The 28th is a popular date for family celebrations. May 28th is Megan's birthday, June 28th is Marah's birthday, December 28th is Meg & Jon's anniversary, and July 28th is Don Gato's birthday (Bethany missed by a day with a Feb. 27th birthday).


Don Gato joined the family in 1989 when we lived in Escondido, CA. Our friends, the Dawsons, invited the girls, Megan (4) & Kenna (2), to come see their new kittens. We knew it was a dangerous invitation, but the girls were so sad after saying goodbye to their Carnahan grandparents that we used the kittens as a distraction. You can guess the rest of the story...
Dongo was the runt of the litter and the mellowest. The girls tried to name him "Fluffy", but Russell said the name was embarrassing and took it upon himself to give the kitten a more dignified name - Don Gato. Sir Cat is the English translation. Kenna's attempts to say his name sounded more like "Dongo Gato", and the nickname Dongo was born. He had many other nicknames added through the years (we are a nickname obsessed family). Gondo, Fat Cat, King Cat, El Rey are a few of his other nicknames. This was his Christmas debut in our 1989 family picture (love those 80s maternity tents...)
Did I mention that Dongo was the runt? At his prime adult weight, he was 22 lbs. The vet was certain there was Maine Coon in his ancestry. Though a huge cat, he was a klutz! We'd often see him hanging the top of the fence by his front claws, and frantically clawing with his hind legs to get up and over.


Don Gato and Kenna had a love/hate relationship. He still loved her after dress-up, strangle holds and being thrown off the 2nd floor landing. Kenna was only 20 lbs. at age two so how did she get a cat that size cat up and over the stairway ledge?

When Bethany started walking, Dongo learned to run. She would throw herself on top of him - full body slam! It wasn't until his last years that he stopped running from her! Beth had stopped the body slams years before, but he wasn't going to chance it!

Caught in the act... I think besides Marah, I'm the only person bitten by Don Gato - and that was because I stepped into the middle of a cat fight to pick him up... And his final act was to bite me, but in his defense, he was getting an IV stuck in his arm.

Don Gato thought he fit into any box or bag. Many of our game boxes are split from him squeezing his 22 lb. body into the lid.

Dongo loved to rub, sniff, and lay on shoes - especially flip flops. When we moved to AZ, he had to become a full-time housecat (boring). Shoe scents were his link to the outside world.

Christmas was the best time of the year. Dongo loved bows. Not a single present had a ribbon still attached by Christmas Day.

Meg and Kenna came home for 2006 Mother's Day. As they were leaving, they stopped to pet Don Gato and made him promise to be around for their next visit at Christmas. Sadly, his seizures started soon afterward. We will always be grateful to our friend Doreen who graciously helped Dongo spend his last days at home.
Love you buddy! We hope cat heaven has lots of bows and pancakes (his favorite).

I borrowed my title from an old PBS program the girls loved - Carmen San Diego.After many tearful farewells to roommates and brothers, Marah spent a few days with her grandparents, then flew to Baltimore to live with Los Bloods for the summer:Besides hanging out with her favorite nephew, Marah thought she had an awesome summer camp job. That disappeared, but she gained two others:

Seth's nanny - Meg says Marah has endless patience with her whiny baby.AND that high-paying job she and Kelsey joked about in high school... Stripper (of cabinets).

An added benefit of living in Maryland is it's proximity to Virginia - and three of Marah's 'brothers'. As anyone who has been on facebook knows, one of those 'brothers' became her missionary. (Yes, she is teased and tormented daily by her sisters about her sappy status updates - only 690 days to go. If she makes a paper chain, they will sent her to therapy!) She lives for weekly letters from Brazil.
Did I mention Marah ditched Bethany and I when we were in Maryland to go see the VA boys with her roommate Kayle? Bethany's still mad at her for that.

We only have one picture of Marah (with us) from that trip.

Meg was kind enough to let her Bishop know of Marah's musical talents. The singing voice has been unburied! First came a solo in Sacrament Mtg, and then a calling as the Primary Music Leader. My mommy heart is very happy!!! She sings "Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbeam" so much that apparently her spirit glows yellow. It inspired the Elders to invite her to be on the "Mormon Helping Hands" 4th of July float. (She hates wearing yellow...)

Marah had her 19th birthday in Maryland. One last year as a teenager.
Meg even made her a home-made, hand-decorated cake! Princess Jasmine was Marah's favorite Disney princess. In her younger years, she insisted that we address her as Princess Jasmine!

Marah got bravery lessons too - she and Meg gave blood together. (Meg had to lie about her weight - naughty, naughty!)

Marah's already sad thinking about leaving Maryland. She's going to miss being Megan's constant companion and hanging out with her girlfriends. (Who thought married girls could be fun?)And of course, she's also going to miss these two handsome guys! Next summer, Marah's planning to live in Mexico. Notice a pattern? Marah will be anywhere but Tucson!

Seth's been very busy since my last visit six weeks ago. After I left, he learned to crawl, stand, walk a few steps, say 'cheese' and ...Drive! (a hummer, of course) He's a very "serious" driver,

Grandma's weren't meant to live so far away from grandbabies!