Felines and Hard Times

It has been a hard year for some of us, and some people find December to be a hard time of the year. But suddenly I find myself rebelling against gloom. I want to feel better. Sometimes even the depressed and sad get fed up and want to toss their heavy moods and laugh a little, or do something a little mad that feels good. Which is why I have a new cat. His name is Mellow. I’ve been singing, “They call him Mellow fellow…” all week. He is a debonair tuxedo cat, black with a white vest, white front paws and white socks on his rear legs. He is extremely affectionate. He likes to get in your face and have you massage his ears while he rumbles a low blissed out purr and drools. Oh my goodness, does this cat drool. He doesn’t care how much he drools or where he drools, so I am starting to carry towels around the house. Sometimes I forget the towel, but I can always change my shirt. If this is the only problem I have with the cat, I’m in good shape. When my granddaughter was a baby she joyfully pounded on my iBook keyboard one day and after that iTunes was gone. Mellow hasn’t done anything like that. Yet. My dog, Marley, has other issues with the cat. She wants more than anything to give his butt a good, deep, thorough sniffing. Mellow will tolerate that up to a point, but if Marley gets too carried away with this joyful behavior, Mellow will give her a swat on the snout. I figure he’s training her, and if we’re all going to live together, we all have to train each other to an extent. Marley also has a little trouble with Mellow’s affectionate nature. She’s a little jealous, and squeezes up next to me when Mellow sits in my lap. I don’t mind. I got the cat because I’m lonesome and I’m as much or more of a hog for the animals’ attention as they are for mine. The dog is getting more exercise than before because she often runs around the house looking for the cat. The cat walks through the house with all the haughtiness of a king strolling around his domain. He doesn’t run away from the dog. He stands and glares at her, and offers a hiss and another swat if he feels it is merited. This is the sort of cat that does well in a dog household. As you can see, having the cat has taken my mind off my troubles. He makes me laugh. So, living with a cat and a dog again. I’ve always believed that one of each was about right for me. They don’t leave me so much time to ponder and feel sorry for myself. Sometimes it is good to take a break from thinking about life, and simply live it. Dogs and cats have the gift of pulling you right into living life. Many people had a hard year in 2014. All of us are grief-stricken sometimes in life, and I hope that sharing my grief journey this year has perhaps made you feel a little less alone in your journey. Thanks for reading, anyway. I wish you all light in this dark season. May you feel the love of your family and friends through these days, and all days. May you feel the joy of the return of the light. May we all be thankful for the people we have loved and who have loved us. We didn’t have them long enough, no matter how long they were here, but at least they were here for a while and we can be grateful for them. In closing, a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer: “In the Evening “O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.” See you next year. Blessings, love, hugs, peace, & grace to all.