During his train journey into the unknown, it was raining.
That picture of the cat looking out the train window had entered my heart and mind, the next day, I could not think of anything else.
Tricia’s post “Homeward Bound: A Homeless Ukrainian Kitten’s Incredible Journey “ I saw it by chance, it was a bit of time since I didn’t enter her blog.
Something escaped the cognition of randomness … I had looked many times at Cocoa’s pictures, thinking with great sadness at Ebano, our beloved cat who died on last September 17th.
Where is Lviv? Why those still blue eyes, typical of kittens a few months old, had attracted me in such a fatal way?
On October 27 I reply to Tricia’s post… I was sure that my husband, who loves animals (especially cats) would have given his consent to adopt Cocoa… if there had not been someone else to offer themselves before us for adoption!
I waited impatiently for Tricia’s news… we had to agree on how and where meet each other! I spent a few days in the feeling of anguish at the mercy of the weather conditions (snow in the Alps) and strikes in the German Federal Railways.
I was certainly very excited to know personally Tricia and her husband Shawn.
My first contacts with Tricia dated back on September 22nd 2012, she had answered me a couple of weeks later.
From her brief introductory story, she shone a huge sweetness of spirit and a passion for the same ideals of mines (even music!)
And last Sunday, accompanied by Sara Luna, I reached Lindau on the Constance Lake. For an hour and a half I have had the pleasure of sharing with them some very strong emotions, beautiful ones, specials ones… I wish more people in this world could have the opportunity to live such moments as I did…
Thank you, Tricia and Shawn, thank you wholeheartedly for your precious friendship and for giving us the opportunity to adopt Cocoa…
We look forward to soon see you here on holiday… and who knows that Tricia’s dream, to learn Italian and French but also to work in Europe, will become reality!
Durante il suo viaggio in treno verso l’ignoto, pioveva.
Quell’immagine del gattino che guarda fuori dal finestrino del treno, mi era entrata nel cuore e nella mente, il giorno seguente, non riuscivo a pensare all’altro. Il post di Tricia “Di ritorno verso casa… l’incredibile viaggio di un gattino ucraino” lo avevo visto per caso, era da un po’ di tempo che non entravo nel suo blog.
Qualcosa sfuggiva alla cognizione della casualità… avevo riguardato più volte la fotografia di Cocoa, pensando con enorme tristezza ad Ebano, la nostra gattina morta lo scorso 17 settembre. Dov’era Lviv? Perché quegli occhi ancora azzurri, tipici dei gattini di pochi mesi, mi avevano attirato in modo così fatale?
Il 27 ottobre rispondo sul blog di Tricia… ero sicura che mio marito, che adora gli animali (gatti in special modo) avrebbe dato il suo consenso ad adottare Cocoa… sempre che non ci fosse stato qualcun altro ad offrirsi prima di noi per l’adozione! Aspettavo con impazienza notizie da Tricia… dovevamo accordarci su come e dove trovarci! Ho passato un paio di giorni d’angoscia nel sentirmi in balia delle condizioni meteorologiche (neve sull’arco alpino) e scioperi delle ferrovie federali tedesche. Ero certamente anche molto emozionata di conoscere personalmente Tricia e Shawn, suo marito. I primi contatti con Tricia risalivano al 22 settembre 2012, lei mi aveva risposto un paio di settimane più tardi. Dal suo breve racconto introduttivo, traspariva un’enorme dolcezza di spirito ed una passione per gli stessi ideali miei (anche la musica classica!)
E domenica scorsa, accompagnata da Sara Luna, per un’ora e mezza ho avuto il piacere di condividere con loro delle emozioni molto forti, belle, speciali… che vorrei più persone in questo mondo avessero l’opportunità di vivere.
Grazie, Tricia e Shown, grazie di vero cuore per la vostra preziosa amicizia e per averci dato la possibilità di adottare Cocoa… Vi attendiamo presto da noi in Ticino… e chissà che il sogno di Tricia (di imparare l’italiano ed il francese, ma anche di poter lavorare in Europa, non possa diventare realtà!)
Lviv is Cocoa’s hometown, known for its chocolate… and that’s the reason why the kitten is named Cocoa!
Lviv è la città natale di Cocoa, conosciuta per la sua cioccolata… per questo il gattino porta il nome Cocoa!
