Happy 14 or 15 Merci

Taylor:  I thought yesterday, July 22, was Merci's 13th Gotcha Day and designated 14 or 15th birthday.  Why are we celebrating today?

Merci:  It's okay.  You cats needed to do a fishy flake review.  I wasn't planning to leave for the bridge yet, so I didn't mind waiting an extra day.

Buddy:  Come on, everybody, let's sing for the birthday girl!

     Happy birthday to you- owooooh.
     Happy birthday to you - owooooh.
     Happy birthday, dear Merci - owooooh.
     Happy birthday to you - owooooh.

Merci:  Thank you, but it would have been okay to leave out the howling, Buddy.  My old ears can't handle those high notes any more.

Buddy:  And my old voice can't sustain the notes.  Good thing Jan didn't bake you a cake.  You'd probably pass out trying to blow out the candles.

Taylor:  Since we're posting on Saturday, we thought we would join Athena for her Caturday Art blog hop.

Buddy:  And what better art to play with today than Merci's birthday card?  This is a sketch. 

Taylor:  Thirty seconds after Jan made these changes, she had completely forgotten what she did to get this effect, so we're calling it Merci's Hippy Pic.

Buddy:  That can't be spelled right.  Merci is not hippy.  I think you mean Merci's Hippie Pic.

Merci: Or my green ear phase. 

Buddy:  Whatever it's called, we're happy you're still with us.  We hope to celebrate again next July.