I am evidence, if you just persist, you find a slot in life, even respect, well mostly, except from Bad Boy Andy who Wonder Boy claims was born on the Bad Side of the Moon.
Being old school (like my Momma), I believe I should be shown respect since I am, at this point the eldest family pet. I no longer scamper around like I used to, unless the Bad Boy Andy is chasing me and then I am full throttle out-of-there. To be quite truthful, though, it seems to me that Andy is much more docile in his old age. In gone-by-days I could anticipate daily attacks but now, they are more sporadic which lulls me in to a false sense of security and then, bam, I am in a war zone where all bets are off the table…..but don’t get me wrong, I give as good as I get because, hey, just because I seem docile and fat, (I am not fat, I’m just big-boned), inside me lurks that wildcat feral, always ready, willing and able to stand my ground by laying it on the line. It is not like I come out of those scrimmages with my ear hanging off. No, I leave with my head held high because I may not win but at least it is a draw.
And I have such a wider purpose in life. Now Diva Calico Gen is a vain little kitty but she is very endearing and easy to love. I can’t remember ever feeling cross with her. That she wastes all that energy galloping around like a horse bemuses me, but after a time she tires and hops up on Momma’s bed beside me for a nap.
Then there is Jakita. I like her. She is a little bit of a self-proclaimed know-it-all, but still she has the best nature of any dog I have ever encountered. I have no qualms sleeping beside Jakita on Momma’s bed or on her doggie pillow because there will be no sneak attacks or dive bombings. She really does follow all the policies and procedures she set up in that book she wrote about Policies and Procedures for all Creation. Even the stray cat Clem gives me no grief. I avoid him, and he stays away from me, just like there is a restraining order in place. If he dares step a millimeter over the line, I hiss and he will skedaddle. Clem is not looking for a fight, just a feeding.
My most treasured accomplishment is my relationship with Momma since Mandu found her pink cloud and went on without me. I am the first to greet Momma in the morning, my rough little tongue, licking her hands and the last at night as I wedge myself against her legs, a hot water bottle enjoyed in the winter, a furnace endured in the hot summer nights.
Come the light of day, Bad Boy Andy will come in, meowing, ‘I need food, I want out.’ Right away I jump up and deliver a caterwauling get-out-of-here-this-is-not-your-territory growl but you know Momma, she hushes me. Of course that encourages Andy and he jumps up on the bed, looking for a scratch. Momma hops up, like she is on fire, both Andy and I tumble to the floor in the process. He stalks out of the bedroom, tail held high, I leap back on the bed and go back to sleep. Once more I have secured my perimeters.
Life is good and I have a plan….it is going to continue because I have the brains, brawn and lots of love from Jakita, Gen, Ruby, Tigger and of course, Momma and who said that, all you need is love….