Claudine Giovannoni 
sorry about the immediate like 🙂 meant to preview comment and it hit the star, reading it now 🙂 bad app ugh lol
Congrats on the adoption! gotta love the cute lil one’s painted mask heh 🙂
Oh yea! we’re already madly in love with this little dude… As Tricia and Shawn call him: Prince Cocoa! Yesss I do like that… Thanks for stopping by, dear Andy :-)c
Prince Cocoa, Perfect 🙂
So completely wonderful and compassionate! Thank you for sharing, dearest.
In life you’re never ready to get such special things happen! I was so happy to finally meet Tricia after two years, but most of all, it was so great to have it that way… It will stay carved inside my heart forever! :-)c
Oh Claudine. what an ANGEL you are. I have a huge lump in my throat reading this, what a delightful story and how lovely that you have another little darling to care for. You are such a sweetheart!!!xxx
Dear Dina, actually the “Angels” are Tricia and her husband Shawn… I just “got into the story” at the end (but which is a new beginning indeed! Thanks for your lovely words… :-)c
You are all ANGELS….I’m so grateful that people like you are out there, it gives me SUCH hope….bless you all!xxxxx
Amazing, isn’t it?!!!! I’m so happy for you, my dear Claudine. This is wonderful wonderful news! 🙂 hugs and love xxxx
Yes, my dear Marian… as I told you last July in Athen… something strange is always taking action inside your life… just when you don’t expect it! That’s Magic… and beautiful… A great hug to you and to Loretta as well 😉
Cocoa looks adorable, cannot imagine how anyone could have the heart to abandon that baby!!! Tricia and Shawn’s compassion is truly commendable. So happy this story had a happy ending Claudine 🙂
It’s so good to know that in this world still are such person like Tricia and Shawn… I know there are a moltitude of them… just acting with love towards animals, and this is absolutely wonderfull!!! A big hug to you too, dear Madhu, and have a lovely w.e. 🙂
Dear Claudine, Shawn and I couldn’t have dreamed up a happier new chapter in Cocoa’s life. When we saw him being discarded on the street last month, Shawn commented that the kitten would someday “bring much happiness into his new owners’ lives.” We are touched to know that he is bringing you and your family so much joy, and I’m grateful that our paths crossed virtually two years ago, and in person, last weekend. Thank you for offering him such a loving home!
As you predicted two years ago, fate indeed brought us all together. 🙂 Hugs to you, Sara Luna, and His Highness ‘Prince Cocoa.’ We hope to see you in person again soon. Until then, just don’t let Cocoa grow up too quickly!
HRH Prince Cocoa is feeling in the seventh heaven, cloud seventeen! The vet weighed him: 1200 grams.
Today ohhh I wished so much you were here to look at him playing … as you said, he would arch his back, and hop, hop running sideways to get his mouse-toy (or my hand now full with scratches)! A great hug :-)c
PS. the predictions is called “Law of attraction”… we had to wait two years, okay, but there we are! The same happened with Marina Kanavaki of Athen, who I met last July… I do positively think that all our dreams may came true if we always think positively. Love to you and have a great w.e. :-)c
It makes us smile to hear that Cocoa is continuing to grow like a healthy little boy, and it’s funny to know that he’s still making his trademark arch, hop, hop, hop move. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🙂
È sempre molto bello seguirti. Le tue parole danno serenità e fiducia. Un grande abbraccio!
Grazie, carissima Titti… è sempre triste vedere come gli uomini possono maltrattare anche il più piccolo animale… questo gattino, se non avesse incrociato sul suo cammino Tricia e Shawn, sarebbe morto…
Purtroppo non posso portare a casa tutti i gattini che trovo sul mio cammino (altrimenti non ce ne sarebbero più al Bottacino).
Un abbraccio anche a voi! :-)c
very interesting story of cocoa:)
Con le mie difficoltà di lingua inglese, dovrei sostare nei tuoi blog e leggermi i commenti, per imparare davvero qualcosa.
😉
Sono esperienze meravigliose quelle che descrivi, e fai bene a condividerle. Sono momenti che riempono l’anima di cose belle.
Un sorriso per la giornata.
^___^
Caro Alberto, avendo persone che leggono da tutto il mondo, per rispetto alla multicultura, cerco sempre di pubblicare in italiano ed inglese… ma quest’ultimo è lungi dall’essere perfetto… seppure sempre comprensibile! Un abbraccio :-)c
I love happy endings, thank you for sharing this with me Coco is adorable.. 🙂