Dirty Tea Cups and Things...: I heart my cat

He's King. Period. I'm just a serving maid.

My dad has a green thumb- it's an innate gift he possesses- I swear the man walks upon a path of greenery with each step he takes. His foot meeting concrete equals greenery. It has been like this for as long as I can remember.

His real gift remains with fruit trees; grape vines and above all: roses. Roses of any and all species. In the time that I have recognized his action of gardening...I would estimate he has cultivated some 50-60 rose bushes.

On a foggy Saturday I overheard the hushed voices of my parents discussing the cause of death for several species of rose bushes, near the front of our house. I must have been near twelve at the time. I remember the discussion of gophers as the main cause. I also remember the solution: bombing rodents. It's simply not enough to say I was mad. Irate isn't powerful enough descriptor either. Catastrophic anger? Yes- that's more like it. I cannot remember raising a voice to either of my parents before that moment. I did then. I didn't just raise my voice- I believe I screamed "at," my dad for believing that was remotely acceptable. Then, I screamed at Mom for letting him do it. I caused a scene, indeed. And before too long, I was asked to find something else to occupy my time.

I made an ass of myself over...errrr... gophers..at the age of twelve. And...I would again at the age of thirty. I promise.

I believe in the magic of animals. It matters not how much a reader laughs or mocks- it's an earnest understanding I own, rather openly. Creatures of any given size, ability and creation give us heart and reason to wake up and smile.

My love of animals has no real defined beginning- I suppose such massive love was something I was given at birth. It has made for some minor complications in life. I want them all. In many instances, my respect for animals overwhelms that of my own species, at times- which isn't too hard to imagine if you pay any attention to the news. I have come to a multitude of screeching halts, in order to avoid them on roads...and have risked accidents to do so. I have quit a job over the White One below. I have cried over them. I have argued in their defenses...and been deemed a fool for such behavior. I got in a earth-shattering fight with my parents over them. I would call in sick, from work, at the loss of one of my own.

Many of us find ourselves blatantly consumed by an indescribable love of animals- or we simply don't. In my experience- breaking it down is really that simple. Great or small...some of us are destined to love most or all..

My cat, Bosie, is well...he has a big part of my heart.