I have to say, I didn’t see this topic coming. I have spent the better part of the last week thinking about the topic, from a variety of angles. And since I love animals so much, I have to admit, this was a harder topic for me. And knowing Joe is also similarly afflicted, it was a surprising ask.
So I decided to write my experience with it. I mean, at the end of the day, we are either making shit up completely or owning that which is ours. My experience with animal attacks is brief and limited. A dog chasing me when I was young and another dog attacking my dog as we were running. That is it. I have no other experiences. Thank fucking God. I think the phrase “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle” is true. But I also think this is true as well, “God, sometimes knows what you can’t handle and so doesn’t give you much of that at all.”
I couldn’t handle animal attacks. So my life is bereft of a great many of those kinds of experiences...again, Thank Fucking God.
Anyway, I came to think that animals attack in other ways. It isn’t always deadly and serious. My own pets attack me on the daily, with playfulness and with love. They involve me in their antics of mirth and joy and they also attack me whenever I make a lap. I swear, if I sit down on my couch, at any time of the day, one or two of the cats will come find me, and quite aggressively, come to own me. It is, of course, a loving attack.
The dog attacks me and every other guest at my home with a lovefest that rivals the second coming of Christ. She is out of her mind with love and happiness whenever you darken our door. She also loses her shit when you leave. She barks and jumps and generally does everything she can to prevent you from leaving our residence. You are now one of her flock and she is going to let you know how irritated she is that you are breaking up the herd against all her best efforts.
As I write this now, as I am every morning, I am buried beneath a cat that purrs and loves me so much that she insists that she must be touching me and on me while I write. Every single day! She is here, owning her spot on her human. I have had this furry creature since she was one day old. I bottle fed her and her siblings every two hours until she could eat on her own. We have a bond. And it isn’t completely healthy...it is borderline obsessive.
These are the types of animal attacks I am most familiar. Shortly, as also occurs every morning, the latest addition to my ever burgeoning cat rescue shall arrive with the first rescue that kicked off the current cat craziness. Those two arrive about mid write and jockey for position in proximity and warmth. I am habitually and routinely buried beneath a feline or two.
I am not sure why I need all this pet love. But I can own that I do. Animals have always been easier for me than people. And it isn’t because they are so pure and loving. I have one cat who should have Thug Life tattooed across his chest. He is a fucking menace all day, every day. But he too, in his own thuggish way, attacks me with love, right after he is done ambushing me as I attempt to leave the bathroom.
Every morning of my life, I wake up and am immediately attacked with love and adoration from the boys and the dog. As I sit and, well, you know, they encircle me, purring and twisting around my legs. Each taking their turn to get the all the pets. The dog usually waits her turn. Allowing her flock of cats to get the love first, but always ensuring she never, ever gets left out. Sometimes this simple and routine act is the very best part of my day.
I am grateful my life has been filled with these kinds of animal attacks. I love that I am buried beneath a purring ball of pure love daily. I am grateful for the experience of what it is like to be adored, loved and cherished by my furry cohabitants. We live a great life, each of us prone to unprovoked attacks of love.
I would get up and drop the mic here, but I can’t, because I remain pinned to my bed beneath my morning writing companion and absolute love, Skunk. She is absolutely sure no one should be moving from our current spot. I relent. One who disturbs the cat is one who doesn't understand the rules of life. Incatpacity is a thing.
Sometimes life brings hardship and pain, but often, if you are lucky enough to be a pet owner, you are subjected to daily attacks of love, understanding, affection and grace.
Again...still.
Comments