06/11/2026
We've been kind of quiet over here because there's just been a lot going on. When that happens social media tends to take a back seat....
We lost one of the sweetest, most chill dudes we've ever known on Sunday. The one and only Clive aka Sunny Boy, and more recently, SunBun left this world behind, peacefully in his sleep. It was unexpected and left us with more questions than answers, but we find a little peace knowing he had one of the coolest lives. Sunny's rescue story will always be one of my favorites....
A whole lifetime ago when Justin and I traveled the world, we were on an island off the coast of Honduras getting our free diving certifications when we realized there was an animal shelter on the island. I immediately texted my mom and told her we were bringing her a cat! Why my mom? We already had 3, she only had 1. It's simple math.
I sent off the text and I immediately received an "Okay!" I thought, wow, that was easy.
After hours of searching we finally found the shelter and in true island fashion it started pouring rain. When we pulled up we see this orange cat laying on a brick wall on his back in the downpour. We laughed and thought what a cool guy! Nobody was at the shelter, so we made our way back to the dive shop to use their wifi to connect with someone who could help us. When we arrived back at the shelter a few hours later the sun was once again shining and there was that orange cat again, but now he's in our golf cart making biscuits on my purse and purring like a motor boat, rubbing all over both of us. There were plenty of kitties to choose from, but this guy had clearly chosen us. I was taking pictures and sending them to my mom, but there was something about this cat that made us feel like he had to have a home. There was no way he was a stray. When we asked about him, the woman who owned the shelter was so happy and assured us that no, he didn't have a home. You see, island life is different. People come to Utila for sometimes months at a time. He would find a family to care for him and get settled in and then they would leave and go back to where they came from, leaving him without a home and he'd end up back at the shelter. Pretty heartbreaking really, but Clive (his island name) was resilient and would make his way back to the shelter and wait for the next temporary family to arrive. She was so thrilled to know Clive was going to come home with us to Texas to be loved and never left behind again.
After I had sent multiple pics telling my mom about her new cat, she was like, "Wait! Why am I getting cat?" And I was like, "What? You said okay! The paperwork is already getting handled!" That's when we realized my 10 year old niece, Madi, had been playing on her grandmother's phone when I texted and she promptly approved the new cat. Lol!! So this was all news to my mom several hours later. So, thank you, Madi!
The day we left the island this brave boy took a golf cart ride to the ferry where we were waiting. After an hour long ferry ride we jumped in a cab to the airport, knocked out a 3 hour flight, and a 20 minute car ride to his new home. The moment he met my mom it was love at first sight. He was obsessed and so was she. It was so perfect.
Sunny eventually made it to The Zend with us and easily became the greeter who welcomed every friend, volunteer, and visitor in the driveway with his sweet demeanor and love for everyone.
He was our laid back island boy. One of the most special boys we've ever known and we will miss him forever. Please take a moment to send him some love as he journeys through the stars. I know he'll feel the love. â¤ď¸
