubs topped the list. He loved resting in his backyard igloo. He would prance out when I entered the yard and open wide for belly rubs and rolly polly.

He bonded with Klimey who also was rescued from a shelter. Klimey loved licking Petey and taught Petey how to love back. They were inseparable.

Petey-Weedy (as we called him) evolved into the sweetest and most gentle of companions. When hungry, he would jump into bed and delicately place his paw on my face. No histrionics, just a love tap and breakfast was on.

He loved sleeping inside the space between my legs or alongside the curve of Clara's thigh. His body language suggested the most delicious of dreams. He also had the squeakiest yawn when awakened.

Petey had a ravenous appetite and wore his weight well. That changed last October when he dropped 2 pounds in short order and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

He continued to lose weight but his sweet demeanor never changed. Although not a lap cat during his youth, lately I would place him in my lap in the back yard and we would stay together for long periods. These were cherished moments. Klimey would join us and stay by Petey's side.

Strong medication was required every 8 hours to dissipate the fluid in his lungs. No matter how much lasix was dosed, it could not stay on top of the progression of his heart disease.

Last week Petey hit a low point and could hardly breath. He hadn't eaten for 2+ days. We upped the lasix and he recovered miraculously. His breathing appeared normal and he started eating - but only food fresh out of the can. He ate more than he had in months. He had playful sparring sessions with Klimey, tons of rolly polly and belly rubs, his tail was erect and he slept next to my face the other day.

Today he had a good appetite in the early afternoon. I didn't see him the rest of the day. When the thunder rumbled and the rain came pouring down I went outside.

He was in the igloo. I tipped it and he ran inside. But something was wrong.

His breathing was labored. Petey could not catch his breath. He had breathing attacks before and I had feared the worst, yet Petey always persevered.

An hour or so later when Clara came home, Petey's condition had worsened. When he walked from under a table to lie down in the litter box that was an alarming signal. I picked him up and he let out a cry. Petey went under the bed where Klimey was and continued to make anguished yelps.

We left him alone. Petey soon emerged and we put him in a blanket by the heater.

He wanted to be left alone.

Petey-Weedy barely could walk and stumbled out the bedroom and down a few steps to the cat door. Somehow he pushed himself through. The igloo was two feet from the door.

We let him be.

An hour later Clara checked on Petey.

His fur was gorgeous. His body still warm.

But Petey had passed.

He never made it to the igloo.

Moti has been missing since Sept 2014. On Jan 23, 2015 while walking in McClaren Park a cat resembling Moti emerged on a tree branch above a thicket of bushes. This brightened our hearts as Clara and I imagine Moti as a feline Tarzan. Clara wrote the below poem before we confirmed the cat was not Moti.

Moti Sighting
by Clara Hsu

Who sits on a branch
above a field of thorns?
My cat. My cat.

Who listens to his names
and twitches his ears?
My cat. My cat.

His looks have changed since autumn
from living wild and eating mice.
We're trespassing his kingdom
that can't be bought
at
any price.

Running streams.
Catnip on the hills.


Photo by Dore in Pelion, Greece

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